A few weeks back I wrote about going to Magnolia Plantation and Audubon Swamp Gardens. I was totally blown away by the place. I had only been there once during the dead of winter. I am so glad I went back this Spring.
Llife seems to start another cycle, in the Spring, when all the azaleas are blooming. It's like the world waking up from a deep sleep. All all of a sudden there is bright color and new growth everywhere. I never cease to be amazed at the grandeur of Spring blossoms.
Well, I have fallen for Magnolia Plantation, especially the Audubon Swamp Gardens. I can sit at the rookerie for hours watching the Great Egrets building their nests, flying around and, now, feeding their young. The Great Blue Herons call out to one another and glide by. The Anhingas are odd sitting with their wings outstretched, drying so they can fly again. I have gone there numerous times in the last three weeks. Friday was my most recent visit.
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As I drove toward the parking area, I saw an amazing sight, a peacock. But this was not the standard brilliantly colored peacock you would expect. It was totally white. Yep, an albino I assumed. It might not have been as awesome as it's multi-colored bretheren but a very cool sight none the less. I found a spot to park and took a number of photos.
This morning, I looked up albino peacocks and learned a thing or two about them. Only males are actually peacocks. The females are peahens. Together they are called peafowl. Finally, there is no such thing as an albino peafowl. They are just mutations of the India Blue variety. There is even a constellation called Pavos, the peacock, in Latin.
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There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests. They are ground feeders and in the wild, roost in trees.
When groups of peafowl get together the groups are called parties. It makes good sense to me. The male peafowl uses its colorful feathers in its train to attract the female. We do the same thing. We get dressed up so we can attract the female of our species. So the next time you are heading to a gathering, remember to party like a peafowl. You just might get lucky.
Michael Kaynard is a local photographer who lives in West Ashley. You can view his photos at http://kaynardphotography.webs.com. He can be reached at mkaynard@gmail.com or 843-412-2299.