Photographing the natural beauty Southern California offers is such a joy. But besides its beaches, mountains, and deserts, it's also home to an amazing array of wildlife and plants. I'm very blessed to have peacocks/peafowl visiting my yard every day!

Some photographs are available on products in our CafePress and Zazzle shops. We've recently added jigsaw puzzles, which make great gifts.

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Mating season in peacock/peafowl/peahen country

Mating season in peacock/peahen/peafowl country--male squawking loudly!, peacock and nature photography merchandise at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

If you've read our post about baby peacocks in our backyard, you're already familiar with one aspect of living in peafowl country (near the Arboretum in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia). BUT! Did you know that during mating season it's REALLY LOUD around here?!

As absolutely beautiful as peacocks are to look at, they're equally loud and annoying during mating season--which stretches from roughly January through April. Their squawk is something to behold...er, well, hold your hands over your ears!

The males and females both squawk, but when there are two males, especially two males of similar maturity (and of breeding age) in the same area, they hold squawk-fests that you have to hear to believe.

My favorite peacock, whom I call Mr Peacock, allows me to take as many pictures--right up close--as I like, so one day I sat on the driveway steps and just snapped pic after pic as he shrieked. While I was snapping photos of him there was another male, a little older I think, about 15 feet away--and they were participating in one of those aforementioned squawk-fests. Wow!

Here are a few of the pictures I took that day, with Mr Peacock squawking away at the other male:

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com



And now for a [very brief] breather...

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com


Here are a few from a couple days later; again Mr Peacock was bellowing it out with his rival who was nearby, but this time both had their feathers fanned:

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com

Male peacock squawking during mating season, peacock merchandise/nature photography at CaliforniaDreamsPhotography.com


Well, there you go. A visual glimpse at mating season in peacock land. I'll spare you the actual sounds by NOT posting an audio clip!

In case you're wondering, no, I don't actually mind all the noise. I love the peacocks and take the shrieking as part of living where they roam the neighborhoods, gracing us with their extraordinary beauty. Small price to pay, you know?


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