Just a Crandon Gardens Peafowl

Common Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)
Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, FL, on 28 Jan 2005

The peafowl at Crandon are usually cautious. On this winter day I plunked myself on the ground and waited for ducks to walk or swim past my position. Three peafowl spotted me, and, instead of making a detour, they walked right up to me. In no time at all they were pecking at my camera, tripod, shoes and socks. Throwing caution to the wind, they then began walking on my legs and lap. I took out a handkerchief and bobbed it up and down as I would do if playing with a kitten. They seemed to enjoy grabbing hold of the handkerchief. After 15 minutes, I (not they) tired of the sport and gently urged them to depart, which they eventually did.

When I returned to Crandon a few weeks later, I expected my friends to greet me again, but they came nowhere near me. Fickle beasts!

The posted image is of a male peafowl (peacock) that was my friend for a day. I employed flash as main light for the portrait.

Thanks for looking. Comments, critiques, and reposts are welcome.

Canon 1D Mark II, 400DO IS
F11, 1/160, ISO 400, 550EX/BB @zero
Image/Adjustment, Toolbox, USM, Crop ~18% to 5:4 ratio
Adobe Camera RAW