DEAR JOAN: We have a rural property in the Gold Country, with lots of wildlife including turkeys.
We hear peacocks that we assume are the neighbors’. Last April we saw a turkey and a peacock walking past our window. It looked like they may have been hanging together but we recognized it could have been coincidence as well.
Yesterday we saw them again so there went the coincidence theory. What do you think, pals or star-crossed lovers?
The peacock may have been displaying what’s left of his tail — life is hard in the wild — while the turkey seemed more interested in scavenging, so it may be a stalking thing.
— Victor Niemeyer, Tuolumne
DEAR VICTOR: While peacocks and turkeys, depending on the individuals, can live together amicably, they likely are more companions than amorous partners. That’s not to say a randy peacock wouldn’t try to impress a turkey, but it wouldn’t be a productive courtship.
If they did hook up, there would be no offspring as genetically, they are just too different.
The size and makeup of turkey flocks change throughout the year depending on mating season and child rearing. The males tend to show up in time to get frisky and produce more young, but after that, they tend to make themselves scarce, leaving the hens to themselves.
A single peacock might join in with a flock of female turkeys for companionship and perhaps a little more. On the other side of things, a hen of the turkey persuasion that is not a part of a flock might join a muster of peacocks for company and protection.
DEAR JOAN: The other day my wife and I noticed a flock of band-tailed pigeons in our backyard holding their wings up.
We originally saw one doing it and we thought it might be injured, but then they all started doing it. Definitely, new to use.
— Jim, Campbell
DEAR JIM: Believe it or not, there are a few reasons for this behavior.
If you see one band-tailed pigeon behaving like this, it’s likely trying to make a predator think it’s injured to draw attention to itself and away from a nest.
When you see a group of them do this, as you and your wife did, the birds are either trying to warm up or cool down. In cold temperatures, the pigeons and other birds like to spread their wings and do some sunbathing. When it’s hot, like it is now, you’ll often see them do that to let some of their body heat escape.
The wing spread is also useful in getting rid of pests on their skin and feathers.
As to why they were all doing it at the same time, we can surmise that the pigeons are just a bunch of copycats.
Happy hatchday, Claude
Claude, the albino alligator that lives at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, is turning 30 on Sept. 15, and the museum has a satchel of celebrations throughout the month including a city-wide Claude Quest, storytimes, hatchday cupcakes, daily give-aways and a gourmet dinner prepared by “Top Chef All Star” winner Melissa King ($650 a person).
Check out the activities at the museum’s website, www.calacademy.org/claudes-hatchday-celebration.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
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