Horticulture and Wildlife in Holland Park 2009 

Ivory Peacocks

You may have seen the park's latest acquisitions – and very beautiful they are.  They arrived in early May but came with firm instructions that they should be kept in the aviary for at least six weeks to accustom them to their new location; if released immediately they would have flown off, looking for their old home.  Your secretary witnessed a charming scene when one of the new arrivals was watching a group of our established birds who were wandering around pecking at the dust in the greenhouse yard.  A blue peacock came over and gently rubbed beaks with the captive through the netting.  No anti-immigrant feeling here!
[Summer 2009]