Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Not Fit For Human or Beast

Although, very large birds can tolerate this weather!


I can barely handle a few minutes outside to snap a photo or two! But, Priscilla F Peahen seems to have learned the fine art of winter survival very well. I've written about Priscilla before and you can read about when she first arrived here and her further adventures here. The other night we noticed her sitting on the fence, scanning the sky. She appeared to be checking out which limb she was going to roost on for the evening. Up she flew while the winds buffeted her about. We were sure she would be blown from the tree or worse...freeze once the temperatures dropped to the single digit that was predicted. She did move to a stronger perch, but, no way would she come down to find a warmer spot. She's a smart bird...the coyotes hunt at dusk and she is in her tree by then. She's a survivor.... frigid windchill hasn't taken her down and neither have the coyotes. She has the equivalent DNA of the honeysuckle, vincas and other invasives. Unstoppable!


She's waiting for me each sunup to bring her fresh water and birdseed. She toddles off to the wayback back yard doing what birds do in the wild~grubbing about and keeping warm. She arrives home promptly at 4PM everyday and hunkers down by the Christmas tree windbreak waiting for me to deliver her dinner of fresh water, seed and a special treat of dog or cat food! After eating she either flies to the tree above the fence or toddles off to the wayback back yard.

As you can see there has been a certain amount of training happening at Clay and Limestone. Now don't laugh, but I was telling Frances that once the weather gets back to normal, Ms Priscilla is on her own! Perhaps she'll continue her travels through the neighborhood. Plan B is to woo her into trusting me then, capture and transport her to some haven or farm. Now, if only I can find a haven or farm for her! I think Cheekwood needs a peahen in the gardens!

In the meantime, training continues. When she honks I'll be there!


I do hope you're keeping warm and cozy
I am still on limited hand use, but wanted to update you about Priscilla...She could be your very own peahen!

Warmest thoughts of you!

Gail

52 comments:

  1. Hi Gail....I love a survivor....priscilla is my sort of bird. I know I have said it before and I will say it again, if you lived along the road, she would without doubt have a home here.

    I do hope you find someone who will give her a good home.....

    Tku for being so kind to her.......

    I do hope that your hand is healing well.....and that you are pain free......

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  2. Gail,
    You are clearly a great bird whisperer. Your feathered friend will be loyal and never leave you. :-)

    Stay warm and heal your hand.
    Cameron
    PS driving to Huntington Gardens after breakfast. Saw Getty Villa yesterday. only 77 degrees today!

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  3. That Peahen is a hoot. I think she has adopted you and warmer weather or not....you two have a bond!
    Nice to hear from you. Keep that typing to a minimum!

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  4. Yay, Priscilla. And I thought the leaves to the right of her in the first photo look like a penguin!!!! Gotta go sort seed now...

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  5. Gail what a sweet tale you tell. I love your relationship with Priscilla! She is lucky and so are we to witness in this sharing. Clearly she would not survive the winter without you. She is such a pretty lass and I would think there is someone or a sanctuary that will dote on her too... but will you not miss her? Surely there is a way that humans could shut down as birds and plants do to protect ourselves from such frigid conditions. Scientist must be working on this. Take good care of your hand. Lovely fire. Best wishes for your continued recovery! Carol

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  6. I came over to thank you for taking the time to visit me and for leaving a comment, and here you are posting! Glad to see you're feeling better, but I do hope you're following doctor's orders and resting your hand as much as possible, Gail.

    I think Priscilla may have found a home:) She knows when she has a good thing going--a caring friend who makes sure she is well-fed. I would love to take her off your hands--the grandchildren would love Priscilla! But aside from the logistics problem--I doubt she would enjoy a 7-hour trip in the back of my car:)--Sophie would no doubt chase her around and wear her to a frazzle.

    I hope you're staying warm! It was 12 below here early this morning:(

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  7. Priscilla looks like a true ice princess!

    Keep well and stay warm!

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  8. Glad to hear from you, Gail...and glad you mentioned Priscilla. I've been wondering about her and how the cold might be affecting her, so I'm glad you're looking out for her.

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  9. Happy New year, Gail! I'm starting to feel really bad for Mrs. P. She should have a fancy little shed somewhere with a heated water bowl and all that jazz. Poor Mrs. P.

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  10. Pricilla is one lucky bird; it looks like she found a good home. Good luck

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  11. She is a lucky bird, and very good at training you.

    Just remember that Boostsie started out by visiting only for a few moments, and then skittering out the door.

    Now he has graduated to full time occupation of our bed, and demanding food all day long. It is indeed a slippery branch Prisilla is perching on.

    Jen

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  12. Gosh Gail Priscilla is one big bird and a tough cookie by the sound of it. She is lucky to have met you and vice versa. Take care ((((()))))

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  13. Oh, don't you want to keep her? She's clearly decided she wants to keep you! I'd love to have her but I fear it is probably too cold up here. Glad to see you are doing better and I loved the fire photo. Very cozy...

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  14. No peahen needed here, Gail, but thanks for the offer. ;-) Priscilla does seem to be one tough bird.

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  15. Oh now Priscilla is a lovely bird, I'd give her a home amongst the Tumbledown minagerie, I'm sure she'd love it here...sadly I fear we are on the wrong side of the pond!

    Great shot of the footprint in the snow :o)

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  16. Dear Gail, Priscilla F. has really taken to the back at Clay and Limestone, and has her own lady in waiting even. I hope her prince will come someday, maybe at Cheekwood. She is a dear creature with a tough pioneering spirit. Thanks for the link love and do take care of that thumb! We want you to be able to garden when this weather lets us go back outside. :-)
    Frances

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  17. Happy new year, Gail - I do hope your thumb will be getting better soon! I think Priscilla is cute. And she's definitely not a sissy. Enduring the cold like a polar bear. Can't say I do, though - it's a little too cold for me.
    Hugs!

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  18. No thanks, I don't need a Peahen. She does have you trained very well, though. Lucky bird! Stay warm and heal up quickly.

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  19. I'd take Priscilla if I had a good piece of land. I do hope you find her a new home when the time comes... but for now, clearly she's happy with what she found, and no wonder.

    Please rest those hands! That syndrome sounds terrible. Be kind to you, body and soul, and stay warm. :)

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  20. Looks like you now have a peahen for a pet, you should have never named her! I enjoy reading about Pricilla!

    I hope you are completely recovered soon!

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  21. It is so good to see YOU out and about Gail. I hope this means you are mending properly. I about fell out of my chair laughing at the thought of you being trained by Mz Pricilla. What a crack up. Try to keep warm.

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  22. She was late today~~and believe you me! She does honk to announce her arrival!

    xxxooo To you all, gail

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  23. Hi Gail, Isn't it nice to be needed? ha. I'm glad she has such a nice home down there. She wouldn't like me very well... ;-)

    I just posted about my mini-greenhouses... with a couple of pictures of the Tennessee Coneflower seedlings I started with the seeds you sent me last Winter! :-)

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  24. Gail, you are a Saint! Bless you for taking care of the bird. Isn't it amazing how animals can endure this cold? We are barely surviving inside our house!

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  25. You're so sweet to be taking such good care of her! And she is certainly a smart, wily bird!

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  26. thinking of you often while you are recovering. i have had little blogging time until today.
    your big priscilla seems to be faring well in this cold weather. i am so over it but love having a cozy fire...i don't like not being outside...it makes for a bit of cabin fever.
    happy january. this is a good time for recovering.

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  27. She pulled you right in, didn't she? This is so cute...sometimes it's less exhausting just to embrace the challenges of nature. I do hope you find her a proper home when/if the weather ever warms up. Your comment on Grace's blog, I'll be more than happy to try and find you some celosia seeds or seedlings, you know I love to share and it makes me smile to think that gardener's would like some of my plants! Please do take care of that thumb, gardening season will be upon us before we know it....

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  28. I guess I should submit my photo, you aren't the only one that has suggested that, I'll look into it. The yellow cage bird feeder is supposed to look like a sunflower, the top is metal and painted like one, it was purchased at Lowe's just a couple of weeks ago..

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  29. I never think of pea hens as being very suited to climates like ours. Your's seems quite devoted to you. For a couple of years we had a white pea hen visit us, but not for the past couple of years. The winter and the coyotes may have worked their worst - or she may have just gotten old.

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  30. She needs to find a place with others of her kind. I'm surprised she has remained with you so long. It must be hunger keeping her from looking for a flock to join. Poor thing.
    Marnie

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  31. Miss Priscilla is one lucky peahen and I'm looking forward to reading about your continue interactions, Gail!

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  32. Ha, no thank you to the peahen offer but I'm so glad to see you're "training" her. She owes you much! Yes, it looks like she's quite the survivor and even knows how to train humans. I'm glad to see you're recuperating well!

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  33. Very cool to have your very own peahean. I bet she'll help keep down the bugs and stuff once the warm weather returns-which I hope is soon! Happy New Year to you!

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  34. Peafowl roam Mayfield Park in Austin and are frequently seen on the roof of the buildings there. Priscilla could look quite decorative on a roof at Clay & Limestone, wouldn't she, Gail?

    Now about the bird's name ... we all know how you feel about Practically Perfect Phlox Pilosa! Your using those special P's makes me think your subconscious is suggesting a Pretty Pet Priscilla Peahen.

    Hope you survive this bitter cold even better than Priscilla!

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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  35. Hello Gail,

    I love your stories about Priscilla. She is one tough lady. I hope your hand is healing well.

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  36. Annie, That is so funny...I do love PPPP. gail

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  37. Gail - what a lovely tale, I so enjoyed reading it and getting to know your woodland BFF. That's how I am with my deer. With unusually low 18F here and much of their normal diet dead, all 6 of them came by yesterday for dinner. I gave them corn and water and there's a protein block out there for them, too. Your peahen is kinda cute, too!

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  38. Clearly your peahen is a survivor. Lovely shots for a one handed computer worker. Hope you are soon well.

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  39. wow... Gail - you are super brave caring for that bird. AMAZING creature. I enjoy your blog entry.

    Happy New Year

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  40. Maybe she's like Wild Bill the Squirrel who had the whole neighborhood tricked into believing he was 'our' pet squirrel as he sneaked from house to house for handouts.

    She's certainly charmed you and all your readers.

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  41. Gail I hope you are doing well! Hope to visit your more regularly soon.

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  42. Oh, I do hope Priscilla will be ok in this cold weather. She is a pretty lady. Most gracious of you to take care of her during this time. Hopefully you will find her a good home come warm weather.
    Take care of that hand.

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  43. Goodness, what a determined pea hen! Definitely a survivor and she's figured out how to strike a deal re. food and water....

    And it HAS been freezing here in the Southeast. I've hardly wanted to venture outside, although today was finally seeming almost normal for winter.

    Don't overstress your recovery - the posts and comments are welcome, but there's always another day, too.

    Lisa

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  44. Priscilla is an interesting creature. Sounds like a children's story in the making. It is very kind of you to take care of her.

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  45. Gail, what a kind and tender heart you have to look out for Priscilla during the cold weather.

    I don't know anything about peahens, but now you've got me wondering. I'll have to check them out.

    donna

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  46. No, thank you Gail. I've had Priscilla's sisters before. I don't dig peahens or peacocks nearby. Plus, the coyotes here are very, very hungry. Great story. You are a friend to all. Glad your hand is feeling better.~~Dee

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  47. I always wanted one too but then I heard they cry like a baby.
    Roosting up high is a safe spot for them for sure!
    We have wild turkeys here that roost up in the pine trees.
    Coyotes are everywhere too!

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  48. I guess you will now be cleaning the car. Hope the healing is going well.

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  49. Oh how sweet of you to offer Miss Priscilla Peahen! Thanks, but no thanks. NO thanks! Certainly not, NO THANKS!! I hope I've made myself perfectly clear :)
    She seems to like you very much (and have you trained), dear Gail, so I wouldn't dream of taking her away from you;)
    I do hope your hand is healing well. Poor girl! I've read your recent posts in bloglines but think I probably was too tired to comment. It's been a busy few weeks, leaving me little time to blog...but I've been thinking of you!
    I hope your Christmas was wonderful and that the New Year will bring restored health and much happiness to you. Here's to the coming spring and a new gardening year!

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  50. I'm glad Miss Priscilla is weathering the cold well Gail. I'm sure that's due, at least in part to your kindheartedness.

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  51. I think she's exactly where she's supposed to be ~ you two are getting along famously! I'm so glad she's still there. I think she's the new groundskeeper at C&L or maybe the new mascot?? Either way, when an animal finds you, they're yours for life. :-)
    Glad your hand mending is going well. I hope you're back to full strength and in the garden again soon.

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  52. Lucky Priscilla to have you to make sure she's OK in the cold weather.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson