Just three little kids

We were nearly accosted by a flock of India Peafowl (peacocks/peahens) recently during a visit to the Old Maryland Farm in Watkins Park, MD. These are some fascinating creatures. We were like three little kids (well, Tennyson really is a little kid) rediscovering one of the world's natural wonders.

Wikipedia describes that crazy plumage thusly: "Many of the brilliant colours of the peacock plumage are due to an optical interference phenomenon, Bragg reflection, based on (nearly) periodic nanostructures found in the barbules (fiber-like components) of the feathers." Or, as Tennyson put it upon first seeing the beasts: "What the devil?"

We're still not exactly sure what to think about the Indian Peafowl, though we've ruled out one option: Thanksgiving.