Last night, it was quite late when I put the ducks away. I had to chase them out of the pond, which is never fun. As I closed their door, I spotted a large bird sitting on the roof of the “lean-to” where we keep the duck food. It startled the wits out of me.

I went back inside for my camera and got a couple of not great quality pictures.

Paul and I both thought it looked like a peacock, but common sense said that couldn’t be the case. I scoured all of the Maine wildlife websites but couldn’t find any bird that looked remotely like this one. I posted the picture on the Maine Birds Facebook page, and the verdict seems to be a peahen – all though there are some arguments going on there that it’s really a young peacock.

This morning, it was still here hanging in the yard. Every time I went within 20 feet, it moved on and eventually wandered into the woods. I returned to the house and crossed one thing of my work to-do list for the day, and ventured outdoors again.

And there it was, hanging by the chicken coop. I got some fabulous pictures and posted one on Facebook asking folks to share. Reports came in of a missing male hundreds of miles away from me. Comparing the images, I knew it wasn’t the same bird.

How beautiful are these colors?!

So I told Paul I need a peacock house. He’s yet to respond to that request. If no one claims her, I’d love it if she stuck around.

She hung around all day, eating bugs, grass, the mealworms I set out for her, and the ducky food.

The ducks were not impressed and kept moving away from her.

Then this afternoon, a friend of a friend spotted the Facebook post. She said her bird-sitter let one of their peahens out early this summer accidentally. She thought a fox had eaten “Loretta,” but never quite believed it as she can fly 30 feet straight up. She asked if she could come by to catch her.

It was mild this afternoon, so I set up shop on the porch to keep an eye on her. Loretta wandered into the “lean-to” where we keep the duck food so it’s out of the weather. I ran inside to get Paul, and we cornered her in there and put up some plastic netting to keep her from wandering off. I am so relieved! And hopeful that her “mom” can get her tonight after work so I can stop worrying about her. If this is the right peahen, she’s traveled over ten miles!

I’ve not gotten beyond item number one on my to-do list today between the worry and the photo ops, but how fun!