Peacock ar Filoli by Ariana Baltay

                                                Peacock at Filoli

         I took my own photography field trip this week to see some wildlife at Filoli Nature Preserve, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Woodside. The estate spans 16 acres of spectacular gardens, along with natural ecosystems that cover 654 acres of wildland preserves that adjoin the 23,000 acre Crystal Springs Watershed, a designated state wildlife preserve. The native Ohlone Indians once walked and made their home here. Many birds and mammals are found at Filoli including the rare California weasel, foxes, coyotes, voles, mountain lions, deer, garter snakes, raccoons, and red-shouldered hawks. But the most inspiring event turned out to be in the garden with a peacock who at first seemed quite tame, but whose behaviors turn out to be complex and quite innate.

     My choice shot depicts an Indian Peacock with his tail feathers fanned out in a grand display of shimmering feathers covered with boldly colored “eye” images. The peacock seemed to sense my arrival and did not shy away. Instead he fanned his tail, which made it rise up about four feet above the ground. Then he slowly rotated himself in a full circle for all to see his beautiful feather display. I wondered if this was a game for visitors or a naturally evolved behavior that reflected his biological needs. Perhaps it was both. Research revealed that Peacocks do use their bold colors to attract a mate. I speculated that there weren’t any peahens on the filoli estate, causing him to endlessly display his feather features for every human visitor as if he hoped he would someday find his love.

     It was a grey day, with a few drops of rain dripping down, and so I used a slower ISO speed. I wanted to get close up, and so zoomed my lens. I took multiple exposures and many shots to get the best angle as he turned. It was possible to get a close up of his head and beak, at which point I was careful to watch for the light glinting in his eye in response to Professor Siegel’s advice to consider the eye as a key focus in a good photo. This was an Indian Peacock, a species called Pavo cristatus, that seemed happy to show off his bright blue neck feathers and gorgeous green body and tail that trailed five feet behind him. He moved slowly and proudly as he promenaded in the garden.  I wondered how he learned to show off this way, and guessed that he was doing a deeply rooted kind of dance that served a biological function, not just showing off.

    It turned out that peacocks indeed have a unique system to attract their mate’s attention, one that has led to an evolution of exceptionally beautiful plumage. Their unique musical motion creates a high pitched sound in much the way a cricket does by rubbing together his feet in quick repetition, except the peacocks sound is too high to hear. In addition, the physics of the vibration are evolved to create an enticing vibrancy in the tail’s feather background from motion, while the eyes of the tail appear still, an effect which scientists have studied and found to enhance attraction of female peahens. It was amazing to once again uncover complex mechanisms rooted deeply in scientific principles that were demonstrated through such natural beauty. It was striking to think of how much we observe that has a story just beneath the surface. Photographic study did not in this case reveal the motion mechanism or sound, but it led to capturing the sheen and drama that begged to raise the question why the peacock displayed such regalia and how he survived and evolved in the wild. More details are in the slide show, but clearly even the most accessible wildlife has much to reveal and photography is a great way to make the connection to much that there is to learn.

-Ariana Baltay