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Watch Out for Peacocks

Well this was a new one on me. Two days ago we were traveling in the hinterland of Eastern Colorado when we saw a rather large peacock crossing the road in front of us. I thought he had plenty of time to get out of our way but what I didn't consider was the three Peahens following him. Two of the three made the crossing safely but the third his my drivers side rear view mirror. The impact knocked the lower wide angle mirror off and knocked the whole mirror out of adjustment. We didn't even get to eat the peahen.

I post this only as information so others will give Giant Birds on the road proper respect. Those suckers can do some damage.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #1 –
Kent, just be glad it was the mirror and not the windshield.

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
The impact knocked the lower wide angle mirror off and knocked the whole mirror out of adjustment.
FOT probably has the mirror in stock. Depending on what parts were left on the highway, you may have to buy the motor as well.

We left a wide angle mirror on the highway while driving in high winds in Nebraska. It is a velcro mount mirror. The mirror took the mounting plate with it, so I had to buy a new motor assembly with mounting bracket. No peafowl were harmed in my event.

Dr. Seuss was right.

"Oh me! Oh my!
Oh me! Oh my!

What a lot of funny things go by."
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #3 –
Peacocks in CO ? Sure it was not a Pheasant ?
Gary B

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
...give Giant Birds on the road proper respect. Those suckers can do some damage.

Where we live, the big bird hazard is VULTURES (commonly referred to as "buzzards").  They are BIG (5'+ wingspan), they smell really bad, and they don't like to relinquish their roadkill meal, even to a approaching motorhome.  They will wait until the last possible moment before they (try) to take flight, and often cut it too thin.  The result of impact is a NASTY mess to clean up, and in many cases broken glass or vehicle parts.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #5 –
I got lucky last year in CO when a Turkey Buzzard flew up and hit the top of the WS on the passenger side.  Impact was so great that the interior rear view mirror and its console were knocked off the WS and landed in the DW's lap. Miraculously the WS did not break, only left a mess of feathers and guts down the roof.  And DW was now wide awake. I have heard a story of a Sandhill Crane in FL that flew up from the ditch and pretty well destroyed the RF of a MH.
Gary B

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #6 –
                         Ok Kent , so you went Peacock hunting without a peacock hunting license . If I remember right , that requires 3 lashes across the back with a wet noodle . ;D  ;D  ;D                      Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #7 –
My neighbor hit a raccoon with his brand new Toyota and did $3000 damage. Even knocking out his A/C. I hate deer and wish the hunters would kill every one of them. As they are dangerous to cars and eat my crops.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #8 –
I thought some of you might get a kick out of this little miss hap.

Gary, yes I'm sure it was not a pheasant. I'm from Kansas. Pheasants are those little brown birds that say "Bob White" aren't they?

And we were lucky in that we had a slanted windshield that moved the force of the birds impact up and to the side where the mirror was. And that it was just the little glass mirror that was glued on. The rest of the mirror is in tact. The mirror is already on its way from FOT. Mike Grimes is my friend.

Does anyone know what peacock tastes like? Don't say "just like chicken".
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Gary Bouland –
I have heard a story of a Sandhill Crane...

Oh yes, we have those in TX also.  In fact, Midland-Odessa-Big Spring is right in the middle of a seasonal flyway during their annual migration.  Fortunately, the cranes prefer resting in open fields and do not usually park right in the middle of the road like the stupid buzzards.

When I was at flight school at Webb AFB (Big Spring) in '69, one of the T-38's on final approach took a direct hit by a Sandhill Crane.  The bird broke out the windshield, pieces of glass and crane broke the student's face shield (he sits in the front seat), and cut up his face pretty badly.  The instructor had to go around, and landed the aircraft from the back seat (they loved doing that - practically zero forward visibility on touchdown).  The injured student, fortunately, recovered and graduated.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #10 –
I used to commute to work on a road near the Arcadia Arboretum, home to many peafowl.  They have also taken over the surrounding neighborhood (the humans wish they would stay in the arboretum).  I have had many near encounters with the birds, usually in small groups, often with the little ones.  They use cross streets, sometimes walking or running, sometimes flying close to the ground (think big chickens) to cross the main road I drive.  Needless to say, I quickly learned to slow and watch for more after seeing one, and to slow at every intersection in that part of town.

By the way, my dad had his Pierce Arrow destroyed by a similar encounter with a large chicken in Ohio in the 1920's.

Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #11 –
This country girl was always told those little round brown birds that say Bob White.......were quail
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Forewheelers –
This country girl was always told those little round brown birds that say Bob White.......were quail

It's kinda funny. I was born and raised in Kansas, eastern Kansas, but saw my first Wild Pheasant in Philadelphia when I was in my 30"s. (yes, there are Wild Pheasants and deer in the city limits of Philadelphia). But I really did know the difference between a quail and pheasant. Just my weird sense of humor. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #13 –
Kent, The DW wants you to send her the tail feathers, she will pay postage. 
Gary B

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Kent Speers –
Does anyone know what peacock tastes like? Don't say "just like chicken".

Kent,
Peafowl are a type of large pheasant so they are closest in taste to pheasants. They are not like chicken, duck, turkey or goose. Guinea fowl would be closer to peacock than chicken.

They do not have a lot of fat so the meat is a bit dry. If you are roasting the bird, use an oven bag to keep the moisture in or wrap the bird well with bacon.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #15 –
I knew a "little round brown bird" that married Bob White. They lived in Antigo, WI, one block east of the main highway (WI 45). Very happy for many, many years. >:D  >:D  ^.^d
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD
 

Re: Watch Out for Peacocks

Reply #16 –
Hey Guys, I was just kidding about eating the bird. These birds belonged to a farmer whom I believe probably owned a shotgun so I was not about to stop and pick up the bird, but thanks non the less for the cooking advice. Maybe next time I can at least get a dinner out of the road kill. I always like road kill squirrels and deer when we lived in Pennsylvania.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback