This peacock, perched in one of the stone window frames of the ruins of St Marys Abbey is one of several animal sculptures in the Ghosts in the Gardens, in the Museum Gardens in York.
Peacocks were a common and popular feature of the Museum Gardens when I first moved to York, but over the years their numbers declined, so that by early 2001 there was only a solitary male left, which was then rehomed away from the gardens.
The peacocks would often decide to explore beyond the gardens, and were known to cause traffic chaos on the main road outside the main entrance, as they attempted to join the tourists crossing the road.
Katharine and I went again today to find more of the sculptures, but we still haven't found the squirrel or the falcon, so we will have to make another visit soon. The strong winds on Friday night have moved or damaged some of the sculptures. The peacock is now leaning backwards, making this shot impossible.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I have to admit it was an assumption that it was the wind that resulted in the leaning sculptures - but perhaps they had held a party the night before?
Looking at the huge nimbers of people who now use the Museum Gardens, I suspect the peacocks might have had to be moved to a more suitable location, even if their numbers were not in decline.
A nice sculpture be sad the peacocks are all gone. The wild turkeys seem to roam this time a year and there was a house that had peacocks. I will need to see if they are still around. Fav.
Thank you. Sad that the peacocks are gone, but they were at serious risk each time they wandered out of the gardens, and I don't think they would be too happy with all the visitors that there now are to the gardens.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I have to admit it was an assumption that it was the wind that resulted in the leaning sculptures - but perhaps they had held a party the night before?
Looking at the huge nimbers of people who now use the Museum Gardens, I suspect the peacocks might have had to be moved to a more suitable location, even if their numbers were not in decline.
Ian
Thank you Paul. It's quite impressive how effective they are.
Ian
Thank you. Sad that the peacocks are gone, but they were at serious risk each time they wandered out of the gardens, and I don't think they would be too happy with all the visitors that there now are to the gardens.
Ian
Thank you Vesna - he's busy showing off his tail feathers.
Ian