THIS PHOTO IS OF ONE OF FOUR OF OUR MALE PEACOCKS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE FORT. HE IS PRACTICING ON HIS MATING RITUAL THAT WILL BE COMING VERY SOON. WE HAVE 3 FEMALES ALSO. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND ELEGANT BIRDS, BUT ARE ALSO A BIT OF ANNOYANCE WITH THEIR CALLS. THEY ARE VERY GOOD YARD GUARD BIRDS AND SOUND OFF AT SOME OF THE SMALLEST THINGS.
IT IS SAID THAT WILLIAM BENT BROUGHT THESE BIRDS INTO BENT'S OLD FORT TO FACINATE THE LOCAL INDIANS, WHICH I AM SURE THAT THEY WERE VERY MUCH SO, PRIZING FEATHERS OF ALL KINDS FOR THEIR DRESS COSTUMES. I AM SURE THAT WILLIAM EITHER GAVE THEM TO THEM AS A TOKEN OF HIS FREINDSHIP, OR HE MAY HAVE POSSIBLY TRADED THEM FOR BUFFALO AND BEAVER HIDES SINCE THAT WAS THE VERY LIVELYHOOD OF THE FORT.
OUR BIRDS NOW OF COURSE ARE JUST FINISHING UP THEIR MOLT STAGE AND BEGINNING TO GROW NEW PLUMAGE FOR NEXT YEAR'S RITUALS. WHEN THEY DO MOLT IN LATE JULY AND AUGUST YOU CAN FIND TAIL FEATHERS STRUNG ALL OVER THE FORT. WE LET OUR TOURISTS KEEP ANY THAT THEY CAN FIND. THE CHILDREN REALLY LOVE THEM. YOU CAN SEE WHY. MANY ARE JUST AS FASCINATED AS THE INDIANS WERE, BEING THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAVE EVER SEEN A PEACOCK OR FEATHER.
THIS IS A 6# HOWITZER CANNON KEPT AT BENTS OLD FORT FOR DEFENSE PURPOSES. HOWEVER THE INDIANS WERE SO PEACABLE THAT IT NEVER HAD TO BE FIRED IN DEFENSE OF THE FORT. IT WAS OCCASIONALLY FIRED FOR CLEANING AND PLEASURE, AT TIMES. IT IS DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF THE FORT IN THE SUMMER MONTHS AND KEPT UNDER COVER IN THE WAGON ROOM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AND CAN STILL BE VIEWED.
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