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At the peacocks

Peacocks make a loud, catlike meowing sound. Mee-OW! Mee-OW!

The sound evokes reactions.
Many children start copying the crowing of the peacocks.
Some laugh at the sound.
The peacock’s breath steams in the cool morning air when it crows.

One bird fans out their tail.
Also the humans on site wave. 

Wooooo! Beautiful!
Rushing towards, cameras ready.

“What’s your name? Tell me! Do you even know your name?”

One group of students is told by their teacher not to copy the crows.
“No copying now.”

“Bye bye!” many greet the birds as they leave.

Sparrows are flying through the ceiling net of the peacock enclosure. Their chirrup creates a continuous background sound.

Someone shows a pink unicorn plush toy to the peacocks. Or the peacocks to the plush toy?

A group of young people talk about whether these can fly.
“That one could be my dinner tomorrow!”

“Shut the fuck up, I’m zero interested in that kind of stuff.”

Mee-OW!
“I was fucking scared!”
The whole bunch screams back.

A zookeeper carefully checks the leg of one of the females in the enclosure that’s limping.
The flock steps aside restlessly.

“Show me your wings!”

“Show me, I want to see its tail!”
A stir, as the tail fans out.

(researcher’s notes at the zoo, 2023)

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