I've seen all sorts of animals in my day, but I had never seen a wild pheasant before this winter. Because of this I'd always taken them to be the type of animal you hear about more than you actually encounter. Imagine my surprise when I ran into this creature in the middle of Chicago. OK, not the middle, but close enough. This January I was in Garfield park in the conservatory (one of the best kept winter secrets of the city) when I peered through the window and spotted this pheasant running through the snowy park. I quickly jumped through a set of doors and took this (admittedly disappointing) picture before the bird got spooked and set off with a wild flapping of wings.
A little research showed me that pheasants do live in Illinois year round, but right in the city? Was this guy wild, a pet, or had he escaped from a local pollos vivos storefront? I will never know. One thing is certain, it was a bitter cold day and I wished him the best of luck as I watched him make his frantic departure.
2 comments:
Hi Mose!
Last spring Scott and I saw a pheasant on the Upper West Side. I chased him in circles around a tree trying to get a good picture but he was elusive. http://cookingthehardway.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/dscf2852.jpg
Also we once saw a red tailed hawk eating a pigeon on the roof of the grocery store around the corner from my apartment, but that's a whole other story.
Kate!
Great to hear from you. I am amazed that you had a similar experience with an urban pheasant in New York. I like the photo you took, it really captures the crypto-zoological vibe I get when talking about these amazing creatures. In honor of your comment I will post a photo of animal tracks that I saw with Scott.
Send New York my love.
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