Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. These tail feathers, or coverts, spread out in a distinctive train that is more than 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and boast colorful “eye” markings of blue, gold, red, and other hues. The large train is used in mating rituals and courtship displays. It can be arched into a magnificent fan that reaches across the bird’s back and touches the ground on either side. Females are believed to choose their mates according to the size, color, and quality of these outrageous feather trains.

The term “peacock” is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl.

Suitable males may gather harems of several females, each of which will lay three to five eggs. In fact, wild peafowl often roost in forest trees and gather in groups called parties.

Peacocks are ground-feeders that eat insects, plants, and small creatures. There are two familiar peacock species. The blue peacock lives in India and Sri Lanka, while the green peacock is found in Java and Myanmar (Burma). A more distinct and little-known species, the Congo peacock, inhabits African rain forests.

Peafowl such as the blue peacock have been admired by humans and kept as pets for thousands of years. Selective breeding has created some unusual color combinations, but wild birds are themselves bursting with vibrant hues. They can be testy and do not mix well with other domestic birds.

Fast Facts

Type: Bird
Diet: Omnivore
Average life span in the wild: 20 years
Size: Body, 35 to 50 in (90 to 130 cm); Tail, 5 ft (1.5 m)
Weight: 8.75 to 13 lbs (4 to 6 kg)
Group name: Party
Did you know? A male peafowl is one of the largest flying birds when the combined length of its train and its large wingspan are considered.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Source: National Geographic

A female cat is also known to be called a “queen” or a “molly.”
Call them wide-eyes: cats are the mammals with the largest eyes. Each side of a cat’s face has about 12 whiskers. Rather than nine months, cats’ pregnancies last about nine weeks.

Source: Animal Planet

May this Easter Sunday inspire you to new hope, happiness, prosperity and abundance, all received through God’s divine grace. Easter brings us hope, may it linger in our hearts forever. Wishing you a very Happy Easter. ~WishesQuotes

Every cat may secretly (or openly) wish to be an only pet, getting all the treats and attention you can dole out. But two cats can learn to cohabit, if you provide the right environment for your resident cat to accept a roommate. While cats’ preferences are highly individual, some breeds, such as Persians, Maine Coons, ragdolls and Birmans tend to be more easygoing, adaptable and gentle, and may more readily accept a feline friend. To safeguard the health of both cats, have the new cat examined and vaccinated by a vet, particularly if he is a stray, to ensure he has no parasites, upper respiratory infections or other health issues. With the right precautions in place, all you have to do now is persuade the kitties that life is better with two.  Source: Animal Planet

Just like the rain that gives a new lease of life to a dying plant, a smile and kind words can help someone who is about to give up. ~Mufti Ismail Menk

In understanding and compassion,
I bow down to reconcile myself
with all those who have made me suffer.
I open my heart and send forth my energy
of love and understanding to everyone
who has made me suffer, to those
who have destroyed much of my life
and the lives of those I love.
I know now that these people have themselves
undergone a lot of suffering and that their hearts
are overloaded with pain, anger, and hatred.
I pray that they can be transformed to experience
the joy of living, so that they will not continue
to make themselves and others suffer.
I see their suffering and do not want
to hold any feelings of hatred or anger
in myself toward them. I do not want them
to suffer. I channel my energy of love
and understanding to them and ask
all my ancestors to help them.

~Thich Nhat Hanh

All human beings, should be treated with love and respect, regardless of their skin color, gender, or religious beliefs…

How are we so “different”?
If “different” is just a thing.
If we all have certain features,
What does “different” bring?

People filled with hatred,
Can’t possibly see,
That there’s not really “differences”
Between you and me.

Looks can’t show “difference”,
If they’re just there to be seen.
If you don’t look like someone else,
Why are they so mean?

If being “different” is what is wrong,
I’d rather not be right.
And I’d want to finish living,
Doing the “different” fight.

Poem title: Different
By Vincen Tabatha

Remember that in a hall of perfect darkness, totally dark, if you light one small candle, its light will be seen from afar; its precious light will be seen by everyone. ~Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson

by Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda

Without having moral ideals, science poses a danger to all mankind. Science has made the machine which in turn becomes king. The bullet and bomb are gifts of science to the few in power on whom the destiny of the world depends. Meanwhile the rest of mankind waits in anguish and fear, not knowing when the nuclear weapons, the poisonous gases, the deadly arms–all fruits of scientific research designed to kill efficiently–will be used on them. Not only is science completely unable to provide moral guidance to mankind, it has also fed fuel to the flame of human craving.

Science devoid of morality spells only destruction: it becomes the draconian monster man discovered. And unfortunately, this very monster is becoming more powerful than man himself. Unless man learns to restrain and govern the monster through the practice of religious morality, the monster will soon overpower him. Without religious guidance, science threatens the world with destruction. In contrast, science when coupled with a religion like Buddhism can transform this world into a haven of peace and security and happiness.

Never was there a time when the co-operation between science and religion is so desperately needed in the best interest and service of mankind. Religion without science is crippled, while science without religion is blind.

Cats Love with their Eyes. A kitty’s eyes are proportionately very large—if human’s eyes were the same proportion, our eyes would be eight inches across! As such, cat eyes are important assets for survival, yet extremely vulnerable. Cats that place their faces and wide open eyes near a human express great trust and love. A slow “eye blink” from across the room is considered a cat kiss. ~Amy Shojai