May 9, 2012

Beautiful Plumage

Photographic proof of the existence of peacocks on Hamilton Island (Photo: Jackson Perry)

Now, when our recent visitors said that they had seen a peacock outside their Hamilton Island Holiday Home, I confess I looked at them sideways. “Maybe it’s a Pheasant Coucal” I said, with a kindly tilt of my head, displaying my superior knowledge of Australian birds (!). But they were insistent.

One of the last remaining Hamilton Island Peacocks (Photo: Jackson Perry)

So the next time we saw them, at the Sports Club, they came with photographic evidence and I had to concede that there was indeed a peacock on Hamilton Island. For the record, he was lurking up around the Henning Point – One Tree Hill area.

Bill & Leanne Wallace ran the lighthouse on Dent Island, where the Hamilton Island Golf Club is now located, for many years and had many peacocks there amongst the other wildlife. The story I heard from a local was that as the Wallace’s grew older and relocated to Hamilton Island they bought some of their birds with them. Our pictured visitor is one of the last remaining.

If you are a Monty Python fan, you’ll understand me when I say “beautiful plumage”…

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Categories: Behind the Scenes Explore Hamilton Island Our Community Unwind Wildlife

Tags: Bill Wallace Dent Island Leanne Wallace one tree hill peacock Pheasant Coucal

About the Author

My family and I are new to Hamilton Island and are having a great time exploring all the things our new home has to offer. Join us on our adventures as we discover Hamilton Island. Jenni.

By Jenni