Celebrity Impersonators: Featuring Fossi

Celebrity impersonator 'Fossi.' © Connie Korbel. Do not use without permissions.

This Manchester ranch has dozens of entertaining personalities, mostly of the two-footed feathered kind. Yes, of course, there are the typical four-legged farm varieties of dogs, cats, cows, horses, even three gnarly-looking billy goats. They each play a role in ranch life, although some are more in a supporting role than in the main cast, the headliners so to speak; some are like extras hanging around the set waiting for the director to call for them to stand in.

'Fossi.' © Connie Korbel.

The superstar is undoubtedly Fossi.

From the beginning on my arrival in May, it was evident that Fossi, a magnificent Asian peacock, stood head and shoulders above all others. If watching this bird move fluidly about with utterly complete poise, aloof to other peacocks of far lesser stature and glorious beauty isn’t enough, behold the morning routine in which he captivates a rapturous audience as he demonstrates with complete mastery the dance routine that only a peacock can perform.

It is for this reason that the first ‘Celebrity Impersonator’ was affectionately named Fossi.

Fossi doesn’t so much strut, as he glides—both on foot and wing. About six weeks ago, a lesser, younger male decided one day, seemingly out of the blue to human observation, to ‘take Fossi on’. It was quite an alarming scene. Fossi was clearly not the aggressor, merely stepping out of reach except when forced to respond. And then, watch out! Both birds would leave the ground as they sparred two and three feet off the ground. All this happened within our yard and driveway. It felt endless, although it lasted off and on for only about thirty minutes, as I watched first from a window and then the open doorway.

'Fossi' puts on his morning act. © Connie Korbel.

Fossi apparently won that battle. The other peacock inevitably accepted defeat and sauntered off crossing into the unmown field of gently swaying golden grass, gradually moving out of view. The audience of other fowl observers responded likewise, while unperturbed Fossi casually continued his search for bugs and buds in our yard as though nothing had happened. All in a day’s work for the show's choreographer?

In early August, Fossi began to molt. One by one, his luxurious tail feathers dropped. As the molting progressed, gradually he lost his glamorous 'Red Carpet' look. I retrieved feathers from the ground everywhere. We sent our visiting Santa Barbara friends home with a fistful about mid-way before they had all dropped; Fossi looked unimpressive in his tattered state.

'Fossi' sparring. © Connie Korbel.

I’ve already noticed tufts of short fluffy feathers protruding from Fossi’s backside.  It shouldn’t be too long before he’s back in all his tail-feather glory—in time for next year's mating season. Even so, the other day he still put on quite a display for three speckled peahens at the foot of our doorsteps. In the meantime, there’s no morning dance performances, but I imagine he’s enjoying a respite from his celebrity impersonation act.

Next up? Maybe the Righteous Brothers. Or Simon & Garfunkel. How about Loretta Lynn? Hmmmm.

'Fossi' without tail feathers. © Connie Korbel.

'Fossi.' © Connie Korbel.

'Fossi.' © Connie Korbel.

Audience in the cheap seats. © Connie Korbel.