Dart’s Tree Farm on Main Bayview Road in Southold is well known for its outstanding cut-your-own Christmas trees.
But about seven years ago the Darts added a colorful and unusual feature to their farm — an aviary housing a small flock of peacocks.
The three generation, 17-acre historic family farm is operated by Ed Dart and his wife Judy. It also includes 140 chickens of many sizes and colorful varieties. Their eggs are sold on the farm.
Ed’s grandparents, George Fletcher Downs and his wife Effie, had chickens some 100 years ago. Ed says that Judy just loves having the birds around
When asked why he added the peacocks he said, “I just wanted to have something pretty to have here at the farm for our visitors. They just want to see something pretty that they can’t have at home.”
Typically the term “peacock” is used to refer to both sexes, but technically only the males are peacocks. The females are peahens.
When the peacocks molt the Darts save the tail feathers and at Christmas time they use them to make wreaths.
See more photos below
Your North Fork Sunday Scene features weekly snap shots of life on Long Island’s top fork
Previous North Fork Sunday Scenes:
Roaming the pasture at McCall Vineyards and Ranch
A New Suffolk Ave. sunset drive
Icicles form at Iron Pier Beach
Birds of many feathers in Riverhead
Late fall harvest at Andrews Family Farm
‘Zenful’ flowers in Baiting Hollow
Hello from this North Fork mama and her babies
