While it may seem funny to include a humble roadhouse in this travel blog- they really take on great importance in the life of a traveller. When you finally reach one when in the outback, you always welcome the sight of petrol bowsers, overpriced fast food ($6 for a meat pie or sausage roll) and if you're lucky a tiny bit of grass to ease the eye. Roadhouses in the bush mean civilisation, hot food, fuel, the chance for a chat with another human being, sometimes a spot for a shower, toilet stop and even accomodation if you need.
The Pardoo roadhouse, between Port Headland and Broome, WA was a brief stop, but all the more memorable because of the wildlife freely roaming- peacocks. http://www.pardoo.com.au/
Now these guys are fascinating. And I mean the male of the species, as the female is a dull brown colour. The male gets all the bright, beautiful plumage and an attitude to match. Charles Darwin theorized that the males needed their colours to ensure that they were able to find a mate. Females have been shown to prefer males with bright plumage as mates, and in some cases these males have indicated a stronger survival instinct and therefore improved genetics. Some studies have shown that chicks sired by the brighter coloured males are born heavier and healthier. Marion Petrie's (1991) studies have determined correlation between tail ornamentation, mating success and increased survival ability in the males and their offspring. Apparently, when the males loose their feathers annually they tend to stay close to the nest and refuse contact. Perhaps they're shy when they haven't got their "make-up" on?
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