Many faces have come and gone at Camp Tanasi, our resident summer camp, over the years. But one of the more constant (and feathered!) ones is Percy the Peacock.

Percy first appeared at Camp Tanasi in 2008 in the yard of Kathy and David Hopkins. Kathy is on camp staff and David is GSCSA’s Director of Property Management. Kathy was out in her garden with her grandchildren, when a granddaughter pointed out there was a peacock in the yard!

Kathy, wanting this beautiful bird to stay around, researched what to feed a peacock. Peacocks will eat things like white bread and saltine crackers, in addition to their natural diets of seeds, insects, and berries. Kathy fed the peacock some Zesta saltine crackers, and it was the beginning of a long friendship.

Every pet needs a name, and this peacock is no different. Kathy called him “Percy” after the aristocratic and flamboyant character of “Sir Percy Blakeney” in the 1982 movie The Scarlett Pimpernel. She felt that they had a lot in common.

It took a little while before the news traveled throughout the camp that the peacock had been named Percy. When he first showed up, a contest was held among the campers to name him. The winning moniker? Periwinkle Pickle Peacock.

Of course, peacocks are not native to Tennessee, so where did Percy come from? That is still a mystery. Perhaps he escaped from the Museum of Appalachia, which is located less than ten miles from Tanasi and is home to peacocks in addition to the more usual farm animals. Maybe he was someone’s pet that escaped. Wherever he came from, this peacock was now calling Tanasi home.

Percy took right to camp life. He roamed the grounds (he is said to follow Kathy as if she is his momma). He was fond of hanging out with Kathy and David’s chickens and nibbling on expired Trefoils and animal crackers. Being a social animal, some of his favorite spots included being on top of the Hopkins’ home and peering down through the skylight into the kitchen; or sitting in a chair on the front porch and staring into the kitchen that way. One summer, he took a liking to hanging out under a lifeguard chair. Was it because he enjoyed being poolside, or was it because of the lifeguard’s bright blue bathing suit that mirrored his own coloring? We may never know for sure.

 But in 2013, things changed. Percy disappeared. Kathy’s theory is that he left after their chickens were sold off and then perhaps got caught and kept by someone. Whatever happened, no one saw hide nor feather of Percy for six long years.

Then one day earlier this year (2019), David called Kathy and said, “You’ll never guess who I just saw.” She assumed he was talking about a person. He wasn’t. He was talking about Percy.

Percy had returned to Camp Tanasi, as colorful as ever. He roams the camp as if he never left it. He still follows Kathy around, and he still nibbles on expired Trefoils and animal crackers. Hopefully, Percy has returned to stay for good. After all, he exhibits the same courage, confidence, and character that all Girl Scouts should aspire to! 

On a final note, true to his showman style, Percy inspired camp counselor Sasquatch to create the following rap:

Percy the Peacock Rap
(To the tune of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air)

In Southern Appalachians born and raised at Camp Tanasi
is where he spends most of his days
With different color feathers from green to blue,
but he only shows off in front of his boo
So who is this bird that gets all the talk,
it’s the Camp Tanasi mascot Percy the Peacock
But get too close and he might get scared so stay 20 feet back
and tell him “hi” from there
You’ll see him at the lodge getting a snack
or maybe by the lake after taking a nap
But do not touch him even if it’s a dare, ‘
cause try explaining to the nurse the peacock pulled out your hair
He likes animal crackers that are expired
he wakes up early and never gets tired
He’s got a nice set of feathers and full head of hair
But one thing he’s not is the Fresh Prince of Bel Air!