TAMS have the sad news that they’re taking action against the burgeoning peacock population in the Inner South:
To help address a growing number of complaints from residents, as well as protect surrounding parkland, a program will be undertaken to relocate up to 20 peacocks that are located in Narrabundah, Territory and Municipal Services announced today.
There is an estimated 30 feral peacocks that roost in Narrabundah and arrangements have been made with Taronga Zoo to take up to 20 of them. It is thought the peacocks originated from a wildlife park in Symonston which closed in the 1980s.
“In recent times there has been a growing number of complaints from the residents of St Aidan’s Court, as well as in the broader Narrabundah area, about the problems the peacocks are causing.
These problems include noise and droppings as well as damage to buildings, gardens and parkland,” said Fleur Flanery, Director, City Services.
“The peacocks have also been reported as posing potential traffic hazards. Peacocks are a feral introduced species so we do need to look at how we manage their growing population.
One wonders what other remnants of the Ghost Zoo are still running free?
[Photo by Madison Berndt CC BY 2.0]
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dungfungus said :
Them too… 🙂
Thumper said :
What about the peahens?
poetix said :
Yep, it is indeed the female who does the choosing in peacocks – peahens select a mate from a congregation of displaying males based on the number of “eye-spots” in his train (preferring a larger number).
dungfungus said :
I guess the thing here is that these birds seem to be at least semi-tame and their relatively small number makes them a suitable candidate for trapping and relocation, which isn’t possible with kangaroos.
Save the peacocks!
poetix said :
Oh yes no question the male puts it out there but it’s the peahens who do the choosing.Sounds rather familiar…
bundah said :
I would have thought having to flaunt himself like that meant that the females did the choosing, based on the size and beauty of the tail. They sit around like critics.
What a sadly missed opportunity – on the Subcontinent, tigers are known to hunt peacocks, so the introduction of one or two of those splendid beasties would not only provide wonderful Youtube and Instagram opportunities for the good folk of Narrabundah, as nature took its course, it should also deal with the elusive tyre slasher. When will these bumbling local officials ever learn…….?
poetix said :
The peacock is quite the stud for he has up to six peahens in his harem so could it be that they’re subservient? 🙂
Can you eat them. I vote for plucking one and cooking it like a roast goose.
I’d be happy to see them up my way. I used to breed peacocks and a range of other pheasants and parrots. They’re lovely birds. And while droppings might be a minor annoyance, I doubt they’d be supplanting much in the way of native species, given they are only living in built-up areas and are probably being fed by residents or they wouldn’t go even close to getting enough to eat.
Did you know the peacock down in the valley was the alarm that always warned the Kelly Gang when the troopers were coming?
Every boy is Sabine in this species. No-one ever mentions the peahens!
Why not move them up to Parliament House?
They’d look great wandering around the grounds there.
dungfungus said :
This seems like a really good idea. Perhaps they could be desexed? Failing that, I expect there’s plenty of properties and places around Canberra and beyond who would take them. They’re not cheap to buy.
beardedclam said :
Sounds like a hippie Fifty Shades of Grey.
(Which, of course, I have not read.)
I wonder if this program will be a cock up!
Maybe eventualy we could have 100 cocks in 100 forests……..
sarahblaec said :
TAMS can cull native kangaroos when they have to so why not some feral peacocks?
Aren’t they undertaking a rabbit control program currently? Instead of “transferring the problem across the ACT” it would localise them if they were re-located to the arboretum and the tourists could feed them (for a fee) so why would they want to go anywhere else? The arboretum is already home to quite a few feral hares and foxes; the peacocks will add diversity.
The TAMS media release says ““It is not possible to relocate them in the Canberra region as this may simply transfer the problem more broadly across the ACT” although they may not have considered establishing the group as a new captive population – I guess it can’t hurt to ask.
On the plus side though, while they’ve not indicated what they intend to do with the remaining 10-or-so birds, the 20 they’re trapping are heading off to a new home at Taronga Zoo which is a really good outcome.
johnboy said :
I was going to suggest an email to John Mackay but…………………….
Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :
You could try and phone the person who made the press release (go to link on RA article).
Also, do a Google images of “peacocks at Cataract Gorge”.
You can be sure TAMS will be reading. But an email to Shane Rattenbury should do it!