Beware the Cock of the Walk
Orlando Residents Complain of Winter Park Peacock Invasion
by Anne Mooney / July 14, 2022
This reporter has always maintained the wisdom of remaining at a Commission meeting until the very end, because that’s when the best stuff happens.
Last night’s meeting was no exception. After a riveting budget presentation by the City Manager, followed by discussion of a couple of opaque ordinances regarding future land use on a residential lot, Commissioner Sheila DeCiccio reported receiving an email from an Orlando resident to let the City know that Winter Park’s iconic peacocks are moving south. The Orlando resident, whose car roof had been commandeered as a peacock roost, demanded the City come get the peacock and return it to Winter Park.
Symbol of Winter Park
It’s true, the iconic peacock is the oh-so-visible symbol of Winter Park. It is also true that the peacocks are wild birds, and Winter Park can no more relocate itinerant peacocks than they can move menacing mockingbirds or repatriate recalcitrant robins. Fish and Wildlife insists the wandering peacocks are not part of their portfolio either.
A peacock’s physical traits alone can justify a healthy respect for the birds. Though only male peafowl possess the bright trains of tail feathers for which the species is known, both peacocks and peahens are big, with some birds clocking in at close to 4 1/2 feet tall, with a wingspan of the same length. Peafowl have sharp beaks and talons, and emit a piercing shriek that can startle even a practiced avian caretaker.
Peacocks – territorial
Peafowl, especially the male peacocks, are aggressively territorial. Nesting peahens who have laid eggs will attack anyone who gets too close to their nest, and peacocks – who prefer to keep a harem of peahens to themselves when mating – will attack encroaching males. Combined with the peacock’s low intelligence, this has caused wild peacocks in urban areas to attack dark-colored luxury cars. A bird sees his reflection, interprets it as a second bird and attacks, which can spell ruination for the paint job on an expensive car.
2022 a good year for baby peafowl
DeCiccio reports the Windsong neighborhood in particular has experienced a bumper crop of baby peafowl this year. And, with the rapid increase in population, the Windsong peacocks have taken to claiming streets as territory and will try to prevent vehicles from intruding on their streets. She says the only way she knows to make the birds move out of the way is to bait them with food, such as a slice of bread. “Otherwise, those birds are not moving,” said DeCiccio. “If anyone goes around, it will be you, not the bird.”
Peacocks – slow and not terribly bright
While peacocks also have been seen chasing people to take their food, the good news is that because of their huge tails, they’re quite slow. Commissioner DeCiccio, who is currently wearing a boot to protect a broken foot, says even with the boot, she can outpace a peacock.
Peacocks are protected in Florida
Peacocks are not endangered, but they are protected under Florida laws. Many Florida cities boast large populations of the birds. Native to India and Southeast Asia, peacocks thrive in Florida and, like many exotic species, love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re here to stay.
I think they would make an outstanding addition to Punta Gorda. Can you trap a few for transport?
Those Orlando people seem literally (pea) cock-sure of themselves.
cock·sure: presumptuously or arrogantly confident.
Interesting that nature is reversing “land invasion on people”. Go you wryly peacock! The article highlights the protection of these beauties and yes, may have “intruded” on someone’s car (I’d be interested in knowing exactly how many Orlando residents the invasion occurred) as mankind has pushed and pushed these birds and so many other animals out of their homes and nesting grounds. I feel they are just finally “speaking up” asking man to stop building and destroying their habitats. Let the residents make an insurance claim and let’s do all we can to protect these beauties.
…repatriate recalcitrant robins…Loved the alliteration
And…move menacing mockingbirds!!!
We love our peacocks!!
I was blessed to have two peacock visitors all the way over to my front yard on the Aloma “highway “, near Lake Osceola.
They were determined to cross Aloma So a jogger and I stopped 4 lanes of traffic, and they crossed happily over to Lake Sylvan.
Peacocks are so special! I want to tell you about an incident years ago. An alligator killed a neighbor’s dog. We had a neighborhood meeting and asked a wild life professional to come and see what could be done. He came and his answer was” The alligators were here long before any of you were.” Enjoy the peacocks!
Brilliantly entertaining. Thanks!
I wonder how the coyotes feel about peacocks
They are welcome in my yard. Is there a city employee to call for relocation? I’m on a stream… 🦚
Well done, Anne! You made my morning!
As an alumna of the first graduating class of Brookshire Elementary, my family lived in Winter Park’s Kenilworth Shores neighborhood on Balmoral Road. Our backyard bordered orange groves owned by the Genius estate decades before the Windsong development. There peacocks flocked, roosting in our backyard tree house, laying eggs in the shrubs and entertaining us. The birds lured neighborhood kids over the fence and into the magical grove, where we played along the shore of Lake Mizelle until their sunset cry served as our call home for dinner. I smiled while reading Anne Mooney’s reflection in The Winter Park Voice. She’s right: they were here first. May the majestic peafowl “live long and prosper.”
And also with you
I met a person from Sanford that had the same issue of happy peacocks over populating their neighborhood street and all the yards. They found a man from Apopka area that collected a large group of the roaming peacocks, put them in his trailer, and relocated them onto a large natural wilderness property. The Sanford street still has peacocks but much lower population 🙂 win win
A few useful facts: peacocks like dry places with a view for roosting. The resident whose vehicle is serving that purpose may have success with a well-placed sprinkler, providing they have a greater tolerance for water spots than scaring them off with a blow horn. Alternatively, allowing more raccoons to stick around will limit the population. They like the eggs for breakfast. That said, it’s Winter Park so I assume they’ll just mysteriously disappear with no trace but for a sudden windfall of feathers to sell on Park Avenue.
My vote is for more raccoons.