Why are there so many feral peafowl in California?

Question

Do you know the history of peacock migration to the U.S.?

Also, if you're a Californian, are you pro- or anti-peacock?

Answer 1

peafowl are generally considered to be pretty birds, especially peacocks with full plumage. like many pets, some escape or are "freed" to go wild after the owners grow tired of them. I didn't realize that it was a big problem, but I can see that California's habitat might be similar to peafowl's native habitat in India.

Doing a little web research i see that there is a problem with some feral flocks in the Ranchos Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills Estates/Portuguese Bend area of Los Angeles.

http://www.metnews.com/articles/2005/butl122905.htm

"Peafowl... were brought to Palos Verdes Estates by a former mayor many years ago. The mayor kept the peafowl in a pen behind his home, but his family released the peafowl into the wild in 1965 following his death."

as a californian, i think that peafowl, as a non-native species, probably should go - because they may upset the ecology of wild areas for native california species by competing for food sources and nesting sites. Growing up, one of my neighbors had a day care center in her home, along with some pet peafowl, which made a lot of noise. I didn't really care for them, but at least she didn't let them loose.

Answer 2

same reason that there are so many people here - climate. and of course good opportunities in the hi-tech industry, thats where most peacocks are employed. i don't like to think of myself as pro or anti peacock, that would be racist. sort of. after all, we may look different but we're all just people! sort of.