Our Peafowl are Probably Here to Stay
Besides making it impossible to plant many tender annuals and
other plants because of the peafowl's propensity to feed on the tender new growth and
flowers of many plants, peafowl at the Arboretum eat bugs, snails,
slugs and many other pests that would decimate far more plants than the peacocks could possibly damage. They also feed on snakes which may be why snakes are seldom seen here at the Arboretum.
We Are Not the Only Place In Greater L.A. to Be Blessed
with these Fowl -Here Are Some Other Areas That Have Them:
Victor Heights –
a working class section of LA west of Chinatown. Peacocks are actually part of the
neighborhood here; are not unwelcome guests.
They are described as noisy, disruptive, and temperamental but neighbors
have grown to accept them. Eggs are left
on porches to hatch, people drive slowly to avoid hitting the peafowl, children
collect their feathers, and people enjoying watching the funny mating rituals
often performed in the streets. No one
claims ownership over the stubborn and independent peafowl; old-timer residents
feel they are their protectors and feed them unsalted shelled peanuts, fruit,
dry cat food, birdseed, toasted bread.
Palos Verdes –
peacocks came here in the 1920's when a wealthy landowner was given peacocks as
a gift because the area was too quiet.
They Dapplegray neighborhood in Rolling Hills Estates is considered a
peafowl protection zone. Some newer
residents are not peacock friendly – there are have peacock hit-and-runs. Mary Jo Hazard wrote a children’s book called
“The Peacocks of Palos Verdes”
Transcript of above:
Arcadia – E.J.
“Lucky” Baldwin, founder of Arcadia, imported peacocks while on a trip in India
around 1880. They are very useful for
the ranch, eating snakes and snails, and were good watchdogs (alerting when
large predators were near with loud cries).
Ownership was a status symbol, and it was fashionable in the late 1800's
and early 1900's for well-to-do people to decorate their properties with unique
animals. One source believes Baldwin to
be the first to bring peacocks to the continental United States. One rumor believes Baldwin gave peacocks to
Frank Vanderlip, owner of the Palos Verdes peninsula, but they were actually
given to Vanderlip by the Wrigley family (chewing gum). The last census of Arboretum
peafowl was done almost ten years ago by students from Caltech found over 400
populating the grounds.
L.A. times article on Arcadia Peacocks:
La Canada Flintridge
– peacocks came in the early 1900s, when Kansas Judge Edwin Sargent bought the
property he found them there. LA attorney Frank P. Doherty bought the land from
Sargent in 1936. The peacocks killed and ate rattlesnakes, which were a
nuisance in the area.
Santa Susana Pass,
Ventura County – Ten years ago the wild peacocks there were causing such a
nuisance that some residents complained to the Ventura county animal control
officials. The county rounded up 30
peafowl and removed them to Wildlife Way Station – a refuge for exotic animals
in the Angeles National Forest.
Supporters of peafowl like that they kill rattlesnakes and
insects, squawk when coyotes are near, and the population seems to be
controlling itself. Non-supporters don’t
like the damage to gardens, the noise, and the droppings.
Peafowl Abroad:
Peacocks in China:
The peacock (孔雀) is an earthly manifestation of the
heavenly phoenix, and the hundred eyes on its tail are believed to activate
fame, luck, promote public admiration and bring positive motives from other
people. The peacock is believed to be able to relight the fires of an ailing
relationship due to the fiery energy of the animal.
It associated with Guan Yim (goddess of compassion, mercy
and kindness); both transmute evil into beauty as the peacock feeds on snakes
and Guan Yim helps the suffering thereby turning evil into beauty.
In decorative art, the peacock symbolizes dignity and
beauty.
Peacocks in India:
Wild peacocks originated in the deep forests of India; the
Indian the peafowl is the national bird of India. People like having peacocks around because
they eat small poisonous snakes and other pests.
Indian blue peacocks are not considered endangered, but the
green specie is endangered in southern parts of Asia (mostly in India) due to
deforestation and hunting/poaching
Eating peacock:
Peacock served in hotels in China and has been well received
for its sweet and fragrant taste and its low fat content.
Eaten in rural areas of Australia; the meat is described as
cross between chicken and duck, and quite substantial. Since the undomesticated peacocks fight
constantly in the breeding season, they try to keep those numbers down by eating
2-3 peacocks a year.
Peacock was a popular dish in medieval Europe reserved for
the royal and noble classes. The custom
was to serve the bird in its feathers for dramatic display. According to an article by a gourmand who
prepared it the meat is not as good as turkey, goose, or pheasant – and it is
rather dry.
Peacock Evolution:
Peacocks have been at the center of the controversy between evolutionists
and creationists recently. Previous studies showing that pea hens preferred not
to mate with peacocks with a reduced
number feather
eye-spots. A slew of recent studies, several done here at the Arboretum,
have added to what the older studies had concluded. One such such study found
that peacocks with the highest eye-spot numbers did not have more mating success
than other peacocks. This study was immediately jumped on by
creationists as proof
against sexual selection. However other recent studies have suggested that
a minimum number of eye-spots is necessary, but having more than the minimum
does not guarantee additional success. Other studies have found that, besides
having the minimum number of spots a peacock with an exceedingly iridescent (iridescence
is the glowing, vibrant quality of the peacocks coloration that is the result
of the Bragg reflection) eye-spots were more successful at mating. It is thought
that the quality of the eye-spots iridescence reflects the overall health and fitness
of the male peacock.
Peacock researcher Roslyn Dakin’s blog (from 5/52008 and
earlier she blogs about here experience here at the Arboretum):
Thanks to Arboretum Volunteer Angela Lee for compiling this list.
