There is a history of peafowl in Southern California. There have been flocks in the area north of Pasadena and in the south bay. They usually start out with someone wealthy bringing a small flock to their large property. The peafowl do what comes naturally and since they can fly, eventually become feral in the surrounding neighbourhoods. Here's an article from the LA Times with some of the backstory. Here's another one in Los Angeles magazine with a map of peafowl communities.
One thing is for sure, they aren't known for hanging around the westside communities. And yet here we are, with at least one peacock and possibly two (or more) peahens. The males and females haven't met yet but one can hope. (Or maybe not, as peafowl are very large birds with a very distinctive and loud call.)
I've been low-key stalking the Mar Vista peacock since I started seeing the Nextdoor posts. It was a bright spot in an otherwise anxious time. My friend Yuki ran into him outside her building, my neighbour Jasmin ran into him on her walk. I had no luck and was beginning to despair.
Finally this weekend, I went out for a walk and decided on a more circuitous route than I would normally take. As I strolled up one street not far from where I live, I practically tripped over him.
He was grooming and hanging out mostly. He was not much disturbed by dogs being walked (although the owners were very careful with their pups). A local toddler made him a little perturbed by running around him. Eventually, he started strolling up the street so I followed, with him keeping an eye on me.
He finally found a nice shady patch of lawn for a wee rest and I left him in peace.
That was about all the excitement I could handle for the day so I cut my walk short and headed home.
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