The peafowl in the city of Glendale are running afoul of their human neighbors.
Glendale’s famous peacocks and peahens live on the 17 acres that is the historic Sahuaro Ranch near 59th and Peoria avenues. The flock started with two birds purchased at the Chicago’s World’s Fair in the 1930s.
"And from that small start, they have now grown to a flock of somewhere between 130 and 160," explains Glendale City Councilman Bart Turner.
He says the flock is running out of space. The growing population, which could hit 300 birds by fall 2026 according to city estimates, is spreading out to surrounding areas.
"They've been expanding out into the neighborhood, particularly into our library next door and into that parking lot and the asphalt and it's, they struggle finding places to build nests, to hatch their young," said Turner.
They also leave quite a mess and causing damage.
"It's a never-ending battle to keep up with power washing things to keep the library clean and sanitary outside," Turner said.
Turner says the City Council discussed a few different options.
"The one that we decided on is to contract with a company out of California that relocates wildlife into better habitats. They won't be released in the wild, I don't think, but they'll be put up for adoption," Turner said.
Other options suggested by city staff were adding peafowl to current city code that prohibits the feeding of pigeons, as well as a catch, sterilize and release program.
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Conservationists say the plans for managing the declining species could push them closer to extinction.
