Peacocks have been roaming wild around the Palos Verdes Peninsula since the 1920s. However, in recent years the peacock population has been rapidly increasing, causing many residents throughout the peninsula to have mixed emotions about these colorful birds.

One of the many things the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula is known for is the peafowl, or more commonly referred to as the peacock. The peafowls that reside in Palos Verdes are descendants of the Indian or Blue peafowls native to South Asia. Although no one is entirely certain of when and how these birds were brought to Palos Verdes, many accept that the peacocks were brought to Palos Verdes in the 1920s, and that Frank Vanderlip, known for serving under President McKinley as Secretary of the Treasury and founding Palos Verdes, introduced them to the peninsula.

This nonnative species has taken over the peninsula. Due to their overabundance, the birds are seen as a nuisance to those around them. Just a ten minute daily drive to school can lead to sightings of at least four peacocks. A 2014 census published and reviewed by the Palos Verdes’s city council revealed that from June of 2014 to October of the same year, four neighborhoods on the peninsula surveyed had their peacock population increase by a whopping 128%. This increase in peafowls are irritating residents.

From pecking the paint off of cars to leaving excrement on roofs and yards, the peacocks are bothering many homeowners. Their less than mellifluous screeches annoy those within hearing vicinity. Not to mention their blatant disregards for cars, as they walk onto the roads without a care and take their sweet time to cross. This can push some people to take extreme measures, such as the incident from three years ago where a peacock killer or killers have taken it upon themselves to curb the peafowl population. Nearly three dozen birds were killed in 2012.

Despite the feelings these birds may cause, the peafowls are still treasured by many of the older residents of the community. They argue that peacocks are a part of the peninsula’s history. And while they are, the peacock population can only grow even further. Since many complaints have arisen, the city council has agreed to trap and allocate some of the birds. However, there are many still searching for a more effective method of reducing their population.

<April Lee Palos Verdes High School 9th Grade>