Concern over dog risk to Dunfermline’s peacocks

Owners asked to keep their pets on lead in park as excitement grows at arrival of chicks

Thoughtless dog owners could be putting a new clutch of peacocks in Dunfermline at risk.

The town is preparing to welcome some new feathered friends after a resident peahen began laying eggs.

The bird, which lives in Pittencrieff Park, has volunteers on “egg-watch” as they get ready for the new arrivals in the coming months.

The chicks will be the park’s first for years following last year’s deaths of 20-year-old local icon Clive and another peahen.

But there are fears the newly-hatched chicks might be attacked by the dogs of irresponsible owners while off the lead.

Central Dunfermline councillor Garry Haldane, who in his previous job as a postman was attacked 17 times by out-ofcontrol dogs, has called for owners to act more responsibly.

He said: “It causes a big problem when dogs are off the lead and they should be controlled at all times.

“It’s not just for the benefit of the peacocks, new initiatives such as the Play for All playpark and Cycle Without Age will make the Glen busier. We want dogs to be a part of our society, but owners need to be responsible if we want peacocks to be here in the future.”

Suzi Ross, who leads a team of volunteers that care for the birds said: “We don’t want the park to be a dog-free zone, but we are asking that they are kept on leads and there’s a bit of consideration.

“I have been buzzing all week. It’s really exciting. It will be hard work trying to keep them alive, but we hope to have a few chicks that will do well.

“They’re absolutely great animals and I find myself going there pretty much every day because I really enjoy being around them. I took over in September and they were a bit scruffy but they’re looking a lot better now.”

Suzi and a team from Fife Council spruced up the roost, making it cleaner and warmer for the peafowl.

She added: “It’ll be the first time the park has had chicks for years. However, they take quite a bit of time and money, so we’ll be fundraising and all the money will go straight towards the upkeep of the birds.”

The first egg was laid on April 24 and Central Dunfermline Community Council, which has worked to bring pea cocks back to the Glen, shared the exciting news.

The birds have the Freedom of the City and were introduced by philanthropist Henry Beveridge in 1905 when he brought several birds back from India.

Dunfermline has always been noted for its peacock population. With some more new arrivals expected, it appears that fine avian tradition (the birds have even been granted freedom of the city) is to continue.

However, there are warnings irresponisble dog owners could pose problems for the young peacocks.

The message is simple — if you treasure your traditions, handle your hounds.

Picture: Kris Miller. Young peacocks are set to return to Pittencrieff Park for the first time in years.