‘Abandoned’ peacocks have residents in a flap
TWO peacocks have been causing chaos in a residential street for around two months.
A male and a female bird appear to have been abandoned in the Holystone area of North Tyneside. They have been going into people’s gardens, sitting on their roofs and bins and pecking cars.
The peacocks, which are always together, have also been wandering around in the middle of the road and have nearly been hit by vehicles. They are believed to have been residing on Devonshire Drive and Windsor Place for almost six weeks.
Claire Henderson, from Palmersville, said her dad lives on Devonshire Drive in Holystone, and she sees them everyday. The 40-year-old said: “When I first saw them I was shocked. I was like am I actually seeing this? It’s not something you expect to see.
“You walk out the door and there’s two peacocks, it’s absolutely insane. They tend to just wonder around. They’re always together, they’re inseparable. It does seem like they have been abandoned.
“They wander around, they’re in people’s gardens, on top of people’s roofs and bins – it’s bizarre. They are there everyday. They’re sitting pecking cars because they can see their own reflection.
“You can drive down the street and there’s a peacock in front of your car. It’s a residential street with a really busy school run. I don’t know how they haven’t been killed. They’ve nearly been hit a few times. There’s been a few narrow misses.”
Claire, who works as a nutritional assistant at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, said she has been contacting organisations over the last few weeks in a desperate attempt to get them rescued but she has so far been unsuccessful.
She said: “I’m worried about them, really worried. If one gets killed what will happen to the other one?
“They should be in a nice area, on a farm, where they can be safe. Other people in the area feel the same. They are desperate to get them in a nice little area.
“I have contacted a number of places to try to get them to catch them – Blyth Rescue Centre, the RSPCA, Pets Corner at Jesmond Dene. Blyth Rescue Centre tried to catch them and were unsuccessful.
“It’s like banging your head on a brick wall trying to get these poor birds rescued. It’s taking ages. I did consider capturing it myself but I’m not sure how you get a hold of a peacock! We just need someone who can give them a home.”
John Anderson, who runs Blyth Wildlife Rescue, said that they had been out to try and catch the peacocks three times but that they were unable to do so due to them being on people’s roofs.
He also said the fact they are able to fly shows they are probably in good health. He said: “They can get off the ground and on top of people’s houses. As long as they’re able to get off the ground that’s then safe from night time predators.” The RSPCsaid they need to prioritise urgent cases of animal cruelty and neglect. A spokesperson for the animal welfare charity said: “As we’re currently receiving a call for help approximately every 30 seconds and having to prioritise urgent cases of animal cruelty and neglect, we’d urge the owner – who has responsibility for these birds and which we understand are not sick or injured – to make themselves known.
“We wouldn’t advise members of the public to try and handle them for their own safety as they have large razor-sharp talons.”
Urban Green Newcastle said Pet’s Corner in Jesmond Dene is unable to accept animal donations. A spokesperson added: “Unfortunately we’re not an animal rescue charity, and we’re unable to accept animal donations at Pets’ Corner. As a small site, we only have capacity to care for a limited number of animals at Pets’ Corner.”