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Peafowl Invade Coconut Grove

Sunday, February 25, 2012 Miami, FL

At approximately 9:00 AM this morning, in a shocking display of arrogance, a pack of peafowl (commonly known as “peacocks”) began their invasion of the Utopia subdivision in Coconut Grove, Miami, FL. These large birds formed a “hunting pack” converging on homes with flat roofs. Residents were awakened by sounds of animals scratching on their roofs. The large birds foraged for plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians. Other evidence of the invasion included cries that sounded like a cat being skinned alive. Dogs, many of them fearful for their lives, were heard barking in the distance as the invasion continued. At the peak of the invasion, I personally counted sixteen birds ripping seed pods and insects off the roof next door and one house down.

Although these peafowl are indigenous to Japan and India, they are considered rare in the wild in North America. The peafowl began appearing after 1992. It is hypothesized that the ancestors of these peafowl were released into the wild from the Wings of Asia aviary at the Miami Dade Zoological Park and Gardens during Hurricane Andrew.

The birds have a voracious appetite and are known to decimate fruit crops and exotic plants. As a protected species in Miami Dade, the animals have no fear of people or automobiles which has also caused traffic disruptions from time to time. After about 90 minutes the pack moved on to greener pastures. No humans were harmed during the invasion. After the invasion, there were no reports of missing children, domestic animals, or motor vehicles. However, a couple vehicles were “marked” which when translated from chicken scratch, read “don’t tread on me!”