- March 28, 2024
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The Village peacock population remains around 50, after the Longbeach Village Association commissioned a wildlife-removal company this summer to relocate half of the flock. Currently the flock’s females, which number between 30 and 35, outnumber its males — meaning that, come breeding season, the polygamous birds could multiply rapidly.
“When they hatch their eggs, there have been very few males that have hatched,” said Longbeach Village Association President Michael Drake. “Most of the time, every female has three to six chicks.”
Residents aren’t sure what the explanation is for the imbalance.
“Maybe it’s a curse on the Village,” joked resident James Braha, who said that peacocks have eaten his vegetables and left behind droppings on his roof and the sidewalk near his home.
The males aren’t easier to capture than females. And, according to retired veterinarian Dr. Lou Newman, who lives in Plymouth Harbor, there isn’t any scientific reason for females to outnumber males.
“Typically with birds, it’s about a 50/50 ratio,” he said. “My best guess would be that when you have a small population, it’s the law of averages.”
Whatever the explanation, Village residents are hoping that the wildlife-removal company, TruTech Inc., which the association recently hired, will remove many of the flock’s females. The company recently began staking out the Village to find the best times and places to capture peacocks. Residents say that not enough peacocks were taken during the summer, when Manatee County company Nuisance Wildlife and Retrieval relocated approximately 60 birds.
Drake declined to give the dates during which peacocks will be removed, because some residents oppose their removal.
“Everybody needs to know that they’re going to good homes, and they’re not being killed,” Drake said.
Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].