Peacock Bird Problems in Miami
Though known for its bright and colorful plumage, peacocks have become a controversial nuisance in many Miami, Fla., neighborhoods over the past decade. Residents have complained to the city government and media about the bird's high-pitched screeching, public defecation and the potential for illnesses they can pass on to children. However, there are some residents who see benefits in the colorful birds.
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Peacock Problems
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The two main problems that peacocks are causing to the Miami community are noise and feces, according to the Fox News website. These problems came to a head in the fall of 2008 when Miami residents complained about unbearably loud squawking at night and feces over pavements. Resident Martha Rubiano spoke to Fox News and said that the feces could also cause people and younger children to become sick, particularly those swimming or playing in wading pools where the peacocks gather.
Background
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Although residents are unsure of how the peacocks came to the streets of Miami, many believe someone let a pair of peacocks loose back in the 1980s. In the following decades the birds would breed and their street presence would increase -- so much so that the "New York Times" reported that peacocks were often seen in groups as large as 12. According to the article, only a handful of peacocks would be seen in 2000, but at the end of the decade more than 35 peacocks were settling for every three-block radius.
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Removal
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According to City Commissioner Mark Sarnoff (speaking in 2008), the birds are a living embodiment of what Miami represents: a bohemian and anything-goes city. However, residents were calling for the peacocks to be removed after the problems in 2008 -- the council simply replied that they would monitor the situation. The difficulties lie in the fact that Miami law protects peacocks and peahens from trappers because certain areas of the city are recognized as bird sanctuaries. The peacocks are still residents in most Miami neighborhoods, though some now offer trapping services where it is legal to trap the birds.
Positives
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Not all Miami residents see the peacocks as a nuisance. Some, for example, see potential benefits for new home buyers. Coconut Grove retailer Gary Hecht mentioned to Fox News that the birds enchant potential home buyers who are only used to seeing them at the zoo. Another resident added that the birds help slow down traffic when strutting the roads, which is a huge benefit to the safety of pedestrians and younger children.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
