LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A peacock in the process of damaging a car
Other than the coconut itself, nothing in Coconut Grove is more emblematic of our neighborhood than the Peacock. Its beauty and elegance are so fitting with our lush canopy. I love it when the peacocks come around my home and am happy that we have them.
Some Neighborhoods, however, have experienced a significant population explosion that has become out of control and dangerous for the birds. Hundreds can be spotted within a few blocks, and they have been hit by cars. The overpopulation has also caused the males to become aggressive as they are competitive for females. As you can see in the attached video and photo, they see their own reflection in parked cars and use their hind claws to attack. Many instances of this property damage have been brought to my attention as your Commissioner. While priority for peacock safety remains, I do understand our responsibility to address this issue of overpopulation in certain areas.
Throughout the County, residents are allowed to call for removal of peafowl from their property. In the City of Miami, however, bird protections disallow residents and even the government to address the overpopulation issue. For this reason, I have been seeking advice from Tropical Audubon Society and studying how other cities have worked on this. In next week’s city commission meeting, I am proposing an amendment to our code to allow the City to carefully and humanely address this issue where necessary. It is a first reading of the ordinance and is open to amendment to make sure that we continue to protect peacocks and get this right.
This legislation will allow the city to study the population throughout the various neighborhoods and where necessary, work together with vetted, humane relocation specialists to take some of the birds to vetted, humane sanctuaries. Most neighborhoods will see no relocation at all. To be clear, this will not allow residents to conduct their own removals and neighbors cannot simply call up the city for removal because they do not like peacocks. There will be a process, and the result will be a healthy population with periodic relocation. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or recommendations. First reading of the legislation will be next Thursday at City Commission. Public Comment begins after 9 am.
Ken Russell
Chairman
City of Miami Commission
[email protected]
A peacock in the process of damaging a car
Other than the coconut itself, nothing in Coconut Grove is more emblematic of our neighborhood than the Peacock. Its beauty and elegance are so fitting with our lush canopy. I love it when the peacocks come around my home and am happy that we have them.
| Damage to a car done by peacocks |
Throughout the County, residents are allowed to call for removal of peafowl from their property. In the City of Miami, however, bird protections disallow residents and even the government to address the overpopulation issue. For this reason, I have been seeking advice from Tropical Audubon Society and studying how other cities have worked on this. In next week’s city commission meeting, I am proposing an amendment to our code to allow the City to carefully and humanely address this issue where necessary. It is a first reading of the ordinance and is open to amendment to make sure that we continue to protect peacocks and get this right.
This legislation will allow the city to study the population throughout the various neighborhoods and where necessary, work together with vetted, humane relocation specialists to take some of the birds to vetted, humane sanctuaries. Most neighborhoods will see no relocation at all. To be clear, this will not allow residents to conduct their own removals and neighbors cannot simply call up the city for removal because they do not like peacocks. There will be a process, and the result will be a healthy population with periodic relocation. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions, concerns, or recommendations. First reading of the legislation will be next Thursday at City Commission. Public Comment begins after 9 am.
Ken Russell
Chairman
City of Miami Commission
[email protected]
