Rancho Palos Verdes Peacock Population Increases, Officials Plan Control Measures

Peacocks are quite a sight to see on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, but recently their numbers have been on the rise, causing some residents to see them as a bit of a bother. This fall, officials in Rancho Palos Verdes are taking action to trap and relocate some of these colorful birds in an effort to reduce the population and minimize their nuisance behaviors. The goal is to decrease their numbers by around 30%.

While some residents still find the peacocks delightful, others have voiced concerns about issues like the birds running across roads, posing a danger to drivers. In response to these concerns, the City Council has decided to reinstate a program to trap and remove peafowl in three neighborhoods where the highest number of birds have been spotted.

One of these neighborhoods, Portuguese Bend, is also dealing with significant landslide movement, making it all the more important to manage the peafowl population responsibly. According to Megan Barnes, a spokesperson for Rancho Palos Verdes, the goal is not to eliminate the peafowl entirely, but to maintain the population at levels identified in 2000 while also educating the public on how to coexist with these birds.

The peacock population in Rancho Palos Verdes is currently the highest it’s been since 2014, with 216 birds spotted across six neighborhoods, up from 165 the previous year. These birds, known for their distinctive calls during mating season and habit of perching on rooftops and causing damage, are not native to the area but have been a part of the community for over a century.

By working to manage the peafowl population, officials hope to strike a balance between preserving the unique charm these birds bring to the area while also addressing the concerns of residents who see them as a nuisance.