Male peacocks cause havoc in Hampshire village
Pair of lovelorn male peacocks are terrorising a village by ‘screaming’ at night and destroying gardens as they desperately search for female mates
- Residents in Picket Twenty, Hampshire are being terrorised by two peacocks
- The male birds are desperately seeking female company as it is mating season
- Residents complain the birds are destroying gardens in their hunt to love
- The local council said they will move the birds if residents can corner them
A pair of forlorn male peacocks are terrorising a village, causing sleepless nights and destroying gardens in search of female mates.
The beautiful wild birds have been wandering the streets, ‘screaming’ at night as they seek partners and even entering people’s homes.
Residents in sleepy Picket Twenty just outside Andover, Hampshire, today revealed the birds, referred to by one woman as Albert and Bertie, appeared around a month ago, right in the middle of their mating season.
These two peacocks have been terrorising locals in Picket Twenty, near Andover, Hampshire. The birds have been screaming at night in a failed bid to find themselves a mate
The birds have been named Bertie and Albert by locals, some of whom are happy with the visitors although those with children fear the youngsters will be woken up by the racket
Now, after receiving a string of complaints about the birds taking up residence, the local borough council has told residents if they can ‘catch or corral’ the peacocks then someone will come and collect them.
Lucy Burgess, who has lived in the village for around four years, revealed the peacocks have kept her up at night more than her newborn baby had.
The 29-year-old mother-of-two said: ‘Peacocks’ mating season is April until September, so it’s prime time right now for them.
‘The noise starts at about 9pm and it continues through until about 4am. It’s a screeching noise. The peacocks have been keeping me up more than my newborn baby.
‘There have been a few really bad nights where the birds were sat right on my neighbour’s roof.
‘They did come in our garden at one point as well and caused a right mess. It’s a hygiene issue. I have two young children to think about.’
Another resident Becky McNeil said: ‘They are lovely to look at, don’t get me wrong – it’s just the noise at night.
‘Even when I close the windows, it’s still incredibly noisy. My toddler gets quite frightened, but we’ve never had them in our garden.’
While a third woman, who did not want to be named, added: ‘They came in my house. They were walking around the lounge when I came downstairs.
‘The problem is, they are not scared. My other half was washing his car with the pressure washer and they just walked right up to him.’
Local authority Test Valley Borough Council has now sent letters to local residents and sent an official to talk to those concerned.
Resident Gwen Thomas said: ‘The birds aren’t doing any harm, I quite like them. They like to come into the garden and often perch in our tree.
‘The council have come round with a letter and said if you can catch or corral the birds they will come and collect them and take them somewhere more suitable.
‘But they are allowed to roam and they are only calling out for a mate.’
Councillor Phil Bundy added: ‘It’s understandable that some residents in Picket Twenty are growing frustrated at the two wild peacocks that have recently made it their home.
‘Although the council has no obligation to move the animals on to a new colony, we would need access to a secure location around Picket Twenty in which to safely capture them.
‘We will continue to listen to residents and closely monitor the situation.’
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