Bardon wild peacocks removed by council after complaint

A swoop on wild peacocks in this ritzy inner-west suburb has some locals in a flap. It’s the latest suburb to be split over whether the birds should be culled. TAKE OUR POLL

Council has quietly removed peacocks from Bardon after a complaint. File Picture: Pete Harmsen

A swoop on a flock of wild peacocks living in bushland in ritzy Bardon has some locals in a flap.

A small population of the birds, native to India, have been living for about four decades near Outlook Cres, which backs on to the Mt Coot-tha nature reserve.

In recent years there have been about 10 birds.

Resident Jon Fihelly said they had not been causing problems, unlike in some suburbs such as North Lakes, in Moreton, and Mackenzie in Brisbane’s southside.

He said there was no need for the removal of about five peahens and he was dismayed to be told by the local councillor that the remaining birds would also be removed.

“It’s not the same as Mackenzie where there were at least 30 causing problems with roosting on houses and noises,’’ Mr Fihelly said.

“Council actually came up with a compromise there which everyone has accepted, reducing the number down to low levels and consulting people first.

“We didn’t know anything about this until someone saw the daily impound log at one of the shelters included the peacocks from Bardon.’’

Civic Cabinet Chair for City Standards, Kim Marx, said parts of the city had wild peafowl populations.

“The reality is not everyone wants to share their suburb with this non-native and noisy bird,’’ Cr Marx said.

“While they can be quite beautiful and considered lucky in some cultures, they also cause a lot of noise, a lot of droppings and damage people’s cars and homes by roosting on them.

“Following resident complaints about the peacock presence in Bardon, council worked with a bird expert to take the birds to a new home.’’

Animal Welfare League Queensland is caring for peahens removed from Bardon after a complaint. Picture: Tara Croser

It is understood the birds were now in the care of Animal Welfare League Queensland.

Mr Fihelly claimed the council initially denied having the peacocks, which he said had remained at a stable level for decades unlike at Mackenzie.

He said his checks of the council’s animal complaints records showed none about peacocks for at least a year until December 2022, the last time records were updated.

They had been roosting in trees, not on houses, and made noise only in the breeding season, he said.

The amount of faeces they generated was minimal and scratching from bush turkeys was far worse, as was noise from cockatoos and kookaburras.

“The peacocks are still there (Mackenzie) which makes some happy, but the numbers are fewer so that makes others happy,’’ Mr Fihelly said.

“My old friend, who has passed away, was a local florist.

“She used to collect the feathers and incorporate them into people’s wedding bouquets.

“There are a lot of (Bardon) people who are sincerely and genuinely hurting.”