Escaped peacock terrorizes River Heights! (Not!)
June 13, 2007
I first saw him surrounded by a group of people around when I got home from work on Wednesday. I assume that he escaped from the zoo. By the time I rushed inside and got my camera, he had flown up onto the roof of Pineridge Hollow, on the corner of Academy and Borebank. (Apparently, peacocks can fly short distances). After I snapped a few pictures, he flew down and proceeded to cross Academy Road. I did a good deed and helped him cross the street. I held out my hand to warn the few approaching cars to stop, and he made it safely across.
By that time, there were a few more people out to take pictures and watch over him.
One young lady remarked that it looked like 'my friend' wanted to go back to the zoo. Paraphrasing an old joke, I replied that "He was at the zoo yesterday", and that "Today, he wants to go to the beach."
The last I saw of him, he was walking towards Wellington Crescent.
From other bystanders, I gathered that the zoo was not able to come and collect him. Animal Services couldn't either, and the Humane Society only has one van for the entire city, which is used for animals in distress. This particular peacock seemed quite content.
I heard that another peacock had been sighted in Island Lakes. I can't speak for the state of mind of that particular bird.
Safely across Academy Road.
Grazing on the boulevard on Borebank.
