A Glendora Common Peafowl Population

History & Observations

Copyright December, 2007

Dick Swinney

Last Update: Sep. 10, 2012

There are currently two feral populations of Common Peafowl Pavo cristatus living within the City of Glendora boundaries. In the past, there was a small population of Peafowl at the head of north Grand Avenue at the Burner’s estate which no longer exists. Other populations have no doubt existed and will be included here in future revisions.

Of the two current populations, the one centered around the late Mike Rubel’s Castle (Tin Palace) at the south-east corner of Live Oak Avenue and Palm Avenue, is the largest.

The following information is taken from an article in The San Gabriel Valley Examiner from July __, 2010 by Jayam Rutnam:

The peafowl near the Rubel Castle, living between Live Oak Ave. and Palm Dr., are the offspring from a pair of Peafowl introduced to the Castle some time after 1958. The birds have multiplied and occupy a full block between Palm and Sierra Madre Avenue in the Huerta Verde district. At last count, there are about thirty birds in the City of Glendora.

There was no mention in the above article about the N. Vermont/Glendora Aves. population, which had twenty-two birds at the time the article was written. I assume the mention of approximately thirty birds in the City of Glendora refers only to the Rubel Castle population. l would appreciate receiving information relating to Peafowl living within Glendora’s boundary.

Natural History and Background Information

Resident of the Indian Subcontinent, this is one of only two species of Peafowl belonging to the genus Pavo. The upper tail coverts on its back (also called the train), are the display feathers characteristic of the males. The hens generally lay four to eight eggs. These hatch in 28 days. They are light brown in color and are laid every other day usually in the afternoon. The male does not assist with rearing and is polygamous with up to six hens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Peacock#Gallery

In the wild, nests are simple scrapes in thick underbrush (Whitfield 1984). Young are precocial and don’t attain full adult plumage for three to five years (Delacous & Ridley 1985). MyFWC.com (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Pavo cristatus does not have any subspecies but a number of recessive mutations do exist. Of these, the Pied seems to be closest in resemblance to the white-colored mother of this local population. The number of recognized mutations for the Common Peafowl has greatly increased in the last twenty years. http://www.gbwf.org/pheasants/blue_peafowl.html

A number of feral populations exist within the US. These populations have a tendency to die out over time unless resupplied with breeding stock from outside sources.

City of Glendora - Animal Control

Statement on Peafowl regulations within the city limits:

From phone conversation with personnel on June 23, 2008 - 4:00 pm.

1. Peafowl are considered as feral animals.

2. Feeding of Peacocks is not allowed.

3. The Animal Control is not involved in the capture and removal of Peafowl.

North Glendora/Pennsylvania/Vermont Avenues Site

Two immature male Common Peacocks arrived in the 600 block of north Pennsylvania Avenue in the summer of 2005 according to Doug & Cherie Appel. Whether they were dropped off or flew in from another population is unknown. The closest known population is near Goddard Middle School mentioned above. By September of 2005, there was only one Peacock remaining. It was spending most of its time in the 600 block of north Vermont Avenue. I only observed the one Peacock (at least only one at a time.)

Taylor and Marty Ingebretsen received an immature Peahen as a gift in the fall of 2005. Taylor had surmised that the Peacock would not stay through the upcoming breeding season without a female around. The hen has a great deal of white and may be of the Pied Mutation. Taylor asked Maddie Saunders to name the female and consequently the neighborhood now refers to her as Oreo.

The Ingebretson’s kept the female in their front yard greenhouse for several months before releasing it into the neighborhood. The male and female stayed together in the neighborhood ranging between north Pennsylvania and Glendora Avenues in the 500 & 600 blocks. In early spring of 2006, the Peahen disappeared for about six weeks. It was observed again for about two weeks and then was not seen for another six or seven weeks. During late May, it disappeared again to emerge in late June with four chicks.

The first two disappearances of the hen may have been nesting attempts. Both the cock and the hen were young and perhaps one or the other or both of them were infertile or otherwise incapable of producing offspring. The location of the June nesting was unknown. The first appearance of them was at 603 North Glendora Avenue. There were two females, one male and a fourth undetermined. This fourth chick disappeared in early July.

It usually lagged behind the others although it seemed to be healthy.

One day, the Pied Peahen was on the Ingebretson roof, honking and making a racket. The chicks were down below in the backyard. Marty noticed a Red-tailed Hawk circling overhead. Marty rounded up the chicks to keep them out of harms way.

They stayed in the neighborhood until May of 2007 when the cock and his only male offspring were no longer found. The young male was just beginning to get its train feathers at the base of the tail. In April of 2007, the mother hen disappeared for about five weeks.

In early May, a neighbor at 625 north Glendora Avenue called Tayler Ingebretsen during the night to tell him that something was disturbing the Pied Peahen and chicks. The peahen had roosted on top of a tarp on an out-structure. Something was disturbing it. One of the chicks had fallen from the tarp.

Taylor rescued the birds and kept the four new chicks and their mother in his greenhouse. They remained there for about three weeks, after which they were free to leave. One of the four chicks disappeared in July . During this month, the mother hen, four chicks and the two year old females from the first brood, began roosting in two trees in the Ingebretsen’s front yard. The branches were approximately twenty feet above the ground and parallel to it. The chicks ducked under the wings of the mother until approximately August fourth. They now perch as close to the mother as they can get on the same branch. The mother hen almost always begins her short flights and hops to her roost before the two broods of chicks. The youngest chicks usually follow the mother up the tree, followed by the two older sisters.

The nesting of peafowl almost always occurs on the ground. Shortly after hatching, at nearly twenty-eight days after being laid, the mother leads the chicks to their first roost above ground. In discussion with a resident on north Glendora avenue, I learned that the first roosting site of the second brood of chicks was at 659 N. Glendora avenue in a Coast Live Oak tree in the front yard. The trunk was slanted such that it made it possible for the chicks to run up the trunk and then hop to the final branches.

They soon changed from their roost site in the Ingebretson’s front yard to a Camphor tree at 624 North Vermont Avenue, just one house to the north. This tree allowed the birds to roost at a higher level above the ground. On September 5, 2007, the Peafowl began their ascent to their roost at 7:20 pm. John Button arrives each night at the site to feed them, just before they fly to the roosting branches.

About one week later, one or more of the adult females gave alarm calls for some time during the middle of the night. That morning, Taylor noticed that one of the chicks was missing. We guessed it fell from the roost and didn’t return that night. For several hours that morning, the adult Peahens with the three remaining chicks, were scouring the neighborhood and making calls. The mother called from a rooftop. By noon, the fourth chick had reappeared with the others.

Daily Observations:

September 10, 2007 - The birds began roosting at a previous site used by the two original parents, on the north-west corner of Sierra Madre Avenue and Glendora Avenue. This was a large Coast Live Oak Tree.

September 14, 2007 - The birds ascended to their roost at 7:15 pm.

October 6, 2007 - Linda Larson mentioned seeing a peacock on the roof at 632 N. Vermont Avenue several days prior.

October 10, 2007 - Only two of the newest hatch of peahens was present. The third (second generation chick) has not been seen since. The current population is six.

I learned on June 23, 2008, that this Peahen was hit on Sierra Madre Ave. and was found

dead in the yard at 112 W. Sierra Madre Ave. The owners called the Glendora Animal Control and they came and picked up the bird. They recalled that it was in the fall of 2007 but could not remember a specific date.

October 20 to November 10, 2007 - Peahens still roosting at the north-east corner of Sierra Madre and Glendora Avenues. They have seldom been observed in their former range west of Glendora Ave. They apparently are staying on the E. side. Several people meet them here each afternoon to feed them before they roost.

November 11, 2007 - Five peahens return to the west side of Glendora Avenue in their former territory. Only five hens present (mother and four offspring). Sizes of the two generations of the remaining four offspring are close enough to make it difficult to tell the two generations apart. Two first and two second generation offspring appear to be remaining.

One of the offspring is often absent from the group as they continue to spend most of their time on Vermont Avenue through December 21.

December 21, 2007 - Mother and three offspring roost at the north-west corner of Glendora Avenue and Sierra Madre Avenue. Mother begins her ascension to near the top of the oak tree at 5:03 pm. By 5:06, all four birds are on their way to the upper branches.

February 26, 2008 - Mother and three offspring roost at the north-west corner of Glendora Avenue and Sierra Madre Avenue at 6:00 pm.

March 24, 2008 -One male in complete breeding plumage at 617 N. Vermont Ave. - 4:00 pm., one hour later, it was 1 1/2 blocks to the west. Male calling at same time as calls from the 4 pea hens with about 200 yds. distance in between. This is the first time a male has been observed at this site since Sep. of 2007.

Mid April, 2008 - The roost tree at Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s was trimmed and thinned out to the extent that the Peahens sought a different roost site.

May 6, 2008 - Mother Pied Peahen observed at new roost site at 550 N. Vermont Ave. in large Coast Live Oak Tree, in the backyard adjacent to an alley.

May 8, 2008 - 8:00 pm. Mother Peahen calling from low branch of Central American Ash (Fraxinus uhdei) at 119 W. Virginia Ave. Two of the offspring Peahen at the top of their roosting Coast Live Oak Tree at 550 N. Vermont Ave. at approx. 100 yds. S. of 119 W. Virginia Ave.

A Peacock could be heard several blocks away to the N.W. at 8:03 pm.

May 12-29, 2008

1 peacock in full breeding plumage at the N. Vermont/Glendora Ave’s. Site.

May 24-29, 2008

Only one of the four peahens observed.

June 7, 2008

All four peahens observed briefly

Peacock calls heard

June 14, 2008

2 Peahens observed roosting at NW corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Aves. at approx.

7:30 pm/ by John Button.

Since the Peahens nest on the ground, it is certain that these 2 females are not yet nesting.

The other 2 females were observed last week but have not been seen roosting for the last 2 weeks. The possibility that these two are nesting still exists.

1 Peacock roosted in small Coast Live Oak at 6 14 N. Glendora Ave. at approx. 7:50 pm. The Peacock readily ate peanuts out of John’s hand.

The father Peacock readily ate out of John’s hand in 2007 before both the father & son Peacocks left the area last year. The offspring Peacock never approached John’s hand for feeding. This, coupled with the fact that this Peacock roosted tonight in the same tree it did a year ago before it left the area, indicates that this bird maybe the original male that lived here the previous two years.

Only 1 male has been seen at one time since they both left in the spring of 2007.

June 15, 2008

1 Peahen observed roosting at NW corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s. at 8:15 pm.

1 Peacock observed in the roosting tree at 8:16 pm at 614 N. Glendora Ave.

June 16, 2008

Mother Pied Peahen and one of her former offspring appeared with 8 chicks at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

They seem to be sharing them. Different numbers of chicks appear with each hen as time goes by.

June 17, 2008

I observed the chicks in Ingebretson’s yard for the first time today.

June 18, 2008

All 8 chicks observed in the central 600 block area of N. Vermont Ave.

Peacock did not roost at normal location.

1 Peahen roosted about 8:00 pm. at normal site at NW corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave. in Coast Live Oak.

Calls & honks from at least 1 peahen heard from 12:20 to 12:35 am at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

June 19, 2008

Both Peahens and 8 chicks in central block of 600 N. Vermont at 2 locations - 617 & 614 Both peahens are generally within 100 yards of each other.

Peacock heard at site.

June 20, 2008

Peacock roosted at Oak Tree at SM & Gl. Ave’s. at 8:00 pm. One Peahen was near the location at 7:50 but apparently roosted at another location.

The offspring peahen with chicks was roosting at 7:45 at 624 N. Vermont Ave. on top of a chain-link fence. Two chicks were already under her body and a third was trying to reach the fence top. The chicks were able to run up a shrub trunk near the fence and then jump to the fence top. I watched the third chick attempt to do this many times until I finally intervened and placed the chick on the fence top. It quickly ducked under the Peahens wings. I could not discover the location of the original mother Pied Peahen and the remaining 5 chicks.

June 21, 2008

The offspring peahen was roosting at 8:00 pm. at 624 N. Vermont Ave. at the same location as the previous night on top of the chain-link fence. I was not able to determine whether there were chicks with her.

June 22, 2008

8:00 pm.

The Pied Peahen mother, roosted with six chicks at 614 N. Vermont Ave. approx. 20 ft. off the ground. A seventh chick continual tried to reach the roosting spot but was unable. It apparently spent the night on the ground.

The offspring peahen roosted at a new location nearby, at 624 N. Vermont Ave., approx. 50 ft. away, with one chick. This location is one that the Peahen commonly roosted in, the year before. They were perched in a Camphor Tree approx. 30 ft. off the ground. There is a brick wall with a sloping surface beneath the tree which makes the ascent to the top of the 5 ft. wall easy for the chick. From the wall, the chick flies to the tree trunk and scrambles up to the roost spot. At 8:15 pm., the chick fell off the branch and the peahen flew down after it. The final roosting spot this night simply became the top of that brick wall.

June 23, 2008

11:30 am. - 1:00 pm.

1 offspring Peahen with 2 chicks at 617 N. Vermont Ave

12:20 pm.

1 Peacock at SE corner of Sierra Madre & N. Vermont Ave’s.

12:45 pm.

Mother Orio with 6 chicks appeared at 617 N. Vermont Ave. from the north. One single Peahen adult appeared with Orio.

Single adult female attempted to contact the 2 chicks of the offspring mother but was repeatedly chased away by her.

It is likely that the chick that could not reach the roost the night before and spent the night on the ground, was with the Offspring Peahen, since she only roosted with one chick.

The roosting locations of the two mother Peahens for this evening, was not determined.

June 24, 2008

All 8 chicks were observed today in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. Orio with 6 chicks and her offspring female with 2. One single Peahen was observed today.

June 27, 2008

8:00 pm.: Orio roosting with 6 chicks at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

June 28, 2008

12:10 am.: Adult Peahen making loud calls from tree top in Liquid Amber at 614 N. Vermont. Calls lasted at least 20 minutes. I did not observe any chicks on the ground.

2:00 am.: Resident at 624 1/2 awakened by dog who is chasing a Peafowl chick. The chick is placed in a box and taken to the Ingebretson’s house shortly after. The chick is kept in the house all night and released at 624 N. Vermont Ave. early in the morning in sight of a calling Peahen which is on top of the roof at 632 N. Vermont Ave. This is apparently the offspring mother Peahen. Within a short time, it appears with both chicks.

5:30 am.: Marty Ingebretson observes Orio and 6 chicks descend from their roost at 20 ft. above ground. The chicks land in a wide perimeter and it takes a while for all of them to rejoin Orio.

8:00 pm.: Orio is at roost at 614 N. Vermont Ave. with 6 chicks.

The offspring Peahen is at roost in the Camphor Tree at 624 N. Vermont with 2 chicks.

An adult chick-less Peahen is also at roost in the same Camphor Tree within 30 ft. of the mother Peahen.

The third offspring Peahen has not been seen since June 14.

No sign of the Peacock since June 24.

June 29, 2008

7:42 pm.: Orio & 6 chicks flew up to the roost at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

7:53 pm.: Offspring Peahen & 2 chicks flew up to their roost at 624 N. Vermont Ave. in the Camphor Tree.

All chicks still flapping their way up the tree trunks rather then trying to fly directly up to the branches.

June 30, 2008

7:00 pm.: One Peacock at SW. corner of Virginia & Glendora Ave’s.

8:00 pm.: Orio with 6 chicks roosting at 614 N. Vermont Ave in same tree

Offspring Peahen with 2 chicks roosting in Camphor tree at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

1 adult Peahen without chicks roosting in same Camphor Tree at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

July 1, 2008

5:42 am.: Orio flew down from her roost onto the alley.

5:43 am.: All 6 chicks flew down from the roost and landed in the alley.

5:45 am.: Offspring Mother Peahen flew down from her roost and landed on the roof of 624 N. Vermont Ave. She then flew to the lawn.

5:46 am.: Adult Peahen without chicks flew down from her roost onto the roof at 624 N. Vermont Ave. and then onto the lawn.

5:47 am.: Both chicks flew down from their roost onto the lawn at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

July 4, 2008

8:30 pm.: Orio roosting at 614 N. Vermont Ave. with 6 chicks. Offspring mother Peahen also roosting in same tree at 614 N. Vermont Ave. One of her 2 chicks flew to the ground and did not attempt to fly back up to the roost.

July 5, 2008

The Peacock has not been heard calling for 1 week, although it has been present.

Peacock missing 1/2 its train feathers.

10:00 am.: All 8 chicks present in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. with their mothers.

8:11 pm.: 1 Peacock crossing Sierra Madre Ave. at Glendora Ave. for the roost tree.

8:25 pm.: last of 6 chicks flying to roost with Orio at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

8:25 pm.: Peahen without chicks roosting at 624 N. Vermont Ave. in Camphor Tree.

Roosting location of offspring mother Peahen not determined.

July 9, 2008

8:10 pm.: Six chicks roosting with Orio at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

Two chicks roosting with Offspring Peahen at 624 N. Vermont Ave. in same

tree as Oreo.

Roosting location of single Peahen undetermined.

8:15 pm.: 1 Peacock roosting in Coast Live Oak Tree at N.W. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

July 11, 2008

10:00 am.: 1 Peacock at jct. of N. Vermont Ave. & Sierra Madre Aves.

July 10-11, 2008

All 8 chicks present

July 14, 2008

7:55 pm.: White-wing with 2 chicks and single Peahen, already in roost tree at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

7:55 pm.: Orio and several chicks already on roost tree, remaining chicks ascending to roost at 6:14 N. Vermont.

8:00 pm.: Coopers Hawk seen flying from roost site of White-wing and chicks, both chicks, White-wing & singe Peahen all fly to the ground from their roost at the same instant. The actual dive at the peafowl was not observed, but it’s possible one of the birds were hit. None of the birds seem to be injured. The 2 chicks did not make any noise or movement for about 5 minutes and were not observed.

8:00 pm.: 1 Peacock observed in 600 block of N. Glendora Ave. heading N toward roost at Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

8:10 pm.: 2 adult Peahens return to their roost and wait for the 2 chicks to join them which they do soon.

8:10 pm.: 1 Peacock at jnct. of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

July 17, 2008

10:00 am.: The Peahen that disappeared on June 14, reappeared today with two chicks, and spent most of the day at 614 N. Vermont Ave. During the 33 day absence period, the nest was never observed. None of the past 3 successful nesting sites have been observed.

8:15 pm. : Orio and her 6 chicks are in their normal location at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

Whitewing and her 2 chicks were in the Camphor Tree at 624 N. Vermont Ave. as well as the single Peahen.

8:25 pm.: One Peacock at its normal roosting site at the N.W. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

The roosting location of the 2 new chicks along their mother (we’ll call Bloomer) was not determined.

I did not observe the new brood of chicks with the other 2 broods today, so I have no observations on their interactions.

July 20, 2008

8:15 pm.:

1 Peacock roosting at NW. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

July 21, 2008

8:00 am.: One of Oreo’s chicks got separated from her and spent at least 1 hour with White-wing and her chicks until they were reunited. The separated chick called for its mother constantly even though it was excepted by Whitewing and her 2 chicks.

10:00 am.: Bloomer and her 2 one-week old chicks were present at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

Ellen Moon mentioned that she had seen both Whitewing and Orio pick-on Bloomer’s chicks. She stated that 2 of the Peahens chased Bloomer (the newest mother) nearly 1 block away from her 2 chicks.

It is not certain how the single Peahen is interacting to Bloomer and her 2 chicks.

7:40 pm. Orio and her 6 chicks roosting at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

Whitewing present at 624 N. Vermont Ave., still on the ground, with only 1 chick. The other chick was found dead, just a few feet away in the alley. It had been run over by a vehicle.

1 Peacock observed near its roosting location at Sierra Madre Ave by John Button.

July 23, 2008

Bloomer and her 2 chicks roost on top of the Ingebretson’s greenhouse at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

July 24, 2008

Bloomer and her 2 chicks roost again on top of Ingebretson’s greenhouse.

Marty Ingebretson found a Peafowl egg in her backyard while she was trimming bushes. Since 3 Peahens nested this year, it’s uncertain which one it was. Because of the number of white feathers near the nest, Marty thinks it was Oreo’s nest. The egg was hollowed out and saved.

July 26, 2008

7:30 pm.: Bloomer already on a new roost site for her with her 2 chicks. She took her mother’s (Orio) spot.

7:38 pm.: Orio and her 6 chicks were crossing N. Vermont. Ave. When a car drove by, Orio flapped her wings and jumped up and down several times to move the chicks off the road.

7:50 pm.: Orio flew up to the lowest branch in her normal roost tree. All 6 chicks followed. Orio waited almost 4 minutes before flying to a spot near Bloomer and her 2 chicks. Orio waited only a few seconds before she flew again to the next highest branch. Her 6 chicks followed her. Bloomer watched carefully, but did not move from her perch.

7:52 pm.: White-wing flew up to her normal roost spot at 624 N. Vermont Ave., followed by her chick. The single Peahen flew to her roost spot in the same tree.

8:30 pm.: 1 Peacock at its normal roost site at Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

July 29, 2008

8:15 pm.: All 4 Peahens with their chicks and 1 Peacock, were at the same roost locations as on July 26.

Early August, 2008

The 7 older chicks began roosting along-side their mothers instead of under their wings.

August 15, 2008

7:30 pm.: All 9 chicks and the 4 Peahens began their ascent to their roosting tree at 614 N. Vermont Ave. All birds roosted in the same tree.

7:45 pm.: 1 Peacock roosting in the Live Oak Tree at N.W. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave.

August 17, 2008

7:30 am.: The first 20 minutes of this account were heard from our bedroom. A dog suddenly began barking in the alley behind our house. At the same moment a Peahen gave its distinct stress call and honked. We could hear it fly while it was calling. It flew into our back yard and continued honking and calling. It continued for nearly five minutes and then flew onto our roof where it continued calling for another 5 minutes. It then flew onto our neighbors roof. I finally got out of bed and watched as it peered over the roof and called. The Peahen was Whitewing and its chick was missing. Whitewing continued calling for about 5 more minutes. It then flew down to the ground and joined her mother and her 6 chicks who were across the street. Orio, Whitewing’s mother, had joined the calling several minutes back.

When I came out to view the birds, they were all bunched together at 614 N. Vermont in the front yard. Just then, a Cooper’s Hawk swooped down from a tree in that same yard, flew low over the Peafowl who were now all in the alley between the two houses, and landed in a tree in our yard, across the street. The moment the hawk landed, Whitewing’s missing chick flew down from her hiding spot near the location where the hawk landed. The fleeing chick flew down to the alley and reunited with the eight members of her family. The adult birds continued calling and all the birds were huddled together with their feathers ruffled. I walked over to where the hawk had landed. It immediately flew off out of sight. Within a few seconds, all the Peafowl relaxed and walked off together to the house to the south. Their calling immediately ceased and it has now been 20 minutes since any of them has called.

An interesting note is that during all the calling and searching of the missing chicks mother (Whitewing), the chick who was as close as 20 feet at one point, did not move or respond to its mother until the moment the hawk landed near it.

August 22, 2008

11:00 am.: 1 Peacock at 614 N. Vermont Ave. This is the first time he has ventured much below Sierra Madre for several months.

August 29, 2008

3:45 pm.: 1 Peacock at 617 N. Vermont Ave. observed by Jackie Swinney.

7:10 pm. 1 Peacock observed crossing Sierra Madre Ave. to the north. Traffic stopped to let it cross.

7:15 pm.: All 4 Peahens and their 9 chicks were at 614 N. Vermont Ave. Bloomer and her 2 chicks were the first to ascend the roost tree.

September 7, 2008

6:00 am.: Loud calls & honks from the Peahens at 614 N. Vermont Ave.

Marty Ingebretsen at 614 picked up lots of Peafowl feathers on her front lawn early in the morning. By the end of the day, one chick was still missing. It was apparently killed at 614 N. Vermont Ave. A Cooper’s Hawk had been observed on two occasions at this location swooping down on the peafowl. Coyotes are sometimes observed early in the morning in this block.

7:30 pm.: 3 adult Peahens and chicks (number uncertain) observed in 600 block of N. Glendora Ave.

4:00 pm.: Bloomer and her 2 chicks at 617 N. Vermont Ave.

8:00 pm.: 1 adult Peahen perched on Edison line, over the alley behind 557 N. Vermont Ave., it remained on wire for 5 min. I was not able to observe its transition to a roosting site, peahens had roosted here in the past. No peafowl roosted at 614 N. Vermont this night. Their roosting location was not discovered.

September 8, 2008

3 Peahens and 6 chicks in 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

Whitewing appeared by herself, apparently it was her chick that had been killed.

September 11, 2008

All 11 peahens and chicks continue to spend several hours in the 600 block of N. Vermont but much less then before Sept. 7th.

Bloomer and her two chicks roosted at 557 N. Glendora Ave. in a large Coast Live Oak Tree on the west side of the street, in the city frontage. Orio and her six chicks roosted at 580 N. Glendora Ave., on the east side of the street, also in a large Coast Live Oak Tree on the city frontage property. The single adult peahen roosted in the large Coast Live Oak Tree at the same property to the south of Orio’s selected tree.

Nearby residents stated that the peafowl had roosted here the past several days.

The Peacock was observed at 605 N. Vista Bonita Ave. in the late afternoon. By 6:30 pm. it was heading north on Glendora Ave. to its roosting tree on Sierra Madre Ave. at 707 N. Glendora Ave.

The Peacock has roosted at this location consistently for over one year.

September 12, 2008 (date may be off by 1 or 2 days)

Large numbers of peafowl feathers were found in the front yard of 631 N. Vermont Ave., early in the morning. Another chick was missing and apparently had been killed here. Whitewing was now without any chicks, apparently both the recently killed chicks were hers.

September 17, 2008

7:00 am.: Loud distress calls from one of the Peahens was heard nearby. This was apparently made while the peahen was in flight. Bloomer was observed on the roof at 615 N. Vermont Ave. still calling loudly. This is usually the call it makes when separated from another peafowl. One of her chicks was nearby on the ground and the other could not be seen.

8:00 am.: Bloomer’s second chick was observed with Bloomer.

Several days later, Ellen Moon let me know that when I was looking for the missing chick on Sept. 17, there was a Bobcat on the other side of my brick wall that I did not see. This is what apparently frightened the Peafowl. Ellen did not tell me this at the time, because she was in her bathrobe and didn’t want me to see her.

It is then most likely that the killings of the two recent offspring in the last week were most likely from the Bobcat. These two offspring were most likely too big for a Cooper’s hawk to kill.

Because the chicks are now so large, I will refer to them as this year’s offspring or just offspring. The five older offspring are now nearly as large as their mother, Orio, who remember is pied (partially white)

September 18, 2008

6:45 pm.: Whitewing observed at her roosting site at 557 N. Glendora Ave. with a chick. She had apparently acquired one of Orio’s five chicks, at least during roosting. The single Peahen also roosted at 557N. Glendora Ave. tonight, instead of across the street in a separate tree.

October 16, 2008

6:10 pm.: Jackie Swinney observed six Peafowl crossing Sierra Madre Ave. to the north.

7:00 pm.: I observed one Peacock and several Peahens and or recent offspring in the roosting tree at Sierra Madre Ave.

October 17, 2008

6:45 pm.: One Peacock, Orio and five chicks were observed in the roosting tree on Sierra Madre Ave. Bloomer and her two chicks along with the single Peahen were still roosting 557N. Glendora Ave.

November 2, 2008

9:00 am.: One Peacock on top of car at 624 N. Vermont Ave.

1:30 pm.: Eight Peafowl in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. Because the size difference of Bloomer’s two offspring is still noticeable, it is possible to identify the 8 birds as Orio, White-wing, the singe Peahen and 5 offspring. Since the death of both of White-wing’s offspring, White-wing spends most of her time with the other 7. Bloomer and her 2 offspring still remain separate from the others during most of the day, coming together only at roosting time. The only adult Peacock has not been seen with any of the others since April, except at roosting time.

Orio’s offspring are finally old enough to distinguish the brighter neck & chest feathers of one, as a male. The sexual identity of Bloomer’s 2 younger offspring is not yet recognizable.

November 3, 2008

6:11 am.: Bloomer and her 2 offspring moving n. in the 600 block of N. Glendora Ave. They have recently been roosting at 557 N. Glendora Ave. They arrived at 707 N. Glendora Ave. by 6:20 am. and stayed in the vicinity until the peafowl roosting at 707 N. Glendora Ave. all left the roosting tree.

6:15 am.: The peacock has already left the roost tree at 707 N. Glendora Ave. Orio, White-wing, the single adult peahen and 5 offspring were still in the roosting tree at this location. Orio was the first to fly from the tree at 6:28 am. She flew approx. 100 yds. south-west over Sierra Madre and Glendora Ave. to 6-- N. Glendora Ave. The remaining peafowl flew from the tree within the next 2 minutes. Some of the birds flew within four feet of traffic, one nearly hitting a commercial truck. Bloomer and her 2 offspring quickly joined the 8 peafowl that had just landed.

Observing all 11 peafowl cross Glendora Ave. at 6:35 am. to the w., it appeared that at least one driver tried to get as close to the birds as possible without actually hitting them.

November 4, 2008

2:15 pm.: 1 Peacock at 617 N. Vermont Ave.

November 17, 2008

4:50 pm.: 11 peafowl crossing Glendora Ave. from east to west near Sierra Madre Ave. The are heading toward their Sierra Madre roosting tree. The adult Peacock is not present.

November 22, 2008

4:50-5:00 pm.: Eleven Peahen & offspring arrive at Sierra Madre Roost tree and complete ascension to upper branches. Male was not observed

November 24, 2008

4:00 pm.: 1 adult Peacock in the 600 block of N. Glendora Ave.

December 8, 2008

4:59 pm.: 11 peahens & offspring begin their ascent to their Sierra Madre Roost tree. As always, Orio flies first and honks and calls for about two minutes before the others begin to ascend. The adult Peacock was not observed.

The Dalton Hot Shot crew truck honked a special horn at the peafowl which sounded like a duck call. As usual, several cars had to come to a complete stop while the birds moved across Glendora Ave.

December l0, 2008

10:00 am.: 1 Peacock call heard

December 11, 2008

4:30 pm.: 1 adult Peacock observed at n.e. corner of Glendora & Virginia Aves.

January 6 & 7, 2009

1 adult Peacock at 617 N. Vermont Ave., its train feathers have nearly reached full length.

January 12, 2009

7:02 am.: 1 adult Peacock flying from its Deadar roost tree at 117 Sierra Madre Ave.

January 13, 2009

5:24 pm.: 11 Peafowl along Sierra Madre roadside under their roost tree at n.w. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

January 22, 2009

4:55 pm.: 1 Peacock call heard

5:20 pm.: 1 adult Peacock in roost tree at n.w. corner of Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s.

5:24 pm.: 11 Peafowl arrive at roost tree from the south.

5:26 pm.: Orio is first one to fly up to the tree, all others quickly follow. It has just begun to rain. Only one car honked at the birds as they crossed Sierra Madre Ave.

January 23, 2009

Light rain off & on all day, all birds very active, both males & females calling often throughout the day. The preadult male calling with an adult male call. Many of the birds spent time on roof-tops.

4:35 pm.: 11 peafowl heading north, up Glendora Ave., near Sierra Madre roost tree.

January 27, 2009

10:15-11:15 am.: The adult Peacock together with 5 hens & the young male observed in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. The 5 remaining Peahens at nearby Glendora Ave.

The train of the adult Peacock is at full length while the premature male has no train feathers yet, but his blue neck feathers continue to increase in intensity and coverage.

No displaying of tail and or train feathers.

5:25-5:30 pm.: All 12 birds ascend roost tree. The adult Peacock is the last to ascend

January 28, 2009

8:00-8:05 am.: All 12 peafowl fly south over Sierra Madre Ave. from the roost tree. Most land on rooftops. Orio, as usual, is the first to fly from the roost. The adult Peacock is the last to descend.

February, 2009

Both males continue to call during the day.

March 17, 2009

6:50-7:04 pm.: The adult male is the last to arrive at the intersection. All twelve birds were present tonight. Some of the birds cross and recross Sierra Madre & Glendora Ave’s. several times. Some of the cars seem to try to get as close to the birds as they can without hitting them. Several cars honked at the birds tonight. I had to leave before they ascended the roost tree.

May 12, 2009 (date uncertain)

Nine Peafowl eggs found at 631 N. Vermont Ave. by Rod, the resident. Eggs were apparently vandalized by animals, some were left unattended. Rod disposed of the remaining eggs by hard boiling them and feeding them to his parrots.

June 11, 2009 ?

Linda Larson observed 4 Peafowl eggs in her yard at 629 N. Vermont Ave. They were left unattended for awhile. Rod took 2 eggs, thinking she had abandoned the nest. He placed them in an incubator. The next day the Peahen was again sitting on the eggs. She had laid 2 more. She is now sitting on 4 eggs.

June 12, 2009

The original pied-mother, Orio, appeared with 7 chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont. Ave.

This is apparently the first day she has been observed with her chicks. One chick was not being accepted by Orio. Linda & Rod tried to return the chick to Orio several times after it strayed, but Orio apparently wouldn’t accept it.

Rod took the chick to keep in a cage to rear. I recommended he attempt to get the other Peahen to accept the chick after her eggs hatch.

June 14, 2009

Only 4 chicks were now observed with Orio.

June 18, 2009

5:25 am.: Orio and several other peafowl began calling from their roosting trees at 614 & 624 N. Vermont. They continued calling for several hours. When I arrived outside, Orio was the only one on the ground, the others were still in the their roost sites. No chicks could be found. An animal had apparently gotten to the chicks while they were roosting, since this is about 30 minutes before they would normally descend from the roost. The others remained in the trees for nearly 20 minutes. They had apparently been roosting at this location since Orio left the nest with her new offspring. These peahens had been roosting at the Sierra Madre Roost Site until Orio left her nest with the her chicks. This is the same roosting site used by several of the peahens the previous year.

June 19, 2009

The adult male peacock was heard calling near the nest at 629 N. Vermont Ave. The sitting peahen was apparently startled and immediately flew from the nest to the nearby rooftop, calling as she flew. She kept up the constant calling for nearly 15 minutes. I heard the commotion from next door and guessed correctly what had happened. The Peacock had apparently gotten too close and was too nosy. She stayed away from the nest for nearly 2 hours. Pictures of the eggs and nest were taken during this time. There were still 4 eggs in the nest. During the entire nesting period of this hen, she was noticed off the nest only twice.

June 25, 2009

The Peahen sitting on eggs at 629 N. Vermont Ave. appeared early in the afternoon with her 4 chicks for the first time. All seemed to be healthy.

June 26, 2009

The 2 eggs being incubated by Rod, hatched today. He plans to raise them until they are old enough to be released. He is also still caring for the one offspring of Orio’s he retained on June 12. He plans on releasing this one as well.

June 30, 2009

6:00 pm.: The adult male began following, and soon chasing the young male throughout the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. This continued for nearly 20 minutes and included chase sessions in at least one large tree. Matt Francis, also living in the 600 block, saw this same scene just a couple of days before.

8:10 pm.: Both males and 7 females on the grass at 117 Sierra Madre Ave. A few minutes later, they began to ascend one of the Deadar Trees. The roosting location of the 3 remaining Peahens is uncertain.

July 1, 2009

One egg was laid on the driveway at 617 N. Vermont Ave. in the early afternoon. The egg was broken. The shell was very thin, nearly elastic. There was one Peahen sitting nearby in the dirt.

July 2, 2009

All four chicks are still healthy. Not certain where the 5 are roosting.

Both males have been calling in tandem for at least 2 months. Calls by one male are usually answered by the other male almost immediately. The young male’s call is still noticeable, as his call is still garbled and not yet clear like the adult.

The young male has no train feathers yet, but the adult coloration on the breast is progressing rapidly. It is continuing to darken and is blotched with dark spots.

The young male spends most the time with the peahens, while the adult male stays within several hundred yards of the others most of the time and spends more time on rooftops than the others.

July 3, 2009

Only 3 chicks observed today

July 10, 2009

Only 2 chicks observed

July 21, 2009

A third chick was present today with the other 2 chicks at 617 N. Vermont Ave. It had not been see since July 10.

July 30, 2009

The third chick was seen only on July 21 and has not been seen since.

The peahen Orio, laid 2 eggs in the backyard at 6__ N. Vermont Ave. on about July 23. According to Ellen Moon, Orio never sat on the eggs. Orio lost the last of her 2009 season chicks on June 18, 2009.

Two erect head-feathers now visable on both remaining chicks.

8:30 pm. Orio is roosting by herself at 557 N. Glendora Ave. in the front-yard in a Coast Live Oak Tree.

Aug. 3, 2009

9:50 am.: 3 chicks observed with Peahen at 61_ N. Vermont Ave.

Aug 6, 2009

Peahen with 3 recent-hatch chicks, observed for the first time in the 600 block of N. Vermont. Ave. by my wife Jackie.

(Previous report of 1 older chick with the new chicks is not certain.)

The 2 Peahens with the 5 chicks appeared together this afternoon.

The adult male has lost all of its train feathers from beyond the tail.

Aug. 7, 2009

The following reported by John and Melinda Cisneros:

9:30 am.: the hens were making their alert calls toward the back of our house. I went out to the alley and chased off 2 coyotes. I didn’t notice any hens or babies, but I didn’t look for them. They may have remained quiet in the bushes while I chased off the coyotes.

Aug. 9, 2009

John Cisneros reported that his wife Melinda noticed numerous Peahen feathers in the alley on Aug. 7th in the morning.

Matt & Beth Francis report that the peahen with the 3 youngest chicks, roosted on the front porch at 615 N. Vermont Ave., on the floor, in the corner.

Aug. 10, 2009

Matt & Beth Francis report that the peahen with 3 youngest chicks again roosted on their front porch on top of the wall.

Aug. 15, 2009

All 5 chicks seen today.

3:30 pm.: John & Melinda Cisneros showed me the hen that escaped from the 2 coyotes on Aug. 7. It has several tail feather left and is missing much of the feathers from the left wing and back. It will be called “Tail-less”, until the feathers regrow.

7:49 pm.: Both males and 6 hens, roosting in the deadars on 117 Sierra Madre Ave.

Hen with the 2 large chicks roosted at 641 N. Glendora Ave. in an Avocado Tree in the backyard. The 2 chicks are still roosting under the hens wings.

Not certain where Orio, Tail-less and the hen with 3 chicks are roosting.

Aug. 2009

This information actually was given to me on Oct. 12, 2009, but pertains to this date period.

Orio layed 4 eggs on a plastic canopy at 550 N. Vermont. Ave. at the home of Brian & Marty Johnston.

The chicks were first seen by Marty on Sep. 2, 2009. They roosted at the location of the nest for the first 2 nights befoe moving to a roost location on Virginia Ave.

Sep. 3, 2009

8:10 am.: Orio appeared for the first time in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. with her 4 new chicks. This is her third attempt at nesting this year. Her first hatch of 7 chicks were all killed or collected. Her second clutch of 2 eggs were abandoned.

This is the latest hatch of chicks recorded for this population.

The other 5 chicks were nearby with their mothers.

Sep. 4, 2009

6:15 pm.: John & Mellinda observed Orio with her 4 chicks at Virginia Ave. between N. Vermont & Glendora Ave’s.

Sep. 5, 2009

Orio roosted on the brick wall on the n.e. corner of N. Vermont Ave., between the next house to the east on Virginia Ave. She apparently flew into the Ash Tree at the Virginia Ave. location and waited for the chicks to attempt to ascend to a branch about 15 ft. from the ground. Chad Smeltzer said the chicks tried flapping their way up the trunk but could not make it. Orio eventually flew down and flew on top of the wall at the same residence. All 4 chicks managed to get up to the top of the wall.

Sep. 16 ?, 2009

The young male was observed limping badly today. Some of its mid back feathers seem to be ruffled and some perhaps missing.

Sep. 20, 2009

The injured young male was observed flying to the roost location at 117 Sierra Madre Ave. in a Deadar Tree with many of the single adult peahens and the adult male. The injury had apparently not affected its ability to fly.

Sep. 22, 2009

Orio and her 4 chicks were still roosting atop the wall on Virginia Ave. Orio continued to fly to a roost branch in the Ash Tree every night but always had to resort to the top of the wall, as not all of her chicks could make the flight.

Sep. 23, 2009

For the first time, Orio roosted in the Ash Tree even though only 3 chicks were able to make it to Orio's roost branch. The grounded chick was still chirping constantly while trying to flap its way up the trunk when Jackie and I arrived about 30 minutes after dark. This means it probably had been attempting to ascend to the roost spot fro at least 40 minutes. I placed the chick on a lower branch in the same tree. I returned 30 minutes later to find that the chick had managed to get over to Orio and her 3 other chicks.

Sep. 26, 2009

One peahen observed roosting in the Deadar Tree at NW corner of N. Vermont and Virginia Aves.

Sep. 28, 2009

The young male Peacock was limping much less notably today.

Oct. 1, 2009

Orio was observed with only 3 chicks today

Oct. 5, 2009

Orio and her 3 chicks changed their roosting location from the Ash Tree on Virginia, to a Coast Live Oak Tree at Eleanor Carters house on N. Glendora Ave.

Oct. 5, 2009

One of Orio’s chicks fell out of the roost on N. Glendora Ave. twice early in the evening. A neighbor witnessed the chicks plight and took it home. The chick apparently was limping. She kept it warm during the night and was encouraged by the Glendora Animal Control to return it to its mother the next morning.

Oct. 6, 2009

Orio’s struggling chick was returned to Orio early in the morning. John Button observed there were only 2 chicks at roosting time with Orio.

Oct. 7, 2009

Marty Johnston observed the limping chick and took it home to care for it until its health improved.

Oct. 11, 2009

I learned from Marty that the peahen with 2 chicks had been roosting in an Avocado Tree in her backyard at 550 N. Vermont Ave. for several weeks.

Oct. 12, 2009

Marty talked to me concerning the chick she was baby-sitting. She was hoping someone would be able to take care of it, since she really didn’t have appropriate accommodations. We are currently trying to find a new home for it.

Oct. 13, 2009

The number of chicks still surviving from this years clutches equals 11, mothered by 3 peahens. Seven chicks are still with their mothers, 1 is being raised in Glendora with the intention of returning it to Orio, and 3 were sent to LaVerne in August. The 2 eggs that were incubated by Rod, were given to a woman in LaVerne, who wanted to start a colony there. One of Orio’s straggling chicks, which was taken and raised by Rod as well, was also sent to LaVerne. The total number of eggs layed this year among 4 different peahens was 29.

The present number of adult peahens is 10. There are 2 adult males (the youngest is now 17 months old and nearly has its full adult plumage, minus its train which will begin growing within a few months.

Oct. 14, 2009

I talked with John & Melinda Cisneros about taking care of the injured chick. They came and looked at the bird and decided to give it a try.

We can no longer distinguish the bird given the name Whitewing, as several others of this past year’s offspring have white wing markings as well. The white wing was the result of the original cross between the Orio, which is a “Pied Peafowl” (containing a lot of white) and a normal colored Peacock, as described in the introduction.

Dec. 24, 2009

John & Melinda Cisneros cared for the chick the last 2 months and today found a new home for the previously injured bird they had been nursing. Their accommodations were just too small. While in their care, the bird’s bruised wing was successfully treated. Even though the compound wing fracture still slightly protrudes, the green skin color is gone and looks healthy. The vetenarian said it’s normal for bruises to be green in birds rather than bluish, as in humans. “It flaps its wings fine” John said. The chick was also found to have a severe ear infection for which it was treated and is now much improved. Its imbalance problem may have been the result of that, rather than a feared brain injury. The tilt of the birds head has also been improved by special medication injections.

Dec. 27, 2009

about 4:40 pm.: The majority of the birds are now roosting in the Coast Live Oak Tree at 557 N. Glendora Ave. Harold and Marily Swanson were sitting on their front yard wall watching the birds getting ready to fly up to their roosting branches. One of the peahens was in the middle of Glendora Ave., getting ready to fly up to a branch, when a car hit and killed it. The driver apparently did not see the bird or realize what had happened, and continued up the street. The driver behind it saw the incident and stopped. The driver got out of his car and carried the dead bird to the sidewalk area at 557 N. Glendora Ave. and alerted the owners to what had happened. Errol Pielaat placed the bird in a plastic bag and properly disposed of it.

Harold and Marily said the birds immediately gathered around the dead bird in the middle of the street until it was removed a few minutes later. After the dead peahen was placed on the ground by the second driver, the Swanson’s said that all of the remaining birds gathered around the dead bird once again until it was removed by Errol.

Jan. 6, 2010

5:05 pm.: Twelve peafowl were gathered at 557 N. Glendora Ave. for roosting. They arrived there in 3 separate groups, the last 3 arriving at 5:15 pm. The first bird flew up to the roost at 5:10 pm.

The five remaining birds roosted at their normal location on Sierra Madre Ave. They consisted of 3 peahens and the 2, now adult, males. The males arrived separately, but joined together on Glendora Ave., just before they headed north, across Sierra Madre Ave. The 3 peahens walked up Vermont Ave. from the 500 block where they had previously gathered with 4 other birds. They were below their Deadar roosting tree at 5:18 pm.

Three of this year’s brood of birds can now be determined to be males.

Both adult males have been fully plumaged for the impending mating season for several weeks now.

The majority of the birds have spent most of their time in the 500 block of Glendora/Vermont Aves. the past 2 months. John Cisneros reports that some of the birds now spend time in the 400 block of Glendora/Vermont Aves. as well.

Jan. 2010

A friend of Rosalyn Hudock saw a coyote kill a Peahen on Sierra Madre Ave., near N. Vermont Ave. The date in Jan. is uncertain.

May 19 ?, 2010

A peahen began nesting at 6__ N. Vermont Ave. on the ground, among tall grasses. It was observed leaving the nest only once during the weeks leading up to June 12th.

May 21 ?, 2010

A Peahen with one chick was observed in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. Lou Cooper says there were originally 4 chicks.

June 12, 2010

4:30 am.

The nesting Peahen gave distress calls while in flight to a roof across the street. It continued calling from that location for over 1 hour. I was at the nest within 90 seconds and saw the coyote near the nest. It left when it saw me. Seven eggs in the nest seemed to be undisturbed. This was the first time I was able to view the eggs. The Coyote stayed within 75 meters for about 10 minutes. (possibly waiting for me to leave). I followed it for 2 blocks until it disappeared around the corner.

There is a population of coyotes living in the vacant lot just south of the junction of Grand Ave. & Sierra Madre Ave. just one block from this point. The Peahen was not disturbed again that night. It was sitting on the eggs the next morning.

June 13, 2010

The Peahen gave distress calls at 2:00 am. I was by the nest within 1 minute. No preditor was observed. The Peahen was off the nest but within 10 feet of it. It quickly returned to the nest while my light was trained on it. The Peahen was sitting on the nest the next morning.

June 14, 2010

12:30 am

Nesting Peahen gave short loud sound. No flight was heard. I was by the nest within 1 minute. No preditor was observed. The Peahen was missing and large numbers of feathers were scattered throughout the yard. The seven eggs seemed to be undisturbed. Within a few minutes, I gathered the eggs in a box and brought them inside. I do not have access to an incubator, so I arranged the eggs in the box on towels with the addition of a heating pad. I turned the eggs several times over the next 24 hours.

June 17, 2010

Peahen was seen with her single chick today in the 600 block of N. Vermont.

4:00 pm.

A lone peahen appeared in my yard with most of her tail feathers missing and perhaps additional feathers from her tail region. She was limping on one foot. Is it possible that this is the nesting bird that disappeared on June 14th - perhaps having escaped from its preditor?

Aug. 5, 2010

All three males from last year’s broods, spend most of their time together with three single hens. The three hens with chicks spend most of their time alone, coming together with the others near roosting time.

The 5 Peacocks are not calling as much now. The calls of the three immature Peacocks are still normally distinguishable from the two adult males. Both adult males have now lost all of their train feathers.

Aug. 10, 2010

The Peahen with one tail feather has not been seen since June 24.

Aug. 12, 2010

Peahen observed with chick on N. Vermont. Ave., approx. two weeks old. For some reason I had not noticed it before. There are now four Peahens with chicks this season with a total of seven chicks. Three hens have a single chick and Orio still has four. Orio has been roosting with her chicks, first on a brick wall and later in an AshTree on the ___ block of Virginia Ave. the entire time. All four mother hens are roosting at seperate locations.

Late Oct.., 2010

Orio now has only 3 chicks

Seventeen peafowl observed at west 100 block of Virginia Ave.

One peahen flying from her roost early in the morning, was gliding n.e. over Glendora Ave. when it hit the windshield of an oncoming car. The hen soon died in the street and once again the Swanson’s observed other peafowl surrounding the dead hen in the middle of the street. I have reported before that I have observed the peafowl seemingly trying to get as close to approaching traffic as possible in the descent from the roost perches.

There are now 16 peafowl in the Vermont area population.

Dec. 13, 14, 2010

19 peafowl counted in 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. by Jackie & Dick Swinney

Jan. 2011

20 peafowl counted in 600 block of N. Glendora Ave. by Dick Swinney

March 2011

Two hens killed on Glendora Ave. in the 600 block by cars.

May 2011

One hen appeared with 2 chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

One hen appeared with 3 chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. One chick was noticeably smaller the other two. This hen pecked the chicks often and quite hard. Observed by Noel _________ & family and Dick Swinney

June, 24, 2011

Joel Appel observed 4 hens with chicks: one hen with 3 chicks, one hen with 1 chick & two hens with 2 chicks., in the 600 boclk of N. Vermont Ave.

June 25, 2011

One hen with 5 chicks was observed by Dick Swinney in the 600 block between N. Glendora Ave. & N. Vermont Ave. One of the chicks was dominantly white.

June 27, 2011

All 5 hens with chicks were seen in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. at the same time. There are still 13 chicks. The mostly white chick with 4 siblings, is all white with some dark feathers on its upper back and some on the back dorsal area. One of its siblings has at least partially white forewings, one wing has more white than the other.

The hen with 3 chicks is still pecking her chicks often. One of her 2 larger chicks has a scar on the right side of its head, perhaps from the pecking of its mother. This will help identify it for several more weeks. One of the 2 larger chicks was displaying its tail feathers like an adult male.

June 28, 2011

A sixth hen appeared today with 2 small chicks, one which looked exactly like the white forewinged chick that belonged to the hen with five.

June 28, 2011

I learned today from a resident from the n.w. corner of Brownsage Ave. & Sierra Madre Ave., that the first hatch of the season was layed in a planter at his residence. Six eggs were layed and 4 hatched. One chick disappeared soon after.

June 30, 2011

The following email was received from John Cisneros:

We had one of the hens lay 4 eggs in our backyard (500 block of N. Vermont Ave.). The first to hatch disappeared the next day. Two more hatched. They may be the two that are near your house now. After about a week at our place, the mother got spooked by a possum one night, and left the next morning. The fourth egg did not hatch.

The hen’s behaviour was very interesting and helps me now understand why the other hens behave oddly at certain times. She also had a “supporting sister” that would roost in a tree across the alley and stand as a lookout. There’s much more to these creatures than most people realize.

July 3, 2011

I observed the hen with 5 chicks today in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. She now has just four chicks. The white chick was missing. A few minutes later, I spoke with a resident from 617 ? N. Glendora Ave. He informed me that the five chicks hatched on his property. Apparently, the nearly all white chick was found dead about 4 days ago in the barbeque where they often rested during the daytime with the hen. It was burried it on his property.

July 12, 2011

The hen with 4 chicks was observed at 617 N. Vermont Ave. today. This was the first sighting since July 3.

Aug. 2011

The total number of serviving chicks of 2011 is at least 7 (4 males & 3 females)

Mar. 3, 2012

7:00 am. 617 N. Vermont Ave.

22 Peafowl on property. Most of these currently roosting in Deadar Tree at 601 N. Vermont Ave. and had recently left their roost, gliding north toward 617. The recent major pruning of this tree, due to wind damage, has apparently made it desirable for roosting for the entire flock.

11 males & 11 females

1 male with full train feathers (hatch prior to 2009 or the original male bird)

3 males with partial train feathers (hatch of 2009 & 2010 ?)

7 males with no train feathers (last years hatch)

(2 males with full train feathers were seen at 617 N. Vermont Ave. on Mar. 2, 2012, which brings the total count to at least 22 birds)

(12 males & 11 females) (2 males with full train feathers)

The total number of 2011 hatch males of 7 does not match the chick male count in Aug. of 2011. I either did not observe these additional 3 males, or they have moved west from the Rubel Farm population.

Mar. 5, 2012

3 males with full trains were seen together. This brings the total number of birds to at least 23.

Mar. 24, 2012

Neighbors (Troy & Colleen Sanders and family) let me know that one of the peacocks seemed to be injured. It was at their house. Someone reported that a dog had scared several peafowl in the afternoon and this one had flown into a nearby tree and hit the branches hard. It apparently stayed motionless for sometime with its head hanging downward. It was later found by the Sanders in their yard under that same tree. It hopped on one leg and spent most of two hours sitting near the tree.

When trying to catch the bird for examination, I soon learned that both wings were fully functional, however it did not fly far. I brought it home overnight and took it to a veterinarian the next day.

Mar. 25, 2012

We took the first year male peacock to the vet. who gave it an examination and took x-rays. The femur was broken and the knee ligament was un-reparable. The bird was euthanized.

Early May, 2012

Elenor Carter reported a single chick in the 600 block of N. Glendora Ave. A man driving by, noticed the chick and stopped. No adult Peafowl were observed. He decided to take the chick home to try and raise it. No other chicks were observed.

June 7, 2012

Jackie Swinney observed 5 chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

June 10, 2012

The hen with 5 chicks attempted roosting with her chicks in a Liquid Amber Tree in the 600 block of N. Vermont. She perched at approx.. 20 ft. above the ground. One chick managed to flap its way to her perch. Another chick made it to the first branch which was about 9 feet above the ground. The remaining 3 chicks continually attempted to ascend the tree but could not. I left about 7:30 pm. I returned at 8:45 pm. The mother and chicks had left the tree and I was not able to locate them. They all reappeared the next morning.

June 11, 2012

Joel & Cherie Appel reported seeing another hen with three chicks several days prior in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

June 14, 2012

7:45 p.m.

Mother hen with all 5 chicks roosting in Camphor Tree in 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. about 25 ft. above the ground. There is a block wall at the base of this tree that the chicks can ascend and easily launch onto a leaning main trunk and eventually to the perch branch.

June 17, 2012

Joel Appel observed a hen with 2 chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave., in addition to the other two broods of chicks.

June 19, 2012

A dog killed the three chicks first reported on June 11, in the backyard of a residence in the 600 block of N. Vermont.

June 20, 2012

Residents in the 600 block use a pressure nozzle to spray the roosting hen with her two chicks. Apparently, at least one bird was knocked of a branch while attempting to roost. This was done in their own private residence. Some neighbors expressed their disapproval of this action to the residents. They responded by stating that the Glendora Police Dept. had given the residents permission to do this.

June 21, 2012

Jeff _____ observed the hen with her five chicks in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

The hen with two chicks was the most visible today.

June 25, 2012

The hen with her 5 chicks has not been seen since 6/20

A new brood of five chicks was observed today in the 600 block of N. Pennsylvania Ave. by Barbara Wiltsey.

July 4, 2012

The first brood of 5 chicks has not been seen since June 20. The chicks are presumed dead.

July 6, 2012

A partially white-winged hen appeared with 2 new chicks today in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. Ellen Moon was the first to see them. One chick is mostly yellowish with light to dark brown markings.

The other 2 hens with 2 & 5 chicks each were also seen. All 3 hens with chicks were seen together for a while. There are currently 9 chicks, from 3 different hens, observed mostly in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

The 2 hens with the oldest chicks seem to spend most of their time in close proximity to each other.

Six 1 & 2 year old males along with one hen are still roosting in a Deadar Tree at 601 N. Vermont Ave. The 3 oldest males (3 years old and older) each roost in a separate tree in the 600 block of N. Glendora Ave. in Oak and Deadar Trees. The 3 oldest males still have most of their train feathers.

July 13, 2012

9:30 am. The hen with 5 chicks now has only 4. She had all 5 yesterday. Joel Appel saw the hen with one normal color and 1 whitish chick today. The hen with the 2 oldest chicks was last seen on July 12.

July 21, 2012

A hen with 5 new chicks was observed in the morning at 617 N. Vermont Ave. All were normal color.

July 22, 2012

There are now 4 hens with chicks:

Clutches of: 2,4,2,5

Total number: 13

Total number of chicks lost this season: 7

July 23, 2012

A hen with the 5 chicks was observed today in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave.

The total number of chicks is now 12

July 24, 2012

The hen with 2 chicks, including the mostly white chick, is now missing the normal-colored chick.

July 29, 2012 (?)

John Cisneros reports that the hen with the 2 oldest chicks of normal coloration, now has only one chick. They spend much of their time in the 500 block of N. Vermont and in particular at the Cisneros Home.

Aug. 2, 2012

A hen with 4 new chicks was observed today for the first time at the Swinney residence in the 600 block of N. Vermont Ave. One chick was mostly whitish with a normal colored back.

The hen with the 4 older chicks and the hen with the older whitish chick, were present with the hen and new chicks. Both hens with the older chicks were continually chasing the hen with the newest chicks. All 3 hens were side by side, moving sideways, forcing the new hen with chicks forward. The clucking of all 3 hens seemed different then what I have heard before. After separation, one hen attempted several times to peck the youngest chicks. Their mother attempted to protect her chicks, but was chased away by the attacking hen.

Sep. 3, 2012

The hen with the oldest single chick was observed in the 500 block of N. Vermont Ave., early in the morning by Melinda Cisneros. Shortly afterward, the hen was heard making distress calls continuously. This continued into the next day. Melinda went to observe the hen and found that her chick was missing. There was no indication of what happened to the chick.

Sep. 9, 2012

There are now 7 chicks left from the 2012 hatch. There are now 4 hens with chicks. One hen with 4 chicks and the remaining 3 with 1 each. Two of the remaining chicks are nearly 50% white.