Lost Peacock On The Loose Needs A New Home

SOUTHOLD, NY — Anybody missing a peacock?

Val Boergesson of Southold said a peacock who's evidently been wandering the Main Bayview Road area recently strutted into her yard about three days ago — and has shown no signs of wanting to spread his glorious wings and fly off.

The peacock, she said, has been "hanging around, sleeping on my roof at night."

He seems tame, she said, allowing him to come within an inch to feed him. "He's used to people. He definitely seems lost."

Boergesson, who is a self-professed animal lover, has been trying to help the multi-colored beauty, calling animal shelters and animal farms in the hopes of hearing that a peacock has been reported missing.

But so far, no luck, she said. She was told by one game farm owner — who can't take the lost stunner because he's taken in a few already this year — that oftentimes, people buy peacocks and then, are dismayed when they realize that, while their plumage is pure beauty, they're loud and noisy, especially in the mornings.

"He said someone probably brought him out here and dumped him," Boergesson said. "No one seems to be looking for their missing bird. Or else its owners are away and don't realize he's gone missing."

When she fed him for the first time, after having looked up peacock diets on the internet — they like grapes and lettuce, she reported — Boergesson said he was starving and ate hungrily.

Trying to help, Boergesson has been calling farms near and far and peacock breeders to try and re-home her unexpected guest.

When told she's been going above and beyond to help the stray peacock, Boergesson said she knew she had to do something: "This poor guy is hungry and lost. We're looking for his owner or someone who'd like to take in another peacock."

If you have information on the peacock's owner or would like to give him a home, call the North Fork Animal Welfare League at (631) 765-1811.