Management Plan for Peafowl at the former Sale Fauna enclosure site 2018-2022 - Wellington Shire Council
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Management Plan for Peafowl at the former Sale Fauna enclosure site 2018-2022 Report prepared for the Wellington Shire Council September 2018 Wildlife Unlimited Pty Ltd ABN: 36 147 131 119 PO Box 255, Bairnsdale, VIC 3875 Ph: 03 5152 6367 Email: wildlifeunlimited@wideband.net.au
Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
Document history and status
Version Date Sent to Format
Draft 1 20/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Draft 2 20/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Draft 3 20/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Draft 4 20/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Draft 5 20/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Final 26/09/2018 Tim Rowe Electronic
Document title: Management Plan for Peafowl at the Former Sale Fauna enclosure site
2018
Client: Wellington Shire Council
Author: Greg Fyfe
Project manager: Jim Reside
Project: Peafowl Management Plan at the former Sale Fauna enclosure
Document version: Final
File Name: Wellington Shire Council/Sale Fauna Park/Peafowl Management
Plan/2018 Peafowl Management plan report - Final
i
Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Purpose and objectives ................................................................................................................. 2
3 Consultation ................................................................................................................................. 2
4 Background .................................................................................................................................. 2
4.1 Peafowl Origin ............................................................................................................................... 2
4.2 Biology and Behaviour ................................................................................................................... 2
4.2.1 Terminology .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
4.2.2 Social habits .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
4.2.3 Physical features ................................................................................................................................................... 3
4.2.4 Diet........................................................................................................................................................................ 3
4.2.5 Breeding ................................................................................................................................................................ 3
4.3 Predators ....................................................................................................................................... 4
4.4 Environmental impacts.................................................................................................................. 4
4.5 Issues ............................................................................................................................................. 4
5 Discussion .................................................................................................................................... 5
5.1 Status / Numbers present ............................................................................................................. 5
5.2 Other jurisdictions ......................................................................................................................... 5
6 Management options for the Sale site ........................................................................................... 7
6.1 Do nothing ..................................................................................................................................... 7
6.2 Provide garden beds for peahens to nest in. ................................................................................ 7
6.3 Community Education/Awareness ................................................................................................ 7
6.4 What if the population declines? .................................................................................................. 7
7 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................... 8
7.1 Trap and relocate or other control methods ................................................................................ 8
8 Reporting and reviewing ............................................................................................................... 8
9 Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... 8
10 References ................................................................................................................................... 9
iiPeafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
1 Introduction
Wildlife Unlimited has been commissioned by the Wellington Shire Council to prepare a
management plan for Peafowl associated with the former Sale Fauna enclosure located adjacent to
the Botanic Gardens, east of Lake Guthridge. This area attracts local residents and visitors, who
enjoy the various recreational facilities available. The Sale Fauna enclosure has been
decommissioned and the site is to be rehabilitated and redeveloped. Local residents have expressed
to council a desire to retain the Peafowl population that was part of the former fauna enclosure in a
free ranging state. This management plan discusses ways in which the existing Peafowl can be
retained on site into the future, while allowing the removal of the perimeter fencing that
surrounded the former fauna enclosure area.
The Shire has considered a range of management options, as discussed in this Plan, and has
determined that the best option is to implement an annual monitoring program to assess peafowl
numbers with the retention of a small population of peafowl being the desired outcome (approx. 15
birds). The success of this Plan will be largely dependent on community support.
This Peafowl Management Plan has been prepared for use by the Shire in the management of
peafowl on public land in Sale. It has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders and
provides a strategic approach to managing peafowl populations in the Sale area.
This Management Plan:
1. provides a context for the management of peafowl in the Sale area;
2. recognises that the management of peafowl is the shared responsibility of both the
Wellington Shire council and the community;
3. addresses animal welfare issues;
4. provides actions for managing the peafowl over the next three years; and
5. responds to the changing environment.
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2 Purpose and objectives
Purpose
The purpose of the 2018 Peafowl Management Plan is to set out the approach to be adopted in
managing the peafowl population in the Sale Botanic gardens precinct in order to ensure the survival
of a population of these birds after decommissioning of the former Sale Fauna enclosure.
Objectives
The objectives of the 2018 Peafowl Management Plan are to:
1. Address community concerns about the ongoing survival of a population of Peafowl
at the former Sale Fauna enclosure site,
2. Monitor the peafowl population on an annual basis to ascertain peafowl population
trends,
3. Prevent the potential for the peafowl population spreading and impacting on other
areas, including nearby nature reserves or the Sale Common.
These will be achieved by regular monitoring of the peafowl group and responding to changes in
population status with pre-determined responses.
3 Consultation
In preparing this plan, the Wellington Shire consulted with a range of stakeholders including relevant
Shire staff, local residents and the broader Sale community.
4 Background
The former Sale Fauna enclosure previously held a population of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus
giganteus) and Swamp Wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), Parma Wallabies, Red necked wallabies, and 15
Indian Peafowl. The Peafowl were always unconstrained, as they were always able to fly out over the
perimeter fence and forage for food outside of the Fauna enclosure. Supplementary feeding of the
enclosure’s fauna also attracted a number of native bird species such as Purple Swamphen
(Porphyrio porphyria), Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), and other bird species. The
removal of the fauna enclosure and the lack of supplementary food may discourage the visits by
some of the native bird species but the Peafowl are well equipped to survive without any need for
feeding as they are well acquainted with the area and have been foraging outside the fenced area
for many years.
4.1 Peafowl Origin
The Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a member of the pheasant family and is native to India and
Pakistan. Peafowl were deliberately introduced to Australia in the 1800s.
The peafowl population in Sale originated from small number of peafowl from a now closed fauna
enclosure located on the site, adjacent to the Sale Botanic gardens. These birds, or their offspring,
predominantly reside in and adjacent to the former Fauna enclosure.
4.2 Biology and Behaviour
4.2.1 Terminology
Whilst the term ‘peacock’ is commonly used interchangeably when referring to male and/or female
birds, ‘peafowl’ is the correct terminology when referring to populations of both sexes. The male
2Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
peafowl are ‘peacocks’, the females are ‘peahens’ and the young are ‘peachicks’. A group of peafowl
is referred to as a party, ostentation or a muster.
4.2.2 Social habits
Peafowl are forest birds that forage on the ground during the day and roost in tall trees at night.
Peacocks (males) tend to roost alone or in groups. At the end of their second year, young males
leave the roosting sites of females and young to roost with other males or alone. Females with
young less than four months old roost separately from other peafowl.
Peafowl descend from roost trees within the first two hours of dawn and ascend to their roosts
about half an hour after sunset. Peafowl are most active in the early morning and during the last
two hours of daylight when they forage for food. Peacocks and peahens flock together outside of
the breeding season but during the breeding season adult peacocks spend the majority of their day
in display areas (see Section 4.2.5).
4.2.3 Physical features
Peacocks (males) are admired for their iridescent green and blue long tail covert (the train), which is
made up of elongated upper-tail covert feathers bearing colourful ‘eyespots’ or ocelli. The peacocks
develop ornamental tail coverts in the breeding season. The females (peahens) lack the bright
colours and do not develop the long upper tail coverts. Both sexes have crests on their heads.
The peacocks are between 2 - 2.5 metres in length when in full plume (the tail covert can measure
up to 1.4 metres long). Peahens are smaller at around one metre in length.
The male call is a series of repeated crowing ‘ka’ and shrill ‘eow’ calls of varying frequency given up
to eight times in a row, primarily during the breeding season. Other distress and warning calls are
given throughout the year. The females use clucking calls when with young and when pointing out
food.
Peafowl live for around 20 years in the wild, possibly longer in captivity or under semi-wild
conditions. Adult birds are not often preyed upon due to their large size and habit of roosting at
night high in trees. Eggs and recently hatched peachicks are the most vulnerable life stage to
predation and this is the age class where the main population control pressures are applied.
4.2.4 Diet
Peafowl are omnivorous and their diet includes seeds, fruits, flower buds, shoots, invertebrates and
small vertebrates (i.e. small mammals and reptiles).
4.2.5 Breeding
In Sale, the peafowl breeding season is from September to January.
The peacock’s train, which makes up around 60 percent of its total body length, is used during
mating rituals and courtship displays to attract females. The long train is moulted at the end of each
breeding season. Peacocks develop their first train in their second year but it is not as long as that of
a full-grown male and lacks the ocelli. The tail gets longer and more vibrant each year after that until
the age of five or six when the trail reaches its maximum splendour.
The peacocks open the tail covert into a fan and do a complex dance to attract peahens. As part of
the courting ritual the tail vibrates, making a rattling sound. Peacocks display in an expanded lek
which consists of several males in vocal contact but out of view of each other. Groups of peahens
visit the lek, compare the males’ physiques and courtship displays and choose the most attractive
3Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
male as their mate. It is thought that the female chooses her mate based on the size and colour of
their feather trains.
Peacocks are polygamous (mate with many females) and do not play any role in raising the chicks.
Peahens nest in shallow scrapes in the ground that may be lined with sticks, leaves and other debris.
Clutch sizes range from four to six eggs. The eggs are laid over several days and remain dormant
until the peahen has finished laying her clutch and commences incubating her eggs. Her body heat
‘strikes’ the eggs and the peachick embryos begin to develop. This ensures that all of the peachicks
hatch at the same time regardless of the order in which they were laid. The incubation period is
between 28 and 30 days. The chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching and forage for themselves
with the peahen pointing at food with her beak.
4.3 Predators
In Sale, the adult peafowl has few natural predators. Their main threats include domestic dogs, cats
and European red foxes. Peachicks are particularly vulnerable to predation due to their size and
their inability to fly until they are two weeks old which means they cannot roost in trees at night. In
addition, peahens are not very attentive mothers and many chicks are taken by predators. Birds
may also fall victim to traffic accidents.
4.4 Environmental impacts
Peafowl can have a negative impact on native plant and animal species. They can compete with
native birds for habitat, feed on native plants and animals, disturb native vegetation and spread
weeds. In the area where the peafowl population is currently established, environmental impacts
are likely to be negligible, however if the population remains unmanaged and is allowed to spread
into neighbouring nature reserves or the Sale Common, then the peafowl could have a significant
impact on the environment.
Their foraging can destroy or hinder plant growth leaving bare ground exposed to weed invasion. In
addition, they can introduce weed species via their droppings and compete with native fauna for
food and roosting sites. To date their distribution has not spread into adjacent reserves or the Sale
Common and an important aim of the plan is to ensure the peafowl do not colonise these areas.
4.5 Issues
The peafowl at Sale, have previously bred in the former fauna enclosure area, protected from
predators by the perimeter fence. The adult birds roost in trees inside and outside the fenced area
and are therefore safe from most predators due to their inaccessible roosting site. Peachicks (which
cannot fly for 2 weeks after hatching) roost on the ground in thick vegetation, which affords them
some cover from predation. Currently the peafowl nesting area within the Fauna enclosure fence is
accessible to potential predators of peachicks, such as dogs, foxes and cats, due to a significant gap
in the double gates in the perimeter fence. When the perimeter fence is removed from the former
Fauna enclosure site, the safety and likelihood of predation on the peachicks will not change much
as predators already have access to the area and there has been little noticeable effect on the
peafowl.
4Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
Peahens nest in shallow scrapes in the ground, often lined with sticks, leaves and other available
materials. This nest site can be difficult to locate (for humans) due to it being placed in areas of thick
vegetation or under overhanging branches of spreading trees and shrubs.
When the perimeter fence of the former Fauna enclosure is removed, it will be necessary to ensure
there are suitable areas of thick vegetation in the general vicinity for the concealment of nest sites
and protection of brooding females and newly hatched chicks. If the proposed “Gardens for Life
project” on the former Fauna enclosure site was to be developed, the provision of suitably thick
vegetation for peafowl nesting sites would be easy to achieve. For example, several large (20m dia)
areas nearby of thickly planted Lomandra spp. and/or Dianella spp. containing some low spreading
shrubs would be suitable for peafowl to nest in.
Snakes have been regularly seen for years in and around the former Fauna enclosure site. The
provision of thickly planted areas for the peafowl to nest in will provide some snakes with secure
hiding places where they will be difficult to see. (A snake hiding in cover is much more difficult to see
than a snake moving across open mown grass). The provision of the grassed garden beds for the
peahens to nest in will not lead to people encountering more snakes, it will probably mean less
snakes will be seen as the snakes are more likely to remain close to the cover afforded them by the
thick planting of grasses. Snakes that are hiding in secure, safe places are far less likely to need to
defend themselves from people of pets.
It is unlikely that snakes will predate on the eggs of the peafowl. Most Australian snakes species do
not eat bird eggs often. Peafowl eggs are also too big to be eaten by most snakes likely to be in the
Sale area. Peachicks would be eaten by some larger Tiger snakes – if the snake could catch them.
This is not something that would happen often. Peachicks may not be able to fly in the first 2 weeks
after hatching, but they can run and would quickly run into the surrounding grasses to flee an
approaching snake. Snakes will not become any more of an issue in the future at this site than they
have been in the past
Peafowl are known to carry a number of infectious diseases and parasites that have the potential to
spread, via the birds’ droppings, to livestock and/or humans. These include, fowl pox, haemorrhagic
enteritis, avian tuberculosis, fowl typhoid, fowl cholera, coccidiosis, pigeon malaria, salmonella,
tapeworms, mites and lice. Transfer to humans can occur through direct contact (hand to mouth) or
by drinking rainwater from contaminated roof runoff. The extent to which these diseases are
present in the peafowl population of Sale is unknown.
Peafowl have not been declared an environmental pest anywhere in Australia.
5 Discussion
5.1 Status / Numbers present
Historically the peafowl population at the Sale Fauna enclosure site was around 15 birds. Peafowl
numbers generally increase significantly during the breeding season however, It is assumed that to
date predation by avian predators, foxes, dogs and cats has kept the permanent population numbers
relatively steady; As peahens nest on the ground, eggs and young chicks that cannot fly are
vulnerable to predation by foxes, dogs, cats and avian predators like Hawks and Harriers.
At dusk birds roost in the local trees and this allows for a reasonably accurate count to be
undertaken at this time of day.
5.2 Other jurisdictions
5Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
Feral peafowl populations have had negative impacts in other areas of Australia, including, Canberra
(ACT), Townsville (Magnetic Island and Mount Stuart, Queensland), Rottnest Island (Western
Australia) and Kangaroo Island (South Australia). In these areas the relevant authorities have
adopted various measures of bird removal to manage these populations.
Rottnest Island, Magnetic Island and Kangaroo Island are fox free. Mount Stuart is outside the
normal distribution range of the fox and so sightings of foxes in this area are uncommon. Due to a
lack of natural predators to control the peafowl numbers, the populations of peafowl in these areas
have been able to increase significantly over time.
The peafowl has not been declared a pest animal in ACT, Queensland, Western Australia or South
Australia.
Peafowl are regarded as a pest species on a local scale and are being actively controlled or at least
monitored to assess the local population trends so that timely intervention / control can be
implemented if the need arises.
The following points need to be considered when determining the appropriate actions and
committing resources to address peafowl population issues:
• the main negative impacts at these interstate peafowl populations are social impacts (e.g.
noise, defecation, traffic hazards) and damage to private property. All of these other
peafowl populations are associated with urban parks or peri-urban sites where the peafowl
are closely associated with private (Human) dwellings or infrastructure. This is not the
situation in Sale, where the birds are restricted to the parklands surrounding the former
Fauna enclosure and Botanic gardens.
• In all jurisdictions where peafowl are a perceived problem, feedback from local residents
indicates that there is also considerable support for maintaining a peafowl population.
Some residents actively encourage their presence through regular feeding. This is consistent
with jurisdictions both in Australia and overseas (e.g. New Zealand and City of Racho Palos
Verdes), which have also reported a polarisation of public opinion.
• all peafowl call, but the males are the loudest and their call carries for a long distance. It is
usually heard in the early morning and late evening, and almost all day during the breeding
season;
• in other areas, complaints received from the community indicate that the negative impacts,
which escalate during the breeding season, are localised;
• peafowl have not been declared a pest species and have not been identified as a significant
environmental risk at any locality in Australia. Whilst they may compete with native birds
for roosting sites and their diet includes small mammals and reptiles, the impact on native
species populations in the affected areas is considered minor.
• the peafowl can carry transmittable diseases and parasites which can affect both livestock
and humans; however, the incidence of disease in the Sale’s peafowl population is unknown
and no reports of humans or livestock contracting a disease or parasite from peafowl has
been reported; and
• cost/benefit analysis - based on previous trapping and relocation programs in other
jurisdictions, the management costs of controlling peafowl populations are significant and
ongoing, and may outweigh the benefits.
6Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
6 Management options for the Sale site
6.1 Do nothing
If no action is taken the adult peafowl will continue to use the familiar roost trees, even after the
perimeter fence of the former Fauna enclosure is removed. The adult birds are unlikely to be
predated by foxes, dogs or cats due to their size and tree roosting habits at night (peahens
attempting to nest on the ground may be vulnerable to attack whist sitting on eggs in areas where
cover is inadequate for their concealment). If the birds are unable to find suitable areas to nest in
the surrounding vegetation patches, the peafowl population may remain static for years until these
birds age and die off naturally. There is also potential for the birds to increase their range into
adjacent areas looking for nesting sites, which may mean moving into more suburban areas or
alternately into the Sale Common area.
6.2 Provide garden beds for peahens to nest in.
Provision of additional thickly planted garden beds containing Lomandra, Poa or Dianella spp.
tussocks as well as some small spreading shrubs, would offer more secure nesting sites for peahens
to choose for nesting. Such plantings would offer both brooding females and newly hatched pea-
chicks good cover that may prevent or highly reduce the incidence of predation by foxes, dogs or
cats. Siting these garden beds close to the original site of the former Fauna enclosure would keep
most peafowl activity in the vicinity that they know best. If the proposed “Gardens for Life” initiative
was to proceed, such garden beds could be easily incorporated into the works.
In any case, several (2-5) 20 to 30 metre diameter garden beds should be provided for peahens to
use as nesting and incubation sites. These garden beds should be thickly planted with a mix of
“Tussock” forming grasses, such as Lomandra, Dianella and Poa species with some scattered low
(2m), spreading shrubs that can provide nests sites with some overhead protection. Spaces between
the tussock grasses should be around 450 – 600 mm once the grasses have grown fully. This would
provide a network of possible nest sites in each garden bed, giving the peahens ample choice and
making it difficult for predators to find nests and very difficult for predators to chase young chicks
through the thick vegetation.
6.3 Community Education/Awareness
Community support is important to the success of this Management Plan. Raising community
awareness of the potential impacts peafowl can have on the community and the environment may
influence the community’s attitude and behaviour. A communications strategy that includes raising
public awareness of the issues should be prepared as part of any proposed peafowl population
control program. Peafowl can be deterred by removing or reducing food sources and so
discouraging people from feeding the birds could assist in reducing the negative impacts of peafowl.
6.4 What if the population declines?
It may be necessary to re-introduce some form of fencing around nesting areas to protect nesting
peahens and young peachicks if the population begins to decline due to predation. This is an unlikely
scenario but could happen if predators can access brooding peahens that don’t have enough cover.
If peafowl numbers decline too far, it is most likely to be able to source additional peafowl from
some of the jurisdictions in Australia where peafowl are trapped as pest animals. Alternatively,
peafowl are offered for private sale on a number of websites such as Gumtree
(www.gumtree.com.au) .Prices vary according to age and sex but range $70 - $200 each and were
readily available within Victoria and interstate at the time of writing this plan (Sept 2018).
7Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
6.5 Monitoring
Monitoring must be attended every year prior to the breeding season. In Sale, it is recommended to
occur from late July to August. The most proficient way is to locate the trees the peafowl roost in
and over 2 days in the same week record the amount of peafowl roosting. The optimal time is on
dusk. Physically recording the numbers of birds, adults and sub-adults as well male and female will
provide adequate population trends.
6.6 Trap and relocate or other control methods
To meet the objectives, peafowl population monitoring should be undertaken annually prior to the
breeding season. If the population of peafowl rises to a level deemed too many, consideration
should be given to appropriate methods of controlling the population. This may include trapping, or
catching roosting birds at night or other forms of control.
NB. These options are unlikely to need addressing in the next 5 years as it is unlikely that the
peafowl population in the Sale area will rise sharply in that time frame. However in the future, some
form of population control may need to be chosen and implemented.
7 Reporting and reviewing
This plan should be reviewed at least every two years and revised as necessary to ensure that it
reflects the desired outcomes and is consistent with current policies and practices.
8 Glossary
Covert feathers A covert feather or tectrix on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called
coverts (or tectrices), which, as the name implies, cover other feathers.
The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail. The upper-
tail and under-tail covert feathers cover the base of the tail feathers
above and below. Sometimes these coverts are more specialised. The
"tail" of a peacock is actually very elongated upper-tail coverts.
Lek (bird) An area where birds gather during the breeding season for community
courtship displays to attract mates. In a lek, male birds defend their
territory and engage in different courtship displays such as dancing,
displaying distinctive plumage or making specific sounds to attract the
attention of nearby females.
Ocelli (singular An eye-like spot, as on a peacock feather. Also, an unpaired
ocellus) compound eye present in some arthropods.
Peri-urban Peri-urban regions are those areas on the urban periphery into which
cities expand or which cities influence. They are the transitional areas
between urban and rural land uses which are usually characterised by
both urban and rural land uses which often conflict.
8Peafowl Management Plan 2018 Final
9 References
Schwartz L.D., 1994 in Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd., Options for controlling peafowl (Pavo
Cristatus) in New Zealand (2011)
Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd., Options for controlling peafowl (Pavo Cristatus) in New
Zealand (2011)
City of Racho Palos Verdes, Peafowl Management Plan (2015) City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Science Network WA (website) Rottnest culls feral peacocks
http://www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/environment-a-conservation/item/357-rottnest-culls-feral-
peacocks (accessed, 2 February 2016)
Natural Resources Kangaroo Island (2016) Management of Feral Peacocks (Pavo cristatus) on
Kangaroo Island. Natural Resources Kangaroo Island
Invasive Animals CRC (2012) Pestsmart Standard Operating Procedure BIR:002: Trapping of pest
birds, Invasive Animals CRC and Australian Government.
David A. and Latham M. (2011) Options for controlling peafowl (Pavo cristatus) in New Zealand.
Landcare Research, Manaaki Whenua
Transport Canberra and City Services (2018) Draft Peafowl Management Plan 2018 - 2023
https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/city-living/wildlife/draft-peafowl-management-plan
Results of public comment on draft plan – over 50% of respondents wanted to retain peafowl
population.
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