University of Miami Masters Work

Peafowl: A Miami Story

The symbol of Coconut Grove is a majestic peacock, with feathers that stretch about 4 feet upwards and showcase these tropical colors that match the look and feel of the Miami community. Peafowls are an invasive species to Florida, they were seen in the 1950s in the neighborhood, and was assumed they escaped as ornamental birds, according to the South Florida wildlife center. Currently, peafowls have reproduced rapidly, and alone in the Coconut Grove area, there are over 600 peafowls. In a community of 20,000, some streets have more peafowls than residents. The bird has no natural predators unless you consider cars a predator. Community residents have spoken extensively on the issue and have divided the community between lovers and haters. The residents who wish to have them controlled and sent to a sanctuary speak on how the birds have cost thousands of dollars in property damages. The peafowl tends to destroy gardens, their stool ruins the paint of the cars, and on dark-colored vehicles, their hind claws will scratch away due to seeing their own reflection. City of Miami Commissioner Ken Rusell has paired with Florida International University to create a census of the peafowls and find the key point and humane trappers to take 10% of the population and move them to a sanctuary. With no sanctuary yet and no trappers, the birds continue to roam freely around Miami-Dade County.

Podcast Storytelling:

Graduate student, Maria Alejandra Cardona researches what is happening with communities in Miami and the greater South Florida area and how climate is having a huge effect on our shorelines. From climate change gentrification to preparing for hurricanes, look for more episodes on how South Florida is preparing for the worst.