The history of the peafowl from Indian and Java that live in Arcadia is presented. Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin imported three pairs from India in the 1880s. His daughter Anita Baldwin added some birds from Java. The peacock is official bird of Arcadia, is protected, and should not be fed. See also VF "Peacocks" for copy of article.
Peacock Donuts on Duarte Road is being sued by plaintiff John Ho in regards to its handicap accessibility. While the Peacock Donut shop has 3 clearly marked handicapped spots, the lawsuit alleges that the rear access is not accessible to those in wheelchairs. John Ho has filed hundreds of such suits. Robert Chen, owner of the shop and Alan Wilson, owner of the building, are being sued.
A peacock fleeing a fight smashed a plate glass window and splattered shards of glass near a one-year-old child at a home on Valido Ave. Steve Bocian, assistant to the Arcadia City Manager, said the incident appears to be a historic first.
The peacock is the official bird of Arcadia. The designation happened last week.The city has had an official flower, the azalea, since 1963. City Council selected the oak as the official tree.
1. About Arboretum peacocks. Lasca Leaves - Autumn 1965.
2. Indian peafowl. Wolf, Joseph. MONOGRAPH OF THE PHEASANT, vol. 2, 1872, pp.163-190.
3. Ownerless peacocks. Los Angeles Times. August 11, 1957.
4. Peacock lore from rancho days. Lasca Leaves, Winter 1964.
5. Santa Anita Rancho Peacocks. Arcadia Tribune. August 3, 1934.
6. "Arcadia - the Peacock Town." NATURAL HISTORY, February 1957, pp. 93-97.
7. Peacocks. Typed article written by Ben Millikan.
8. Wanna buy a peacock? Los Angeles Times August 15, 1963.
9. Arboretum's peafowl increases. news clip, n.d.
10. Peacocks on Arcadia patios. Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1967.
11. Peacocks on parade. Los Angeles Times. Pt. II, p.1. January 22, 1968.
12. Peafowl and their care. Sheet prepared by the Arboretum, 1960.
13. Peacocks. Copy of article, source unknown, March 1970.
14. Dying breed. Arcadia Tribune. July 7, 1946.
15. Peacock in South African Section. Picture.
16. This strutting peacock. Picture.
17. The Indian peafowl. Postcard.
18. Mrs. Baldwin buys flocks of peacocks. Arcadia Journal June 3, 1916.
19. Peacocks and peahens. PETS OF THE WORLD, pp.25-26. n.d. Added November 1978.
20. The tale of Lucky's ranch peafowl colorful as their tail. Arcadia Tribune May 11, 1978.
21. Color photo from periodical HAWAII, June 6, 1979.
22. Reproduction of peacocks. Tanya Kornfeld, watercolorist - on postcard from Egrets Fine Art Gallery.
23. Cartoon of peacocks. Los Angeles Magazine. October, 1979.
24. THE WACKY WORLD OF PEAFOWL, by Dennis M. Fett. 1986. 52 pages.
25. Strolling bird. Color photo in NEWS DIGEST, p. 24. February 25, 1987.
26. California Arboretum Gift Shop - Drawing of peacock on the bag; c. 1987.
27. Screeches give way to political standoff in peacocks' domain. Los Angeles Times, Pt. II, p.1 June 6, 1988.
28. Pesky peacocks ruffling residents. Star Tribune July 28, 1992.
29. Feathers flying. Los Angeles Times, San Gabriel Valley section, p.J-1, August 23, 1992.
30. Arcadia City Council fans decision on managing peacock population. Star Tribune p.1, September 3, 1992.
31. Memorandum from Alex McIntyre, Assistant to the City Manager, to the Mayor and Members of the City Council re: Peafowl Population Control Program. August 26, 1992.
32. Seideman, David, "Beauty or Beast?", NATIONAL WILDLIFE, p. 42-45. April/May 1993.
33. "Peafowl." INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE ENCYCLOPEDIA, vol.16, pp. 1854-1857.
34. Peafowl control plan includes relocation, egg bounty elements. Sierra Madre News August 13, 1992.
35. Not all residents favor reduced peafowl population. Sierra Madre News, August 13, 1992.
36. Peafowl control issue on hold. Sierra Madre News, September 3, 1992.
37. Peafowl retain territorial rights. Sierra Madre News. October 1, 1992.
38. Flyer advertising purchase of Peacock Stick Pins; funds to be donated by Arcadia Realty to Arcadia Methodist Hospital for purchase of a heart machine in memory of Ardeen Boler. n.d.
39. Peafowl control effort to begin. Los Angeles Times, n.d.
40. Memo from Alex McIntyre, Assistant to the City Manager, to the Mayor and Members of the City Council dated September 22, 1992 with recommendations to establish a Peafowl Management Program.
41. Excerpt from minutes of the Arcadia City Council meeting September 1, 1992 regarding the proposed peafowl population control program. Continued to September 22, 1992.
42. Bibliography of information at Arcadia Public Library of the City Bird, the Peacock. c. 1993.
43. Council finds peafowl trapping plan won't fly. Los Angeles Times, September 3, 1992.
44. Our neighbors the peacocks. Pamphlet distributed by the City of Arcadia, 1997.
45. Sharing Arcadia with peacocks. Pamphlet distributed by the City of Arcadia, 2002. Includes history, what we can do, managing peafowl, which plants are distasteful to peafowl and specific plants which should be avoided. Contains information from the WACKY WORLD OF PEAFOWL. Report by Dennis Fett and Debra Buck.
46. City of Arcadia to Count Peafowl (peacocks). Press release from the office of the City Manager, Bill Kelly. May 13, 2002.
47. "Residents crying fowl, official bird ruffles feathers among Arcadia homeowners." City has ordered a study of birds following complaints from homeowners. Pasadena Star-News, p. A-1, May 21, 2002.
48. "100 Years of Peacocks," Arcadia Weekly, August 8, 2002. Photo by Terry Miller.
49. Who's to blame for the peacock problem in Arcadia...blame Lucky Baldwin...yes, the founder of Arcadia. By Terry Miller. Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 10, 11, June 5, 2013.
50. The peacocks of Arcadia. Retrieved from scpr.org (Southern California Public Radio aka KPCC), May 7, 2018.
Peacock with its feathers spread is seen on what is thought to be Pig Hill, part of Tallac Knoll where Anita Baldwin kept her pigs. There is a fence behind the peacock and a number of pigs visible.
The peafowl population in Arcadia continues to grow and annoy some residents living near the Arboretum. Others defend the peafowl. A census three years ago found there are 228-250 peafowl in the city.
Plans are underway for "Peacock Corner" at the fountain and entrance at Arcadia County Park at Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The bronze peacock will be 8 feet tall.
