Cambridge peacocks find a new home
Posted Jul 12, 2023 11:00:06 AM.
After nearly a year long search, the City of Cambridge has found a pair of peacocks a new home.
“Like many municipalities, we have been working to end the practice of keeping wildlife for public display,” said Michael Hausser, director of operations with the City of Cambridge. “Moving the peacocks out of the park is significant, not only because it is best for their welfare, but it also marks the end of the City’s history of keeping animals penned up in parks.”
No longer at Churchill Park, the two peacocks now call a farm homestead in Flamborough home owned by Lisa DiCesare and her husband Brian Hansell.
Lisa and Brian own a 40-acre farm where they care for a number of rescue animals, including three lambs, a donkey, pony, horse and other fowl. They offered to take the peacocks in.
“We are happy to provide a safe home to them,” said Lisa. “Our family has roots in Cambridge, our son and daughter-in-law live there and our cousins had a farm there when I was growing up. I hope residents know the ‘boys’ are in good hands and good company.”
Churchill Park had peacocks for more than 25 years. In that time, the birds often flew outside the pen, and would be spotted in resident yards.
In the spring 2022, two of the peacocks were carefully captured and transported to their new home. Last December, City staff removed the fencing and shelter in the park.
“The two have a roofed shelter to protect them from the wind and rain and a low fence around it to keep predators out, but they still have the freedom to roam outside the shelter and around the property,” said Lisa. She and Brian added more peahens to their current flock so they have plenty of company. “We named them Winston and Churchill and they’ve settled in nicely. In fact, Churchill is going to be a dad; we are expecting to see some chicks hatch around July 20.” Lisa says they haven’t forgotten about the remaining peacock. They still have plans to try to capture it.”
