Hampshire villager Percy is desperate to find a partner – but they must be a big fan of bright feathers.
And the one lucky lady will need more than just a good sense of humour to prove she is Mrs Right for the popular peacock who is in his prime.
But swooping to his rescue are residents living in Itchen Abbas near Winchester who have taken Percy under their wings as they step up the search for his perfect mate.
Since moving in to the village in July last year, lonely Percy has been strutting the streets and scouring from his perch on the rooftops of houses in the hope of laying eyes on his soul mate.
His desperate cries to find the love of his life are also being heard by locals, who are keen to find him a match before his mating call keeps them awake at night.
Wildlife experts have also warned that time is of the essence for Percy – who could be become a nuisance and take out his frustrations by digging up the flowerbeds, starting fights or evening frightening local children.
Neighbours Sue Chesters, Kate Barnes, Norma Hayward, Pam Hart.
The residents of Baring Close have given their new neighbour a warm welcome, feeding him a mixture of bread, peanuts and seeds every day.
“He has really brightened up our lives,” said Kate Barnes, 64.
“It was quite a shock when he arrived, I was just sitting in the lounge and I looked out the window and saw this beautiful peacock.
“He walks up and down the road like he owns the place. He is a magnificent bird.”
Neighbour Sue Chesters said the mating call is a “bit loud” but won’t bother her unless it starts in the early hours of the morning.
But that’s exactly what will happen this summer, according to Geoff Masson, livestock manager at Paultons Park in Romsey, who warned that the sunrise calls will soon start as early as 5am.
“In the past we’ve had problems with lone birds,” he said, warning that the proud males display to themselves if they see themselves in conservatories or windows.
“They can sometimes try and fight their own reflection. In the wild peacocks dig for food, so there’s the possibility of them digging up flowerbeds looking for food.
“If it’s standing in the gardens, displaying, it could be quite worrying for a child and also for the parents.”
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