They’ve strutted their stuff in Dunfermline for more than a century. Now, bird lovers are being asked to sponsor a peacock and bring the colourful bird back to the streets.
Peacocks used to strut around freely in Dunfermline but their number has dropped in recent years to two, known locally as Bluey and Clive.
A £1.6 million project to revamp the town’s Pittencrieff Park, home to free-range peacocks since the early 1900s, and to create a sanctuary for the birds, began last year.
With the sanctuary almost complete, local people and businesses are being sought to sponsor new peacocks, which will be brought in to boost the population.
Central Dunfermline Community Council says that around £100 would cover the cost of any feed or other costs needed to support a peacock. Fife Council said it has already had inquiries about sponsorship, ahead of reintroducing more birds into the park next summer.
Martin Bonnar, major parks officer with Fife Council, said: “We’ve been approached by several groups interested in sponsoring a peacock. We’re all looking forward to the peacocks arriving and getting them settled is our first priority.
“There is no framework for the sponsorship as yet; it will be something that will be developed in the coming months so that people can contribute to the care of the birds. We’ll also be recruiting volunteers to assist with looking after the sanctuary.
“There are two male birds currently Clive remains in the park most of the time and the other one, Bluey, tends to roam around further afield. He is often seen walking around town.”
James Stewart, chairman of the Central Dunfermline Community Council, said he was concerned that the peacock sanctuary would not be finished in time to protect the remaining peacocks from the cold weather.
He said: “The concept is quite exciting but we are totally underwhelmed at the progress of the peacock situation and I think the concern is the cold weather we may have a lesser number of peacocks, rather than increasing them, because part of the purpose of the peacock run is to provide a place for the two male birds to shelter.
“I would have guessed it would be around £100 (to sponsor a peacock) and Crossford Community Council might do the same.”
Mr Bonnar added: “We’re keen to let people know the project which was welcomed by many when announced last year continues to make progress and that we are still committed to homing more peafowl in the park.
“Where we are experiencing a delay, unfortunately, is with the refurbishment of the glasshouses. We had aimed to have these refurbished by now but a delay in appointing a contractor means that work will not begin until after the winter to protect the plants inside.”
Peacocks were introduced to Dunfermline in 1905, when Henry Beveridge, who worked as a civil servant in India, gifted them to the town.