Hamish, a handsome Indian blue peacock, is pecking at a cauliflower head with determination in the late afternoon sunshine in Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline. Angel, a delicate white peahen, sits at the top of the outdoor aviary, calling to her chicks.
The birds appear only mildly perturbed at the bagpipers and local dignitaries assembling for a short ceremony on Wednesday afternoon to award them the freedom of the city. They are the first creatures of any species to be granted this honour since Dunfermline, in Fife, was conferred city status in May 2022.
Peafowl have been living in Pittencrieff Park since 1905, but Wednesday’s ceremony comes only after a campaign driven by the dedicated volunteers who care daily for the birds.
“Peacocks have had the freedom to roam around the park for over a century, so when Dunfermline got city status, we pushed even more to give it officially to the birds,” says the lead warden for the peacocks, Suzi Ross. “These birds are loved by so many people from Dunfermline and all over the world.”
Ross has rejuvenated the birds’ living quarters since she took over the role in 2016, rebuilding the aviary to facilitate public viewing and rescuing more birds from across Scotland. The centre is now home to eight peacocks and nine peahens, as well as four fluffy peachicks of just three weeks old.
Peafowl have been part of the fabric of Dunfermline since the locally born philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gave Pittencrieff Park to the people in 1903 and accepted a pair of breeding peacocks from his friend Henry Beveridge upon his return from India two years later.
“There’s been this common feeling that the birds have always had the freedom of the town, and so many people have memories of them being in the park,” says the area convener, councillor James Calder, noting that one of his daughter’s first words was “peacock”.
“And so – when we were granted city status – the council decided that the first freedom of the city should be given to them.”
The peafowl are cared for 365 days a year by a team of volunteers. “An event like this helps raise our profile,” says an assistant warden, Carlyn Cane. “We don’t get any public funding, so we can only keep going through donation.”
Val Colville has volunteered at the centre for six years, taking particular responsibility for feeding the birds. The peafowl eat a wide range of foodstuffs, from mealworms and peanuts to green vegetables and corn on the cob. They have also proved very partial to chocolate cake. At the celebration on Wednesday, there was an impressive cake of three tiers – two for the humans and one for the birds.
While the peafowl usually remain within the bounds of the park, a few of the more adventurous birds have been known to wander farther afield, and the surrounding roads have signs warning drivers to be mindful.
“If you see them on the road, the best thing is to gently guide them back to the park with your arms outstretched,” says Colville, who advises the public to treat the birds with respect and keep dogs on a lead. “Even in the park, it’s fine to say hello, but don’t rush up to them.”
Local people are aware that the birds don’t always wait for an invitation. “My friend who lives up the road came home a couple of years ago to find five birds sitting in her living room,” Colville says. “She was quite surprised, but they were perfectly calm, just looking out the window.
“I went up and cleaned her carpet afterwards. They had left a few calling cards.”
