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TIME - Man of the Year
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012092
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1992-08-28
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NATION, Page 25American NotesCALIFORNIAToo Much Fowl Play
Rolling Hills Estates has an urban pest problem. The varmint
travels in packs, digs holes in lawns, eats flower gardens,
poops around pools and spas and, worst of all, starts
screeching as early as 4 a.m. For sheer irritation, rats,
raccoons, skunks, pigeons and possums are no match for the more
than 150 wild peacocks that infest this otherwise tranquil, posh
Southern California community. The flock -- often 30 to 40 birds
roosting in a single tree -- descends from six Indian peafowl
released on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1924.
Their presence has sparked a pitched battle between bird
lovers and sleep lovers. Hoping to soothe ruffled feathers on
all sides, the city council is willing to try behavior
modification. Later this month, Iowa peafowl farmer Dennis Fett,
who will collect $200 a day and expenses for his advice, will
conduct seminars for frazzled residents on how they can cope
with their troublesome flock. Then he will try to draw the
birds, Pied Piper-style, to open parts of the city.