If you’ve ventured down Sagebrush Drive in Flower Mound, chances are, you may have encountered a friendly, feathered face or two. For the past 31 years, exotic, brightly adorned peacocks have called the area home. Though, they weren’t always a welcomed sight for all. They now are a beloved and protected Sagebrush mascot.
Unarguably, the peacocks’ biggest fan is local resident Bill Garcia. Bill and his wife Mary Lou have loved and cared for the Flower Mound peacocks for nearly three decades. And Bill never tires of sharing their beauty and history.
“Folks are asking, ‘How did these Sagebrush peacocks come about?’ About 31 years ago, Earl Adams gave his wife a birthday gift of one male peacock and two peahens. Once unloaded from the truck, the peacocks realized the Adams’ Rottweilers. They only lasted a few seconds at the Adams’, then flew to our property, where they found our creek with very tall trees for roosting,” Bill says.
Those three peacocks quickly multiplied, and before long, the Sagebrush area was home to about 125 peacocks.
“We had seven white peahens that mated with the peacocks producing some of the most exotic variegated feathered peacocks – incredibly beautiful,” Bill says.
The peacock population grew so rapidly that Bill says some neighbors considered them pests.
“We heard the complaints. One neighbor was shooting them. I had to run off teenagers with pellet guns, paint guns and bows and arrows,” he says. “Someone made the call to have the peacocks removed. The exotics were the first to go, then most of the white ones.
“We lost 100 peacocks. I was so angry. I was so hurt. I remember my walks with the peacocks. I sort of felt like St. Francis walking with my flock of peacocks. I walked, and they walked next to me.”
Bill says 25 peacocks managed to escape, including two white peacocks. The town ultimately passed a Peacock Ordinance that made it illegal to hunt, harm or capture any peafowl.
Today, Bill says, there are about 30 peacocks that meander around the nearly 50 acres surrounding Sagebrush Drive. In addition, the town’s Peacock Park was named after them.
Luckily, Bill and Mary Lou have been able to provide for all of the peacocks’ needs. “Our property has many tall trees, a creek, and we must have plenty of insects. Plus we have plenty of wild bird seeds, and we feed them white bread every day. Our place has been a daily stop for them the last 31 years,” he says.
“We feed them 60 pounds of sunflower and wild bird seeds a week,” Bill says. “We also have been feeding them leftover desserts for the last 31 years. And for you peacock nutritionists that keep telling me not to feed the peacocks bread and pastries, well, they love my pecan brownies, my cherry apple pies, my cherry cranberry pecan muffins, banana pecan pancakes, my German chocolate cake and my peach bread pudding.”
In addition, Bill says, the peacocks have impeccable taste in music. “This morning 18 peacocks showed up. Most of them are still hanging around. I’m playing their favorite music. They also like salsa music,” he says.
One of the most interesting times of year is peacock mating season, which begins in January and ends in May. During this time, the peacocks spread their tail feathers and strut around the community in hopes of attracting a mate.
“I have seen this peacock dance a hundred times,” Bill says. “It always seems like the peahens have no interest.”
During his many years of caring for the peacocks, Bill has grown fond of all of them, but two peacocks in particular became more like members of the family. Their names were Elvis and Elvis 2.
“Elvis usually hung around our house all day. Elvis slept next to our bedroom window for 15 years,” Bill says. “We always said goodnight to each other.”
After Elvis, Elvis 2 was born. “Elvis 2 had to be one of the most beautiful birds on earth, but he just had to venture out to be with the peahens hanging around Sagebrush,” Bill says.
Sadly, Elvis 2 was struck by a car this past spring and died. He was only 11 years old. Bill says he was hurt and angry. He says peacocks often walk into the street, and no amount of honking will make them move. He urges motorists to be patient and wait for them to cross.
“Please slow down if you see a peacock on the Sagebrush road!”
In addition to traffic, some wild animals in the area pose a threat to the peacocks. Bill says although peacocks roost in tall trees, they nest on the ground, which makes them easy prey. He is sure coyotes are a threat. But he’s not sure about bobcats.
“The relationship between the bobcats and peacocks is a strange one,” he says. “Once I saw a bobcat walk right through a flock of peacocks. Nobody panicked. Another time, I saw a bobcat following a bunch of peacocks as if he was one of the peacocks. Then another time, I saw about seven peacocks following a bobcat, sort of like in a conga line. Really strange.”
Whether they are enjoying salsa music on the lawn, eating pastries or shaking their tail feathers, the Sagebrush peacocks are a sight to behold and protect in Flower Mound. Luckily, there are neighbors like the Garcia’s to remind us of their beauty and worth.