We had to work hard to catch this peafowl! We put large mesh nets near the grove of oak trees where a large number of peafowl roost each night. These birds are completely feral, feeding in the nearby vineyards during the day and breeding in the area. They have been here many years, according to the owners, and are not fed.
In the morning the birds flew out from the roost trees, most flying well over the nets. One bird managed to duck under a net, even though the net reached the ground. We then decided to try at night, when the peafowl walk slowly up to the trees where they roost. A group of birds walked right up to the nets and then around them. We ran towards them and two birds flew into the nets in an attempt to flee to the vineyard. One got out of the nets, I grabbed the other. And so our first wild caught peafowl was ringed with a SAFRING ring (several rehabilitated birds have been ringed too).
Fact sheet:
Number ringed to date (SAFRING): 8 [1948-2024]
Longevity: thought to be 10 to 25 years in the wild
Trip report: ebird trip report
Reason special: probably first wild caught peafowl in SA to be ringed
