DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A Delray Beach community is hoping to protect the peacock population that lives there.
Dozens of peacocks live in a neighborhood next to Banyan Creek Elementary School on Barwick Rd., just north of Lake Ida Rd. A farmer moved away and left the birds behind.
"There are about 35 that live across the street here in that big tree, and 15 more that live the corner," said David Clark.
The birds will hang out in yards, on patios, and can be seen wandering along the street.
Neighbor Joey Tuazon said cars will drive over the 35-mile-per-hour speed limit on Barwick Rd., and peacocks are being hit and killed.
Just last Friday, a bird was struck and left in the road, according to Tuazon.
"We see one at least every two weeks that gets killed," said Tuazon. "Male and female peacocks."
Tuazon and his neighbors are looking at ways to alert people to the peacock population. They've reached out to Palm Beach County asking for a "peacock crossing" sign.
They're also asking people who drive along Barwick Rd. to slow down and look out for the peacocks.
"They are not typically car shy, as I was mentioning," said Clark. "They will just walk across the road and expect the car to make room for them."
Peacocks are not native to Florida and are not a protected species here.
A Delray Beach Neighborhood wants to keep their peacock population safe. They are just North of Lake Ida rd on Barwick rd and tell me birds are being hit by speeding car and people not paying attention. @WPTV pic.twitter.com/vhtKObLNZq
— Miranda Christian (@MirandaWPTV) April 23, 2019
WPTV's Miranda Christian is working this story, and will have more throughout the day online and on air.