'RIP Kevin': Peacock who became a London lockdown symbol of hope is killed by foxes

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Europe

‘RIP Kevin’: Peacock who became a London lockdown symbol of hope is killed by foxes



Even snowfall couldn't stop Kevin the peacock from strutting through Chingford, in east London. (Alison Wallis)

By Jennifer Hassan
Feb. 22, 2021 at 6:17 a.m. EST

LONDON — Kevin the peacock, a sassy blue bird who mysteriously appeared at the beginning of lockdown last March and became a symbol of hope for locals confined to their homes, has been killed by foxes.

In a somber email sent to parents on Sunday, Chris Evans, the principal of Yardley Primary School — the place Kevin chose as home for almost a year, said that their cherished mascot had been killed by a fox, or possibly several, over the weekend. His remains were found by the school’s devastated janitor who had developed a close bond with the animal, often feeding him mixed seeds and fruit and generally making a fuss over him.

For the residents of Chingford, this leafy town on the edge of east London, Kevin was so much more than an animal that squawked long into the night. He was an “icon” and local treasure. A majestic creature who danced in their gardens like a Spice Girl, perched on their walls and rooftops elegantly and brought comfort to those grieving the loss of loved ones to covid-19.

For the hundreds of children that attend Yardley school, Kevin was the celebrity that they searched for in the grounds each day. He was the novelty guest who once interrupted a spelling test by repeatedly banging his beak on the classroom door. ... “He adopted us,” Evans said of the bird last year, describing

Kevin as the “pandemic peacock” that landed to “brighten our days.”

{snip}



After losing his feathers over the summer, Kevin displayed his beautiful new tail in January. (Chris Evans)

Jennifer Hassan
Jennifer Hassan is the social media editor for the Foreign desk at The Washington Post. She is based in London. Before joining The Post in 2016, Jennifer was global community manager for the international chat app Viber. Jennifer honed her breaking news skills as the U.K. social media editor at MailOnline. Follow https://twitter.com/GuinnessKebab

[hlthe2b]

1. Ohh, that makes me sad. Beautiful bird and I feel bad for all who looked after him.

[Celerity]

3. What does that have to do with this? The link is to the WaPo.

[Celerity]

5. Oh, oki. Cheers.

[mopinko]

6. i wish i could get away w having a peacock.

and a couple of peahens. but i'm in enough trouble for my roosters.

[Emrys]

8. Peacocks in a built-up environment are a pain.

Some fairly distant neighbours of ours got one a while back, and let it roam free.

The first I knew of it was when this rather large bird fluttered/crash-landed in our garden and resisted all efforts to herd it or shoo it away. It was exotic-looking, but it was very obstinate and had quite an attitude. I didn't fancy our cat's chances against it.

It hung around, perching on various neighbours' outbuilding roofs or strutting around doing its stuff for a month or so, its owner impervious to multiple pleas to keep it under some sort of control, before disappearing.

I've no idea what its fate was - a traffic accident, a very lucky fox, or relocation?

[mopinko]

9. it's not just how loud they are

it's that it is such a creepy call and they do it in the middle of the night.

the 1st time i heard them was in hawaii, and they were across a river valley a mile away.
ppl'd be calling the cops telling them someone was murdering a child.

my chickens do occasionally wander, but only when the feeder is empty. i doubt peacocks are much different. someone may have dumped the poor guy. happens to roos all the time.

[Emrys]

10. This one didn't call much.

I believe he was a juvenile just coming into full plumage (he had a full-looking tail but never saw him displaying), and I think his owner also had a mate for him wandering around somewhere, but they didn't seem to pay each other much attention in our eyeshot.

It was more the sheer physical presence and randomness in a smallish garden, plus a beak that looked like it could do some serious damage to plants and who knows what else (including the cat). It seemed more dimwitted than ferocious, but it didn't back down when physically obstructed or shooed.

They're all very well in grand parks, but not rambling through the neighbourhood uncared for.

There are a few that have gone feral at one spot on the road to Loch Lomond from here. They began a decade or more ago as a couple owned by someone, who then died, and there's been a few around there ever since.

[Bayard]

7. Peacocks are very cool

I'm surprised a fox could take one out. Maybe a coyote or wild dog. They are BIG birds!

My grandmother in SC kept them. When we visited, I remember waking up to the sound of the male screaming, morning doves and bobwhites, and the smell of towering pines.

I have wondered if I could keep a few in with the chickens. We have a huge pen for them.

[LeftishBrit]

11. Sad

Lovely bird