Should I add her to my list?

[Dave B Smith]

For the last 9 years, we've kept trip lists for our bird sightings and also have recorded new sightings at home in our Peterson's guide but in the last year I've finally put together a complete list.

My question is on a recent visitor we've had at our Florida home. A Peahen has taken up residence in our neighborhood! My wife woke up one morning and found her sitting at the back door hoping for a handout! She is absolutely beautiful, very curious, pretty tame and always hungry!

While some neighbors want to shoot her, others are feeding her. We enjoy seeing her but are not encouraging her roosting on our door stoop. My wife named her "Millicent".

Seems that a number of years ago, a local movie star had a lot of Peacocks on her property. They have since spread to an adjoining neighborhood and are now reproducing in the wild. This one is probably from that group.

Can't call her a "rarity" because she certainly didn't fly over from India. She's probably not an escapee because there has been a flock established locally and she definitely isn't a native bird.

Should I add her to our list and how should I classify her?

Thanks,

[dennis]

Hi Dave,

It's your list. Add anything you like!

Most serious listers would not count an exotic species that just happened to have a brood in the neighborhood. The American Birding Assoc. would not allow it to count on their list.

I would just make a note of it somewhere and hope they don't become too loud! They make an terrible racket.

Dennis

[Dave B Smith]

Dennis,
Thanks for the clarifications. I think I'll just try to get a few "record" shots and put her with our other "memories".

[Charles Harper]

You'lll find it much more rewarding to add peafowl to your list when you see it in India! I have several exotic introducees on my lifelist -- Skylark in Victoria, BC, Eurasian Tree Sparrow in Illinois-- but it was always a little disappointing, and I got a real thrill, seeing them where they belonged.

[Dave Smith]

I would go with that. I've recently seen them in Sri Lanka and found it quite exciting seeing them in their proper surroundings rather than around a stately home in UK.

By the way Dave, welcome to Birdforum - in spite of your rather common name 3:-) :t:

Dave

[Michael Frankis]

Of course if they breed, and breed, and spread, until they're everywhere in Florida, then the AOU will decide that they are an established alien species (along with Starling, House Sparrow, etc, etc), and then you can tick them.

Michael

[Dave B Smith]

Thanks to all for the responses and I have to agree with y'all.
Of course Michael's comment could become real true in South Florida. The Ringed Neck Dove is well established and thriving. And we have many breeding flocks of Parrots although these are producing mostly hybrid results.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Dave,

My thoughts too - the climate in south FL is very similar to what they're adapted to back home in India. All they need do is learn what predators to avoid (not easy, for birds that have been kept in safe captivity for generations), and they'll be romping away.

Michael