An extremely rare white peahen (Charmaine) has joined Narrabundah’s famous peacock colony, while a loner peacock (Andrew) has settled in at Mugga Lane Tip, where Narrabundah’s peacocks are thought to have originated 30 years ago.

Charmaine is a rescue peahen from Hume and popular with the males, while Andrew prefers the bachelor life and is thought to have once been Charmaine’s mate, given their close proximity to one another.

Narrabundah resident Timothy DeWan, who’s convenor of Save The Narrabundah Peafowl, hosts Charmaine on his rooftop for the views, and Percy the peacock in his backyard for the poolside ambiance.

“It might be the pool he likes and the pina coladas that we serve,” Tim laughs. “Actually, Charmaine happens to like walking in the rain.”

For those who like a bit of Love Island, Prospero fancies Charmaine and Percy has a crush on Persephone – so much so that he vibrates his train (train-rattling), which can be detected by a peahen a kilometre away. While Charmaine is popular with the males, the local peahens have not warmed to her (the intruder). It’s an urban soap opera.

Narrabundah’s ostentation of peacocks (what a fabulous collective noun) are in the midst of mating season and residents’ backyards are fast becoming “leks”, a man-cave where males hang out and show-off their plumage and make a lot of noise to impress the peahens (sounds like Mooseheads).

“The word “monogamy” does not actually feature in the peafowl dictionary and these boys will be happy to enjoy trysts with Phillipa, Patience, Petunia, Philomena, Prudence and a host of other pea ladies,” Tim said. “It can be quite raucous on occasion during mating season when experiencing the sounds of ‘pea-passion’.”

Tim’s pet cats slink past the peacocks sullenly because they’re no match for the huge birds (Charmaine the ice queen actually chases them). Foxes, however, are a real predator and Tim said that both foxes and cars had kept the peacock population in check.

Locals affectionately call them “blue roosters” and the majority of Narrabundah residents have taken them to their hearts (some even place ladders against trees in their street to help peachicks climb to safety, until they learn to fly at three-weeks-of-age).

Local kids also go on treasure hunts to collect peacock feathers, once the males drop them post mating-season.

Workers at Mugga Lane Tip regularly keep an eye out for Andrew (peacock), who’s quick on his feet to avoid trucks and trailers, and staff occasionally send proof-of-life photos to Tim. It’s rare for Narrabundah’s peacocks to wander too far away, although a peacock once turned up at Duntroon (call of duty) and had to be rescued.

Love them or hate them, Narrabundah’s pride of peacocks are world-famous and have appeared on the UK’s BBC, American television, Russian television and closer to home, on Channel 10’s The Project.

They’re even promoted by some tourism companies’ as “highlights of Canberra” to international and domestic visitors.

Tim’s lived alongside Narrabundah’s muster of peacocks for 20 years – so long that he’s acquired a Stephen King-like pet cemetery in his backyard. To date, he’s buried six deceased peacocks in his backyard (killed by either cars or foxes).

On a brighter note, Neighbourhood Watch has never been stronger in Narrabundah, with Tim crediting local peacocks for bringing the community together.

“We didn’t know our neighbours and it’s brought so many people together in the effort to save them,” he said. “That’s one of the things about nature, we have to live with it. Peacocks will, during mating season, do a big squawk at three o’clock in the morning but you just stick your head underneath the pillow. It’s living with nature.”

Save The Narrabundah Peafowl is on Facebook.