“Staff have been out to sightings at locations over the weekend but were unfortunately unsuccessful at enticing them down to ground level”
Heaton Park prepare for Parklife and Oasis concerts which is due to take place. Road signs in place.
Picture Jason Roberts / Manchester Evening News(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
Liam and Noel have got staff at Heaton Park in a flap after doing a runner with just weeks to go before Oasis’ massive reunion shows.
But it’s not the rock and roll siblings who have been causing a stir in the Prestwich park – it’s their namesakes, two prized peacocks.
The pair have gone “on tour” from their residence in the park and have been spotted across Radcliffe, Prestwich, Unsworth, and Whitefield perched on rooftops and in gardens.
And they have now become social media stars themselves, with pictures of them appearing on several local sites, sat on cars, in gardens, and on top of buildings.
The park has a large collection of animals including peacocks.
Heaton Park (Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
A new pride of birds, including a white peahen and babies, was released on May 15 after several months in the park’s Animal Centre to help them acclimatise to their new home.
But soon after their release, park bosses have now confirmed two of the new birds made a bid for freedom.
One person posted on the Love Springwater Park site: “This is quite random but anyone missing a peacock?! It’s in the Stand Lane- Oak/Beech St area of Radcliffe at the minute, just hopped off our roof and into someone’s garden!”
Another person witnessed two peacocks “feeding” on roofs in Barnard Avenue in Whitefield before going into woodland, while a Sefton Street resident claimed to have spotted a solo peacock in his back garden.
A resident in Heywood Road in Prestwich snapped a picture of two male peacocks sitting on her garden fence.
A peacock at the Heaton Park Animal Centre(Image: Malcolm Burnard)
Sharing on social media, a Heaton Park spokesperson said: “We are aware of many sightings of our ‘Peacocks on Tour’ within the nearby area, thank you to all who have got in touch over the last few days.
“While it is unusual for peafowl to stray from the park and its woodland areas, particularly due to their extensive acclimatisation process, they aren’t domestic animals and are naturally able to explore and adapt to different environments.
“Our new pride of peacocks in particular came to us after being raised in an urban environment and are already well adjusted to residential spaces.
“Park staff have been out to sightings at locations over the weekend but were unfortunately unsuccessful at enticing them down to ground level as they appear to be enjoying feeding on the insects within the moss on the rooftops.
One of the peacocks “on tour” in the Stand Lane/Beech Street area of Radcliffe.
“We have also had reports that they are being fed by members of the public which will encourage them to stay outside of the park environment.
“While they do have the ability to return to the park of their own accord, if you do see them at ground level then please get in touch via heatonpark@manchester.gov.uk with more information so that it can be passed to the Estates Team as soon as possible.
“Side note, do we call them Noel and Liam?”
It is not the first time peacocks have been ruffling feathers after suddenly appearing in a quiet residential street. In 2017 two birds showed up at the Prestwich home of Hugh and Christine MacLeod and hung around the couple’s garden and perched on their kitchen roof for days.