South Dakota peacocks strutting their tail feathers

DAVIS, S.D. (KELO) — In this part of the country, you’re most likely to spot a peacock or two at a zoo.

But, the flamboyant birds can also be found in backyards — including in the small town of Davis.

The peacock is native to India and Sri Lanka, but for decades, they’ve also found a home with Tom Brunken.

He started out with just four.

“And I named them Fred and Barney and Betty and Wilma from Flintstones. And these are all descendants of Betty and Wilma,” Tom Brunken said.

He now has more than 20 of the big birds, adding 3 or 4 babies each year.

While Brunken has had the peacocks for over 20 years now, he’s wanted them ever since the age of four.

“I saw peacocks for the first time when I was probably four years old on a show called Captain Kangaroo. There was a man named Mr. Green Jeans who would come on there and they’d bring out a big peacock. And Mr. Green Jeans would sing to him to try and get him to spread his tail feathers. And he never would,” Brunken said.

You don’t need to sing to get Brunken’s birds to spread their colorful feathers.

While many people think peacocks wouldn’t be able to weather the harsh South Dakota winters, Brunken says as long as they have plenty of food, they do just fine.

“Corn generates a lot of body heat, just like, you know, ducks and geese like it so much. It generates all body heat and you have to have corn out all the time whether summer, spring or fall,” Brunken said.

And while some people enjoy looking at peacocks for a short time during a trip to the zoo, Brunken enjoys seeing his peacocks every day.

“I never get tired of them. I tolerate the noise, but that’s only for a few months, you know, in the spring. But I never get tired of them,” Brunken said.

Brunken sells peacock feathers at the AMC Collective in Sioux Falls.

Click here for more information on AMC.

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