American Notes: California

Rolling Hills Estates has an urban pest problem. The varmint travels in packs, digs holes in lawns, eats flower gardens, poops around pools and spas and, worst of all, starts screeching as early as 4 a.m. For sheer irritation, rats, raccoons, skunks, pigeons and possums are no match for the more than 150 wild peacocks that infest this otherwise tranquil, posh Southern California community. The flock -- often 30 to 40 birds roosting in a single tree -- descends from six Indian peafowl released on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1924.

Their presence has sparked a pitched battle between bird lovers and sleep lovers. Hoping to soothe ruffled feathers on all sides, the city council is willing to try behavior modification. Later this month, Iowa peafowl farmer Dennis Fett, who will collect $200 a day and expenses for his advice, will conduct seminars for frazzled residents on how they can cope with their troublesome flock. Then he will try to draw the birds, Pied Piper-style, to open parts of the city.