Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Escaped Queens Peacock Still On The Loose: "It's Laughing At Us"
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 23, 2012
Modified Aug 23, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 23, 2012
Modified Aug 23, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Despite police, Emergency Service Units, concerned locals and one very harried teacher from John Browne High School being hot on its trail, the escaped peacock that has been roaming the wild hills of Queens has still not been caught by authorities. And it seems the peacock is becoming the Road Runner to John Browne biology teacher Phil Dickler's Wile E. Coyote: “We were chasing it from roof to roof,” Dickler told the Times. “I’m just still sitting here on the roof, looking at this stupid bird laughing at me.”
“Apparently it’s been going back and forth between the school and neighborhood,” he said. “Last night was the first night it didn’t come home.” He added with furious fists raised to the heavens: “If not today, I’ll get him tomorrow.” Dickler and officials have come close to netting the bird twice this week, in a backyard on 70th Avenue in Flushing on Tuesday and on the rooftops of 147-15 and 147-19 70th Avenue on Wednesday.
“It’s laughing at us,” Dicker reiterated to the Post, explaining to them that the peacock lived in the agricultural program’s poultry barn before he went on the run on August 14th. “I just want to get our birdie back before it gets hit by a bus or something. You know how kids are. They’d cry if something happens to it. The kids love this bird.”
They could try tracking him online: the peacock is following in the footsteps of the Bronx Zoo Cobra and taken to Twitter—and he's summed up the whole situation in one Tweet: "Because I'm smarter than them! RT @HuffPostNY: Cops just can't catch this fugitive Queens peacock," he tweeted today.
Tagged
bird
cops
flushing
John Bowne High school
nypd
peacock
queens
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 21, 2026 at 4:26 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Bronx couple starved their 3-year-old to death, indictment says
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .