At Boparai Kalan village, 20 km from here, the blue of a peacock dazzles the eye every once. The villagers have been nurturing the birds for over two decades now.

Near about 150 peacocks-peahens presently roam the rustic bylanes and fields here. Village elders Gurbachan Singh and Bhajan Singh Aujla had brought a pair to the village in 1986 and the idea took root.

Over two decades down, it does not take an overcast sky to spot a peacock spread it proud plumage here. They are everywhere. From terraces and treetops to open fields. They even roam the village streets at Boparai Kalan.

The villagers say they take pride in waking up to their mellifluous sounds each morning.

"The peacocks know they are welcome here. They often walk down to our homes where we feed them maize corns and vegetables," says Manjeet Singh, a local. The villagers are wary of outsiders and keep a keen vigil. They will put up signboards shortly to guide visitors on their efforts and warn them on the safety of the birds. "The signboards would be installed at the entrance and main crossings, and will carry instructions regarding the need to protect the national bird," said Harjinder Singh, a panchayat member.

Former sarpanch Balbir Singh, the man behind taking the initiative forward, says the village and peacocks have a history going back 40 years. "The villagers have always protected them. Poachers slayed scores over the years, taking away the sheen of the village, but we have reversed the damage," he adds. Their numbers have grown.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Wildlife Warden B.C. Bala was not available for comment, but sources in the department said that there is another spot down the road from Moga to Muktsar where people feed peacocks along a canal.

Source: Hindustan Times : July 20, 2009