ESSEX, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's tall, it's teal and it's raising eyebrows. A peacock is roaming the streets of Essex.
The bird — which is about the size of a turkey — has become something of a local celebrity, so much so that the Essex Shipbuilding Museum has started selling peacock plushies.
"When we were stocking up for our holiday shopping, we thought we would honor the Essex peacock [and] give everyone the opportunity to take one home," Essex Shipbuilding Museum Executive Director K.D. Montgomery said.
Montgomery said there has been plenty of "buzz" around the new local icon ever since it first appeared out on the town several months ago.
"It kind of turned into a charming piece of local lore really quickly," Montgomery said.
Renato Inacio, owner of Essex Pizza and Restaurant, said he has become well-acquainted with the peacock over the past few months. Inacio said the bird gets within "around three yards" of bystanders and stares at them with its "beautiful eyes."
"I love it, I tell you," Inacio said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl (@WBZKendall) reports.
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