The beloved peacock report said it was stolen from the historic California hotel

The staff at Ryde Hotel desperately miss their favorite residents – the ornate peacock lining along the orchard lined by the orchard and stroll through the hotel’s banquet hall.

Hotel manager David Nielsen said a guest reported seeing two men pushing a peacock into a cage and loading it into a pickup truck Saturday.

One man calculated a shocking discovery on Sunday: Of the dozens of peacocks that make up the local flock, only four can be found on the ground of the hotel. Ryde Hotel is close to the California Delta and the rural community of Walnut Forest, with a long history dating back nearly 140 years.

“The area is known as the heart of the Delta, and when this first happened, it was a little shocking,” said Rafe Goorwitch, hotel event coordinator. “It’s a stabbing of the heart.”

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the missing peacock case. It wants to track down those responsible and bring the birds home.

“It’s unique because we never had peacock capers,” Sgt. Amar Gandhi told The Times. “Our Property Crime Bureau is investigating it, which is a felony based on the dollar amount.”

Gandhi said the estimated value of male peacocks (known for their fabulous iridescent tail feathers) is $2,000, while female peacocks are worth about $1,000.

Nelson said he was worried that the peacock might be stolen for cockfighting. “This has disturbed me a lot and it’s really hard to talk about,” he said.

Officials at Ryde Hotel regularly feed 15 peacocks, saying only four appeared on the hotel grounds. They fear the rest of it was stolen.

(Rafe Goorwitch)

Gandhi said peacocks are not usually used in combat, but have reason to worry about their own welfare.

“They can be used in black market exotic animal trade, and even in peacock meat,” he said.

According to the Elk Grove Historical Society, the original Ryde Hotel was built in 1886 and is located a few yards south of the current structure. The current four-story Art Deco property was built in 1926 at the height of the ban and is known for its gorgeous speaking basement.

Nelson said a new owner bought the property 14 years ago and brought peas and peas. Since then, generations of peacocks have loved hospitality.

Goorwitch said that about 40 peacocks live in the area now, and 15 people come to the hotel to eat food every day. It took several days for the staff to realize the extent of the population shrinkage.

“They don’t like cigarettes, we’ve been firing here recently, so I really didn’t expect a 15-man hardcore group to show up,” Goorwitch said. “I wasn’t looking for them until this guy said someone stole at least one.”

A male peacock named Alibaba displays its feathers at the Ryde Hotel in Sacramento County. A sheriff’s spokesman said such a bird could get $2,000.

(Rafe Goorwitch)

Nelson said that of the remaining four peacocks, several of them were lost, suggesting that someone might have tried to catch him. The hotel has installed more cameras throughout the property to help keep the rest of the birds safe.

“Catching peacocks is not an easy task; it’s like catching a chicken,” Nelson said. “It’s very unusual that many people are caught without any disturbance.”

Gandhi said that because the area is such a rural area, the sheriff’s office does not have a large number of security cameras or license plate readers that detectives can rely on. He said the department hopes it can use witness accounts and “good old-fashioned detective work” to find birds.

Goorwitch in particular mourns the absence of his favorite peacock, Alibaba, who was a former fan of tail feathers and was not afraid to show off them.

“I know they are just birds, but Alibaba is really special,” he said.