Unpleasant pheasant has been tamed by love (From The Northern Echo)

Aggressive bird waged a month-long campaign of terror in Newsham

9:10am Monday 5th April 2010 in News By Helen Russell, Reporter (Wear Valley)

AN unpleasant pheasant is now far too busy to indulge in foul behaviour – after finding feathered love.

For the cranky cock, whose campaign of terror made headlines around the world, has become more amiable since taking up with two female pheasants.

Earlier this year, the aggressive bird was responsible for a month-long campaign of terror in the village of Newsham, North Yorkshire, attacking adults, children, dogs and even vehicles.

But now villagers believe he is loved-up with two hens and has, for the past few weeks, been keeping a low profile.

The pheasant often frequented the back garden of Cate and Harry Collingwood and once even tried to get into the house.

But Mrs Collingwood says she hasn’t had any reports of the bird’s bad behaviour since February.

“You can’t identify one pheasant from another if they are all behaving nicely, so it is sometimes difficult to tell which one he is now,” she said.

“He seems quite happy, and must be kept busy with his two wives.

“He often used to come into our garden, and was so aggressive.

His beak was very strong, and he would bring his claws up in front of his chest.

“Experts said that as soon as he started pairing off with the hens, he would be okay.

We never thought he would be a nice bird, but maybe we were wrong.”

During his reign of terror, mothers with pushchairs armed themselves with sticks before venturing out for fear of being confronted by the bird, who was particularly protective of a patch on the village green.

Brian Richardson, vicechairman of Newsham Parish Council, said there has been a great deal of relief among villagers since the bird calmed down.

Mr Richardson, who encountered the bird’s temper when out walking his dogs, said: “He came right up to me and started pecking my trouser leg.

“The dogs were going berserk, but even that didn’t put him off.

“People were concerned about the dangers he posed to young children, because he had chased youngsters getting off the school bus.

“It was humorous in one sense, but potentially it could have been nasty.

“But now he is keeping himself to himself. Some people might even be missing him, because he did become a bit of a celebrity.”