Feathered Mascot ‘Kevin’ Inspires Peacock Crossing Signs, Bumper Sticker In Oakland
Sep 01, 2026
Residents near the Rockridge Trader Joe’s in Oakland have grown attached to a wild peacock named Kevin, who has roamed the neighborhood for years, inspiring peacock crossing signs and an “I Brake for Kevin” bumper magnet.Kevin the peacock’s routine has become familiar to the people who live
around Oak Grove Avenue in Oakland, as KRON4 reports. Word has it Kevin can often be found near the Rockridge Trader Joe’s during the day, before eventually making his way toward a favorite tree around sunset.
It's unclear how long Kevin has been frequenting Rockridge. One resident told KRON4 it was July 5, 2023. Longtime Rockridge resident Christian Anderson, who owns one of the properties Kevin frequents, told Oaklandside in 2024 he remembers the peacock first appearing on July 4, 2022. Anderson reportedly named him Kevin after the large, colorful bird in the Pixar movie Up, and soon started feeding him blueberries, which apparently remain the only food Kevin is particularly interested in.“Two years ago, he landed here and he’s just been kicking it,” Anderson told Oaklandside at the time. “He’s just been hanging here. I feed him blueberries—he will eat nothing else, basically.”Kevin’s presence has also brought some less welcome drama. According to KRON4, the bird has had several encounters with dogs, including one attack that left him missing some feathers. Another time, residents found him bleeding, though they weren’t sure what had happened. When Kevin needed veterinary attention, neighbors chipped in to pay for a local vet to examine him. KRON4 reports that he has recovered from his injuries, and his regular appearances have only strengthened his status as a neighborhood fixture.Neighbor Brian Luffe told Oaklandside although he appreciates the joy that Kevin brings the neighborhood, he doesn’t love the crowd of onlookers the bird attracts.“It makes it hard not to like him, because everybody else really appreciates him a lot and is just so happy he’s here,” Luffe said. “I’m the curmudgeon.”Kevin’s fan club has nevertheless grown around him. The neighborhood has reportedly installed signs warning drivers about peacock crossings, and last year, local artist Andrea Scher made “I Brake for Kevin” bumper magnets after visiting her friend Rob, who lives in Rockridge.Andrea Scher“Just for that neighborhood. A hyper-local inside joke,” Scher said on Substack. “Completely unnecessary. Totally delightful.”Related: Monday Morning Headlines: Elderly Alameda Woman Attacked By Wild Turkeys
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