A correspondent in Middletown, New York, a town more than 50
miles away from New York City, reports that wild parrots have been sighted on
the grounds of Middletown High School. The parrots have been described as “cute” and “green,”
which leads me to believe that they are Monk Parakeets (AKA Quaker Parrots),
which are widely known to have a high “CQ” (Cuteness Quotient). They were also
described as “unbelievably loud,” a known characteristic of Monks.
While no photographs are yet available of the upstate
parrots, BrooklynParrots.com has analyzed satellite imagery and aerial photos
of the site. While no nests are visible in these images, tall light poles of
similar design to those seen in Brooklyn have been identified. These poles
-- which are at least 40 feet tall and include the type of maintenance basket favored by the parrots as a nest substructure -- would serve as ideal nesting platforms for the parrots.
I personally have heard rumors of there being wild parrots “somewhere
upstate” for years, but this is the first actual eyewitness account I am aware
of. Which leads to larger questions –
how did these parrots get to Middletown? Was it a breakaway group moving North
from Bergen County, or a mass escape from a pet store? (Quaker Parrots are
legal to sell in New York State). How have the parrots managed to evade the many avian predators in the area? I
hope to have more information on the Middletown Wild Parrots in the near future
– in the meantime this is cause for celebration for New York State wild parrot
watchers.









