Con Ed Nest Teardowns in Brooklyn

Early this morning, a concerned resident of Brooklyn witnessed Con Edison contractors tearing down a mid-sized wild parrot nest built on a pole supporting a power transformer. This action appears to signal the opening salvo in the annual battle between New York City's utility company and the wild parrots of Brooklyn.

I spoke to Ms. Antonia Yuille, Con Ed's public affairs director for Brooklyn this afternoon, and she provided me some details regarding the teardown.

This nest tear down is not part of some new eradication plan by Con Ed. Con Ed's policy is very much "hands off" when it comes to nests built by the wild parrots, unless they directly impact on public safety, employee safety, or the ability of the utility to deliver essential services. According to Ms. Yuille, "if it's not smoking we don't touch them. This is why you see so many nests out there."

Ms. Yuille also told me that the nest in question, situated on East 33rd Street between Fillmore and Ave R, appears to have caused a recent power loss in the last several weeks, which explains why it was targeted for removal.

While it is sad to witness the destruction of what appears to be a worthy, sturdy nest, it is probably better that Con Ed perform this removal now, while it is still too early in the breeding season for there to be any young in the nest.

The concerned resident who made the report and took these photographs, whose name is William, reports that the birds, after much anxious squawking this morning, appear to have already commenced rebuilding efforts.


Con Edison Wild Parrot Nest Tear Down, East 33rd Street Between Fillmore and Avenue R, May 3, 2005.


Con Ed Nest Teardown 5/3/05.


A bystander to Wild Parrot Nest Tear Down, 5/3/05.


Equipment used in the teardown.


The de-nested utility pole.


Parrots begin assessing functional requirements for a new nest.


Nest rebuilding efforts begin a few minutes after utility trucks leave.