Concerning the Wild Parrots of City Island

A concerned resident of City Island, New York, which is part of the Bronx, e-mailed me over the weekend with news about the plight currently affecting the wild parrots of the Bronx.

Enclosed is his letter, plus my complete reply.

Hi Steve... great website!! Just wanted to let you know that Con Ed is starting to remove Quaker nests along City Island Ave on City Island in the Bronx.

I've been watching for a few years now ever since the birds started to show up. They started with the largest nest on City Island Ave and Horton St. I noticed that about two weeks ago someone attached four spinning tags on the wires around the nest. I guess that means that the nest is doomed. I went down to see the birds yesterday and I couldn't believe what I saw. Everything was gone!! Just another example of man's blind indifference to other animal species. Those little intelligent birds weren't bothering anyone, but I guess Con Ed figures that not losing any money is more important than a few birds.

What do they do with the eggs or babies? Destroy them? That makes me sick. I would take the eggs or babies myself and hand feed them like I did with my birds. What can I do about this? Who can I call to complain to? (as if that's going to do any good). I would like to get involved somehow. Maybe you can start me in the right direction.

Thanks,
(a concerned resident of City Island)

(my reply)
Wow - I had no idea that there were parrots in City Island.

Here is the first thing that I tell people when they see evidence of a nest tear down: take some pictures. It doesn't matter if the pictures are great quality, just that it documents the removals. So if you have access to a digital camera, or even a cheap point-and-shoot, get some pictures. It's the kind of hard evidence that the utility company can't deny; I'd be glad to put them up on my site or link to yours.

Second: Email the Quaker Parakeet Society Rescue and Placement Program, qpsrapp@yahoo.com, and let them know what's happening. They have volunteers who can be rounded up to save the babies and eggs from nest tear downs.

Third: call Con Ed's Public Affairs Office. For the Bronx, here's the info:

The Bronx
Gail McMillan, Director
Con Edison Public Affairs
511 Theodore Fremd Avenue
Rye, NY 10580
Phone: (718) 904-4841

Tell them that you represent bird-conservationists in your community and want to work with Con Ed so babies or young recovered in nest teardowns can be adopted. Tell them of your concerns, which should be the following: Why were the nest teardowns done now? Isn't the utility company aware that there are eggs in the nest now and possibly some young birds? What happened to them? Were the nest teardowns done because of a bona fide problem on the line or as part of a new offensive against the birds? Be respectful but firm. Were there any volunteers called from the local community so that the eggs and babies could be removed in a humane way?

Fourth: Call your local media, either TV, newspaper, or other local news organ. Tell them that you've contacted Con Ed and tell them what they said. Send them your evidence and suggest that they bring a reporter out.

There is NO reason for any eggs or babies to be destroyed in New York. Quakers are completely legal to own, and Con Ed, in Brooklyn, has tried to work with community groups and bird adoption agencies so that the young are taken care of. The problem is that knowledge of this fact is not widespread.

It is up to people like you and I to make sure that in the future, these nest teardowns happen after people in the community are mobilized. If you know of any birdlovers, vets, or animal lovers in your community, get in touch with them and organize a "Save the City Island Quakers" committee. Get in touch with your local officials.

Again, it's up to us to make this situation better. Con Ed isn't, in my opinion, a "bad utility company" when it comes to the birds, but there are many people who work there who don't know beans about the birds. They have to be reeducated and they can be. Your letter to me is a first step, and I'd be glad to help you in any way I can.

Let's stay in touch! There's a lot we can do if we work together on this. We have a lot going for us (especially the fact that Quakers are legal birds in NY (which is not the case in New Jersey).

What matters is what happens in the months ahead. When the trucks come back, we must be ready to minimize the loss of young birds. And going forward, there are a lot of people who want to come up with a way so that Quakers can nest in alternative structures. We really don't know if we can persuade the Quakers to nest in non-Con Ed facilities, but if there are ways, let's try them out.

It's nice to meet you, and please e-mail me again.
Best,
Steve Baldwin
BrooklynParrots.com
646 361 2879