Photo-Essay: Quaker Parrots: Master Architects of the Bird World

People sometimes ask me -- especially when they see wild Quaker parrot nests in New York City for the first time -- how could these little birds build something so impressively massive?


Well, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a Quaker nest like this one, which probably weighs at least 200 pounds. It takes teamwork, persistence, and patience! (click on any photo for an enlargement).


A well-engineered Quaker nest begins in a tree. Quaker nests are built of twigs - lots of them, intricately woven together. These expansive, all-weather parrot condos are built one twig at a time, and the construction work goes on throughout the year, rain, shine, or snow. In the photo above, this little guy has already severed a good-looking twig from a tree, and is trying to balance it so that he can transport it to his nest without any aerial mishaps.


Leaping from the branch with twig in beak, this Quaker begins air-lifting the fresh-cut lumber to its destination. Within 30 seconds, it will be placed in the nest, where it will subsequently be woven into the existing nest structure by other Quakers.


Quaker parrots are Nature's equivalent of the heavy-lifting C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. This twig is almost twice as long as thie little bird's body. If I could play music on this site to accomodate this next sequence of photos, I'd play the Beatles' wonderful song from the Abbey Road LP: "Boy, You're Going to Carry That Weight a Long Time."


Now the difficult part of the journey begins. This Quaker must lift that heavy twig UP some 75-feet. Don't try this at home, kids!



Wings grabbing mightily for traction in the icy air, the high stadium light nest is soon almost within reach.


This Quaker isn't alone in adding twigs to the nest today -- another one is pitching in. Quakers are amazing flyers who can hover in place much like hummingbirds. This allows them to place twigs with precision; when they're through hovering, they simply shift into forward-flight mode, much like a Harrier Jump Jet.


In fact, nest building is very much a family affair: this whole clan is doing construction today (although most are taking a well-earned break right now) - many beaks make light the work! After the twig is placed, another bird will take it and begin weaving it into the existing structure. Sometimes, the twig will need trimming, in which case the weaving bird will adjust its length.

It is speculated that one reason that young birds stay in the nest for such a long time (up to 2 years) is to "apprentice" in the various specialized skills required to build a successful nest before setting out on their own.


Cutting, ferrying, and weaving twigs all day takes energy: lots of it. By the time a few dozen twig installations have been made, these little birds are hungry. Unfortunately, the Quakers' foraging field is covered in snow today, making the task of finding acorns -- these Quakers' main high energy staple -- difficult.


The birds aren't going to go hungry today, however. See those tiny sprigs of grass sticking up through the snow? They're delicious and nutritious!


Well, enough munching. We've got mouths to feed, a nest to insulate, and the weather ain't getting any warmer. Back to work, compadres - you're going to carry that weight a long time!