Brooklyn's Wild Parrots in the Washington Post!

The Washington Post's Michael Powell wrote a fine, funny article about the wild parrots of Brooklyn which appears in today's edition. After I read the story on the WaPo's Web site this morning, I ran out to Penn Station to pick up a hard copy, and saw that the story is on Page 2. Wow!

Update on the Manhattan Monk Parrots

Manhattan birder D. Bruce Yolton, who runs Urban Hawks, a great urban bird site, has posted some excellent photos of the Manhattan Monks taken this week. There are four of them living "in the block bounded by 77th, 78th, Amsterdam and Columbus." Add the two on 104th Street and the Manhattan Monk count adds up to six parrots.

The fact that there are more than two monk parrots on the Upper West Side favors the chance that these parrots might survive in the Big Apple. According to monk parrot expert Mattie Sue Athan, it's rare that isolated monk parrot pairs survive for very long in the wild. But six parrots might be able to hack it, given that they have a larger gene pool to draw on, more opportunities for cooperative nest building and cooperative breeding, and, most importantly for any creature seeking to live in Manhattan, more networking opportunities!

I officially dub this group of feral parrots "The Westies!"

For more on the Manhattan Monk Parrots, see:
Parrots Grab Manhattan Real Estate
"I'll Take Manhattan" (Wild Parrots on the Upper West Side)
Breaking News: Wild Parrots on Manhattan's Upper West Side Delighting Local Birders

Field Notes: Wild New Jersey Parrots Crave Pizza

Two wild parrots in New Jersey inspect pizza distributed in their environment.

Wild Quaker Parrot watchers have long known that the parrots that live in Brooklyn have a passion for pizza. Would the same unusual craving affect the parrots living in New Jersey? To answer this question, pizza was distributed in Edgewater's Parrot Park by researchers from both the Brooklyn Parrot Society and EdgewaterParrots.com.

(Click on any photo for an enlarged view).


After the pizza was discovered, we noticed the same peculiar expression of bliss on the Jersey Parrots' faces that had been previously been observed in Brooklyn.


The presence of pizza attracts a local starling, who is clearly interested in the distributed treat.


A tug of war ensues between the starling and the parrot.


The starling is clearly not pleased that this monk parrot's grip on the slice was stronger than his. Fortunately, there is plenty of pizza to go around for both birds.


The pizza clearly had an energizing effect on the parrots.


On this December day, the extra nutrition provided by pizza clearly made these parrots' construction chores easier. Here, a strong monk installs a heavy piece of lumber in a pole nest undergoing renovations.


Coordinated construction operations conducted by the parrots can be witnessed throughout the day in Edgewater.


Watching these parrots wolf down the pizza made us hungry, so we went off and got some for ourselves.

Critics Squawk: Parrot Song "Strangely Compelling"

I'm glad to say that The Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots song has been getting heavy airplay on Quaker Parrot Music Channels. And the critics are squawking too: here are some recent reviews:

- "It reminds me a lot of a Leonard Cohen song, although I don't think that Leonard Cohen ever wrote a song about Quaker Parrots" -- Stacey, Kansas City

- "Great Beat" -- Deeb, Quebec

- "Lou Reed meets the Doors (did Jim Morrison have a pet parrot?)" - Orooney, Yonkers, NY

- "A strangely compelling ode to an invasive species. Definitely something that I'd never expect to hear on the radio" -- Holly, Rockaway Beach

- "Jim Morrison Meets Rick Moranis at the Audubon Society" -- FeatherButtz, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

You can listen to the song by clicking here. Or you can watch the shockwave presentation that plays the song and shows synchronized parrot pix!

New York Times: Where Have All the Parrots Gone?

The New York Times yesterday posted a story in its Sunday Metro section about the disappearing parrots of South Brooklyn. The story, by reporter Jake Mooney, also mentions the fact that wild parrots have been lately and inexplicably appearing in Manhattan.

Nesting Notes: Parrots Investigating Canarsie's Sebago Canoe Club

Bonnie, who runs the interesting Frogma Blog (Being the Continuing Adventures of a Woman and her Trusty Kayak in New York Harbor, the Hudson River, and Beyond), has a nice report (with photos) of the pair of Monks who appear to be assessing the real estate possibilities of a pole next to Brooklyn's famed Sebago Canoe Club.

Leaf Buds Provide Cold Weather Staple for Brooklyn Parrots

A Brooklyn Monk Parrot helps himself to a tasty leaf bud, 12/3/2006

In their pioneering 2000 study of Monk Parakeet behavior, University of Chicago researchers Jason M. South and Stephen Pruett-Jones delivered many important findings about the behavior and habits of the wild parrots which now inhabit many North American cities. One of the most interesting findings about the Chicago Parrots was that they appear to depend almost exclusively on human-supplied feed from bird feeders during the cold months.

Among the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn, leaf buds appear to provide a good source of cold weather nutrition. While it is certainly true that bird feeders are visited by the Brooklyn-based parrots, leaf buds (which are available even in January and February) appear are readily relied upon by our feathered friends to keep them going. Here are some photos of the Brooklyn birds helping themselves to these tasty buds this December: the location is Green-Wood Cemetery (click on any photo for an enlarged view).


Tasty and nutritious leaf buds are available to the Brooklyn Parrots even during the winter months. Reliance upon them , however, doesn't necessarily mean that these birds won't be showing up at your backyard bird feeder soon!


Although there is no fruit in this cherry tree right now, this hungry monk is literally cherry-picking this tree.


This wild parrot has a particularly intense expresson of enjoyment on his face.


A wild parrot, perched in a Cherry Tree, with Old Glory in the background. What could be more patriotic?


A wild monk parrot contemplates his next move, which appears to be directed towards a nearby leaf bud on the branch next to him.


"Hey!," the parrot on the right seems to say. "Those are MY leaf buds!" Fortunately, there are plenty of tasty buds to go around for all this Sunday in December.

Is Brooklyn "Obsessed" By Monk Parrots?

Comedienne Julie Klausner invited BrooklynParrots.com to discuss the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn at a live variety show on Sunday. I had a fine time and I'm glad that the wild parrots of Brooklyn have enough entertainment value to satisfy a sophisticated Manhattan audience! I also enjoyed meeting Julie, Jackie Clarke (Julie and Jackie have a hilarious comedy team), Tom Scharpling (who gave a very interesting presentation on Morton Downey), and Cintra Wilson (who hilariously acted out scenes from an over the top pot-boiler novel), plus other nice people at the show (especially Jack Szwergold, who brought the parrots to Julie's attention)-- it was a great night!

Chicago Monk Parrots "Like a Big Motorcycle Gang?"

A December 4th article in the Chicago Sun Times covers the Monk Parrots' spread from Hyde Park to surrounding suburbs. We've covered the Chicago birds before, and agree that they're broad-shouldered and robust. Still, we don't agree with the assertion that these parrots are in any way "like a big motorcycle gang" which, like the Hells Angels, cruises into town just to make trouble. From what we've seen in Brooklyn, these cute green parrots get along just fine with the local birds.

Photo Essay: The Big Flock

Wild parrots, wheeling in the sky, catch the sun in Edgewater, New Jersey, December 3rd, 2006. (Click on any photo for an enlarged view)

As you probably know, I'm partial to the wild parrots that live in Brooklyn, because they are the direct descendants of the original psitticine escapees that audaciously claimed freedom by busting out of Kennedy Airport in the 1960's. But I'm also a big fan of the wild parrots which live in New Jersey, and I'm consistently amazed whenever I'm out there, because New Jersey hosts what is most likely the biggest flock of wild parrots in the whole Northeast.

How big? Well, I counted at least 75 parrots flocking, and I'm sure there were more in the general vicinity. I mean, at times these parrots filled the whole sky (and you should have heard the shrieks: it sounded like a world ending (or beginning)!


New Jersey's wild parrots like to hang out "on the waterfront." In this photo, at least 70 parrots forage just yards from the mighty Hudson River.



Sometimes, you'll find so many parrots settling in a small tree that the tree seems to bend over.


Unlike their Brooklyn cousins, New Jersey's wild parrots like to build nests in trees. At least seven nests are visible here, in Edgewater's "Parrot Park."


"The Big Flock," is always in a constant state of commotion. Hawks nesting in the Palisades like to prey on the parrots, making quick reflexes and good communication essential for survival.


When the Big Flock takes off, you're likely to forget that you're in the Garden State, and fantasize that you're standing in an exotic parrot-laden rainforest in South America.


The Big Flock flies high, fast, and with breathtaking precision. They have to maintain a high degree of group cohesion in order to drive off the birds of prey which go after them.


Graceful in flight, statuesque, and speedy, the wild Quaker Parrots of New Jersey are certainly one of the weirdest, most wonderful wildlife spectacles you'll ever experience in the Garden State.

If you're interested in learning more about New Jersey's magnificent wild parrots, I have more info and photos on them in the following articles:

Monk Parrots Invading New Jersey Beaches(June 2006)
Wild Parrots in New Jersey: Some Recent Photos (June 2006)
Wild Parrots on the Hudson (April 2005)

To learn more about events in Edgewater, check out EdgewaterParrots.com, run by Alison Evans-Fragale, and 07020.com, run by Mike Trachtenberg.

News From Beyond Brooklyn: Monk Parrots in Texas Ruckus

The Houston Chronicle delivers a fair article on the controversial Texas Monk Parrots. In my view, TXU (the Texas utility company) has had a moderate, considered attitude towards the wild parrots living in the Lone Star State. Let's hope that level heads prevail in this latest confrontation between Parrots and Power.

Nice Pix from Saturday's Wild Parrot Safari

Urban parrot-watchers gather in Brooklyn, 12/02/2006. Photo by Jeff Kirsh

Jeff Kirsh shot some nice photos from yesterday's Wild Parrot Safari in Brooklyn and has posted them on his PhotoBucket site. We had great weather, green parrots, and fine folks: if you missed the December Safari, please join us on January 6th!

Photo-Essay: March of the Monk Parrots!

Unlike the famed Emperor Penguins of the wonderful film March of the Penguins, Brooklyn's parrots don't have to march 90 miles to find a mate. In fact, you'll rarely find them marching anywhere, which is why the procession I witnessed last Sunday at Green-wood Cemetery was such an unexpectedly strange event. (Click on any image for an enlarged view).


At precisely 10:30 AM, a good number of parrots alights on the pavement just inside the main gateway, where they have constructed impressive colonial nests.


Suddenly, inexplicably, they began marching to the South, following the flock leader (the leftmost parrot).


The parrots form an orderly line on their southerly trek.


After marching about 10 yards, the lead parrot seems to realize that this journey might be more hazardous than initially supposed, thanks to the appearance of a large minivan entering the cemetery. He halts the procession.


An impromptu conference breaks out among the leader's followers. "Should we really go through with this, given the high possibility of being squished?" one parrot seems to ask. "What are we marching for anyway?" another one hypothetically gripes. "Hey - who elected this guy who claims to be leading us?" a third one possibly squawks.


The leader, sensing that the mood of the flock has changed after their close encounter with a two-ton minivan with high squish potential, issues an "about face" command, and his fellow parrots follow. Now that's leadership!


On the North side of the pavement, the parrots find a safe spot of turf. They spend a few minutes eating grass and frolicking, safe from the dangerous traffic.


And when it's time to leave their spot, they don't march: they fly, which, as we all know, is the safest way to travel!

(Note: nothing in this short photo-essay is meant to suggest that these parrots are wimps. In fact, as you'll see soon, these parrots think nothing of confronting their enemies, even tough falcons, kestrels and crows, head-on. Even so, they draw the line when it comes to minivans.)