Manhattan Parrots Rebuilding After Vandal Attack

A wild Quaker Parrot cuts lumber for a new nest on the island of Manhattan after vandals destroyed her nest.  Photo Credit: Anita Morganstern

This past summer, an enterprising group of wild Quaker Parrots (AKA Monk Parakeets) attempted to establish a foothold on the island of Manhattan. While these parrots are numerous in the outer boroughs, Manhattan has always been a "forbidden zone," either because of efforts by City authorities to exclude them from "The Rock" or by the unfriendly actions of private citizens who object to their presence here.

By early August, the parrots were on the verge of establishing a thriving colony close to the Hudson River near 145th Street, but then disaster -- in the form of a group of free-range human predators from the adjacent neighborhood -- completely destroyed their habitat.

Fortunately, the parrots were able to escape with their lives, and have now commenced rebuilding their nest at a more secure location. For obvious security reasons, the precise location cannot be revealed here, but it is within a short parrot's flight from their original habitat. If work continues at a normal pace, this new nest should be ready to protect them by the time that cold weather sets in.

My hope is that these remarkable birds will be left alone by predatory humans, which is all they really ask for.

 A view of the new wild parrot nest, under construction, September, 2010. Photo Credit: Anita Morganstern.