BrooklynParrots.com: A Web Site About the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn

Photo-Essay: Wild Parrots Feast and Fight in Brooklyn

2008-05-03T16:24:00.000-04:00

Springtime in Brooklyn means lots of tasty leaf buds begin to blossom, attracting flocks of wild Quaker Parrots. At beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery, one of the best places to check out some serious feral parrot action is in some of its soaring chestnut trees. (Click on any photo for an enlarged view; also please check out my other Photo-Essays on the wild parrots).

This Horse Chestnut Tree (Aesculus Hippocastanum), native to Greece and Albania, stands just a few yards from where the wild Quaker Parrots (native to Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil) have built their huge nest complex.

These wild Quaker Parrots are just getting ready to devour one of their favorite treats: wild Horse Chestnut blossoms.

Do horse chestnut blossoms have some mysterious aphrodisiac quality useful to the Quaker Parrots' pre-mating season rituals? Or are they just delightfully delicious?

Either way, these hungry parrots don't waste any time digging in.

Elsewhere in the Cemetery, there's a lot of arguing going on, and it's par for the course whenever you find wild Quakers undergoing their annual pre-mating season madness.

"Ouch - hey buddy, I wasn't looking at your gal the wrong way, was I?"

The parrots' rambunctious behavior occasionally interrupts their feeding.

But most birds simply enjoy the feast, and leave the noisy physical contact to the teenagers.

Next Brooklyn Wild Parrot Safari: Saturday, June 14, 2008

2008-05-01T01:27:00.000-04:00

Photo: Wild Quaker Parrots in Flight Over Midwood, Brooklyn
How did they get here? It's a long story!

Attention all Urban Parrot fans: the next Wild Brooklyn Parrot Safari will happen on Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 12 Noon. All interested wild parrot fans should meet at Brooklyn College's Hillel Gate, which is at the intersection of Hillel Place and Campus Road. Our tour runs in two sections. You can attend either section, or both, depending on how many wild parrots you'd like to see!

Please e-mail me if you want to attend, so I know how many folks are coming. Note: the rain date for this trip is Sunday, June 15th, same monk time, same monk location.

Wild Parrot Safari -- First Section (Brooklyn College): 12:00 Noon to 1:45PM
At noon, we'll inspect the Brooklyn Parrots' "Ellis Island." Their large nests around the soccer field represents the first major colony in Brooklyn. The site is easy to get to via public transportation. Just take the Number 2 train (Seventh Avenue IRT) to the end of the line, walk one block Southwest on Hillel Street past the new Starbucks, and look for the main Brooklyn College date. The tour begins at the entrance at Noon sharp. Allow some extra time, given that the MTA is doing lots of construction/train re-routing on weekends. Driving instructions are available at Brooklyn College's main Web site. Parking is fairly easy to come by in the neighborhood. If you're late, just call me: I'll give you directions so that you can meet up with us if the tour is already in progress.

Wild Parrot Safari -- Second Section (Green-Wood Cemetery): 2:30PM-5PM.
Due to popular demand, our monthly tour will run an optional "second section." After getting our share of the raucous antics of the Brooklyn College Parrots, at approximately 1:45 PM, our group will walk to the Q Train (BMT) station at Avenue H and journey to Green-Wood Cemetery, where we will observe the late-afternoon antics of the parrots residing there. If you just want to see the Green-Wood parrots, show up at 2:30 PM and we'll be there. To get to Green-Wood, take the R Train to 25th Street and walk one block East to 25th and 5th Avenue.

What to Bring/What to Wear
Please bring a photo ID (this is required by Brooklyn College Security). If you like, bring binoculars and a camera if you'd like to immortalize your wild parrot-watching experience. The weather will probably be balmy in early May, but we'll be exposed to the wind and possibly strong sun. I ordinarily do not cancel the tour unless the forecast is for sustained rain in which birds will not fly.

Please feel free to wear anything except bright orange (Monk Parrots freak out when you show them something orange: in fact orange tags are one of the best ways to convince Monk Parrots to build away from electrical infrastructure). Wear green, blue, white, but orange will drive away the birds. Go figure!

This Tour is Free, But the Parrots Are Hungry!
The Wild Parrot Safari is free - if you wish to help your hungry urban feathered friends, bring some bird seed: trust me, the parrots won't soon forget the gesture. Wild monk parrots also appreciate "real parrot food," especially unshelled peanuts, sliced apples, and raw sunflower seeds. Finch food or millet are always welcomed by our hungry urban "peeps."

See you in wild, exotic Brooklyn!

Steve Baldwin, Webmaster, BrooklynParrots.com
steve@brooklynparrots.com
646-361-2879 (phone)

What's So Bad About Being Bio-Biased?

2008-04-29T14:38:00.003-04:00

The New York Times' Natalie Angier writes amusingly of humans' penchant for favoring animal species anthropocentricly reflective of their own moral values. I suppose I'm guilty of such behavior myself, given how much I write about the peaceful, family-oriented qualities of the free-range Quaker Parrots of Brooklyn. Furthermore, I really do believe that the irrational affinity that many Manhattanites display for hawks and falcons is due to an unconscious self-identification with such stylish predators.

Language plays a big part in the good animal/bad animal dichotomy, which is why my own pupils narrow and adrenaline levels rise whenever somebody unfairly vilifies our newly native Monk Parrots an "invasive species." At this point I must remind them that our beloved monks have been "introduced" to urban environments, just like those fancy peregrine falcons they're so attached to.

Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots: The (Definitive) Full-Motion Version!

2008-04-24T11:31:00.000-04:00

The song "The Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots" has evolved significantly from its humble roots as a free MP3 file. First folks asked for a Youtube version, so still photographs were added to the track. Then folks began asking for actual MTV-style moving images to accompany the song: the resulting video is embedded below: enjoy! -- and remember, "they're mighty loud and they're mighty raucous; the scientists call them Myiopsitta Monachus!" - Steve Baldwin

Lyrics: The Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots (Guitar: D /E chord alternation throughout)
I've got some news for you baby, and it might not be so good
There's an avian invader in the neighborhood
Yeah, they're little green parrots from the Argentine
They make their nests so high in the power line

It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
Now they're all over the borough, you can see them in the air
The little green birds that just don't care -- about you
Or your girlfriend on a respirator -- yeah, they're avian invaders, baby
And they're all over Brooklyn now

Yeah, they're mighty loud, and they're mighty raucous
The scientists call them Myiopsitta Monachus
And they're all over town, you can look up and they're looking down on you

Yeah, they're little green parrots from the Argentine
They make their nests so high in the power line
And they call them a pest; I wonder if their hearts are true
Living on the avenue

Refrain:
It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
There's an avian invader in the neighborhood

(Copyright 2006-2008 Steve Baldwin)

Science Notes: Quaker Parrots Directly Related to Tyrannasaurus Rex!

2008-04-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

An intriguing article published by the New York Times confirms what many observers of the wild parrots of Brooklyn have long suspected: our airborne "green dragons" are directly related to Tyrannassaurus Rex. Welcome to the 'hood, Dino!

Breaking News: Bronx Wild Parrot Colony Bounces Back!

2008-04-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Wild Parrots at the Throggs Neck Little League Baseball Field, The Bronx, NY

Last June, a major wild parrot rescue operation was mounted to save more than fifty baby Quaker Parrots endangered by a planned lighting replacement project in the Bronx (you can see a photo-essay or watch a Youtube video documenting this event). The rescued baby birds were safely transported to New England, where, now fledged, they constitute a "Strategic Quaker Parrot Reserve" under the care of Foster Parrot's Marc Johnson.

Barry Schwartz, of the Maspeth Bird Haven, recently returned to the Throggs Neck Little League to survey the progress made by the colony to re-establish itself. He reports that "the colony has now built nests on all seven of the light poles; some nests are now of considerable size, and the sounds of Quakers can be heard on all four sides of the block the field occupies. I only had 15 minutes to look around, but would say that the Quakers must have laid bumper clutches since last year, making up for the ones relocated to Foster Parrots."

This happy development will be very welcome news for the residents of Throggs Neck, many of whom feared that last year's light replacement project would leave them parrotless.

Wild Parrots Invade Red Hook; Some Residents Denounce Nests as "Unsightly"

2008-04-22T10:27:00.006-04:00

Brooklyn's excellent "Gowanas Lounge" blog reports on the stir caused by wild parrots in Red Hook. The Red Hook colony is one of Brooklyn's less explored wild parrot colonies (because it's difficult to get to via public transportation, as are many interesting spots in Red Hook). Scientists believe that this wild parrot colony was formed several years ago by a "breakaway" group from nearby Green-Wood Cemetery.

Some property-minded residents of Red Hook are evidently complaining about the shape and general condition of the parrots' nests, characterizing the construction as "slovenly." I would advise these residents to simply give the parrots time to complete the core construction tasks (after which they will certainly focus on finishing and general "beauty work." Quaker Parrots are hard-working perfectionists who will not give up until every twig is trimmed carefully to present an aesthetically attractive exterior. After all, these parrots are considered to be "the master architects of the bird world."

Breaking News: Eyewitness IDs Con Edison in Brooklyn Wild Parrot Colony Disappearance

2008-04-21T11:57:00.004-04:00

A witness who requests anonymity has contacted me about the mysterious disappearance of the wild Quaker Parrot colony in the Sheepshead Bay/Manhattan Beach area of Brooklyn in January of this year. According to this person, a single Con Edison truck, operating in daylight, removed all the wild parrot nests along Oriental Boulevard during the 3rd week of January. This account accords with my own observations. It is not clear what happened to the parrots themselves.

What is particularly distressing about this account is that it directly contradicts statements made by Con Edison that the nests were removed "by poachers," an explanation which is on its face patently absurd. While there have been past poaching incidents in Brooklyn, the poachers steal the parrots, not the nests. In this case, however, all traces of the once-thriving wild parrot colony in Manhattan Beach were removed.

As I've noted on many occasions, I have no animus toward Con Edison, which I believe usually acts in a generally transparent manner. In the past, I have received many accounts from residents of Brooklyn alleging that the utility company engages in tactics (including the use of chemical agents and an alliance with criminal parrot poachers) which have not been borne out by the facts. Compared to other utility companies that routinely kill wild parrots, Con Edison's stance is moderate and I believe that they deserve credit for behaving in a moderate way.

Still, it is troubling that Con Edison did not simply tell the public what it was doing in this instance, and especially troubling that it the removals in January, at a time when the parrots were exposed to harsh weather. My sincere hope is that Con Edison chooses transparency and best practices over secrecy and unilateral actions in the future. If you have additional information about the missing Manhattan Beach wild parrots, please send me e-mail at steve@brooklynparrots.com.

Amazing Quaker Parrot Nest Construction Video: Sparky Builds His Dream House

2008-04-08T01:49:00.005-04:00

Back in January, we wrote about Sparky the Quaker Parrot, of Portland, Oregon. Sparky's owner, Linda Magee, described by Oregon Online as "the doyenne of Portland's Chamber Music Northwest," has graciously allowed Sparky to build large structures in her dining room. Linda's new time-lapse video captures Sparky's efforts over a 10-day period. In Linda's words, we now see "more evidence of the skill, intelligence and hard work of the amazing Quaker parrot." There's more avian architecture to enjoy at sparkyvonvogelsang; Sparky's Youtube channel.

Would Barack Obama Be a Parrot-Friendly President?

2008-03-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

To my knowledge, none of the current presidential candidates have taken a position on the wild Quaker Parrots inhabiting many of America's cities. Frankly, this might be a good thing, given that any debate over the parrots should be conducted in a measured manner to minimize the risk that the issue might further polarize the political landscape.

Still, it seems that of all the current candidates, Barack Obama might have the strongest emotional affinity with the Quakers, because one of his political mentors, former mayor Harold Washington, did so much to help them back in the 1980's. After numerous parties attempted to eradicate them from Chicago, Washington went to bat for them. He died too young, but the parrots he helped have thrived in Hyde Park (now, fittingly, Harold Washington Park). We lost our indigenous parrot (the Carolina Parakeet) 100 years ago: let's hope that our next president manages to conserve their kind.

Green Parrots and Irish Pride: It's the Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade!

2008-03-28T14:52:00.003-04:00

I'm part Irish and part parrot, so I always enjoy the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade which happens in Brooklyn a couple of weeks after the Manhattan parade. The parade happens tomorrow (March 30, 2008), its official site is here; the weather should be good, and here's a video I shot of the 2007 parade. Enjoy!

Green-Wood Wild Parrots on ScienceFriday.com!

2008-03-27T12:37:00.003-04:00

Carl Flatow of ScienceFriday.com produced a nice online video about the wild parrots at Green-Wood Ceremony. I'm the "MC" and there are some excellent shots of the parrots reacting to the appearance of a local raptor. Enjoy!

NBC Nightly News Report: Parrots vs. Power Companies

2008-03-06T10:57:00.005-05:00

NBC News investigative reporter Aram Roston recently uploaded on the current controversies involving Monk Parakeets and energy companies. It runs for a bit longer than 3 minutes and there are some very good video sequences showing Brooklyn's beloved "boids." Interestingly, Aram Roston doesn't just investigate Monk Parakeets; he's written a brand new book called The Man Who Pushed America to War: The Extraordinary Life, Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi - check it out!

Lucky Quaker Parrot Freed From California Shelter, Granted Asylum in Oregon

2008-03-05T12:24:00.000-05:00

Quaker Parrots are illegal in California, and when one recently escaped, was sent to a shelter, and the authorities were notified, it seemed that certain death lay ahead (Pennsylvania and California both have "instant kill" policies for wild Quaker Parrots.

Fortunately, several kind-hearted humans intervened and managed to have this little bird flown to Oregon, a state willing to provide asylum for his kind. Here's to the good folks at SD Exotic Bird Rescue who saved this cute little fellow -- you can read more at SD Exotic Bird Rescue's site.

Update 2/16: Wild Quaker Parrot Crisis in Yacolt, WA

2008-02-16T07:20:00.005-05:00

Today, Washington TV Station KATU provided an updated report on the situation in Yacolt, Washington. As I've indicated on this site, the situation in Yacolt is highly unfortunate, because it appears that while a humane solution involving alternative nest platforms has been forged, evidence exists that the power company continues to remove nests despite the fact that doing this practically ensures that many birds will not survive the winter.

KATU's report about at least one dead Quaker Parrot being found in the vicinity of a recently removed nest is accurate. An autopsy was performed to identify the exact cause of death and the medical examiner's report will soon be released to the media.

While this latest news is most disturbing, I sincerely hope that the citizens of Yacolt, their elected officials, and the local power company can somehow find a way to reach a humane solution that addresses all legitimate concerns of the local community. I would like to see the squabbling and name-calling stop, tempers cool, and a good-faith discussion to being. While it is to be expected that passions will flare on either side of the issue, I implore those who care about their wild parrots behave in an appropriate, transparent manner, and would ask City officials and power company officials to do the same.

Please Help The Rescued African Greys of Camaroon

2008-02-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

Parrots are the most endangered birds in the world, and it's rare that the bad guys who poach them get caught. But almost 1,000 endangered African Grey parrots were recently liberated from a shipment at Cameroon Airport, and most of them survived. These parrots are being cared for at a wildlife refuge, and the World Parrot Trust is trying to help them. Please donate to this worthy organization to provide for their care and rehabilitation.

Monk Parakeet I Love You Mug: Perfect for Valentine's Day

2008-02-06T17:33:00.000-05:00

Wild Monk Parrots mate for life and are fiercely loyal to each other.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so it's time to reward your monk parrot-crazy sweetie with Brooklyn Parrots' Lovers Mug. It's just $12.99 and if you order it in the next few days, you'll probably have it by February 14th. Viva Amore!

Hopes Dim for Yacolt, Washington, Wild Parrots

2008-02-03T17:51:00.000-05:00

It's difficult following developments on the ground from 3,000 miles away. But I'm hearing only bad news from Yacolt, Washington, where Clark County Public Utilities Department and the U.S.D.A. attempted to eradicate wild parrots against the wishes of Yacol's community late last year.

Although the killing of the parrots stopped more than a month ago, fewer and fewer parrots are being sighted, suggesting the worst, which is that they have died a cruel death in the cold due to the continued nest removals that Clark County PUD has performed during this period.

This terribly cruel situation could have been avoided if the town of Yacolt and Clark County Public Utilities had followed best practices and not removed the parrot nests at one of the most perilous times of the year. Even in the midst of a terrible ice and snow storm, and even after pro-parrot activists notified the mayor, city council, and Clark County PUD of the dire effects of such continuing removals, the crews continued their work, sealing the parrots fate. There may still be a few surviving birds, but so far, none have been sighted in the alternative nesting platforms. So it seems that those who wished the parrots killed at the outset of this sad incident will get their way in a particularly cruel way.

This sad story could have had a much happier ending. But one cannot lay all the blame on the Yacolt politicians and the power company. Community efforts to negotiate a humane solution could have been more effective; from what I have heard from multiple sources, there appears to have been an unfortunate failure of leadership to effectively mobilize individuals, groups, both local and national, that could have stepped in to help avoid this bad ending.

It's tragic and ironic that just as people around the world began to learn that these remarkable birds gave them a reason to visit Yacolt (and provide a new source of eco-tourism revenue to the town and local businesses), it appears that the birds have succumbed to the elements, crushing an opportunity before it had a chance to bloom.

Time Running Out for Yacolt Wild Parrots: Please Help!

2008-01-28T03:20:00.000-05:00

A very important meeting is happening tonight in Yacolt, Washington, in which pro-parrot people will be presenting their case to the Yacolt City Council and the Clark PUD (Public Utilities Department). The fate of Yacolt's wild parrots hang in the balance. Please sign our petition - we have 327 signatures but really need a minimum of 500 to be taken seriously. Thanks much!

New Monk Parakeet-Branded Rum Goes On Market

2008-01-28T02:25:00.000-05:00

Railean Distillers, based in San Leon, Texas, has introduced a new brand of rum whose bottles are conspicuously branded with the image of the Monk Parakeet (AKA "Quaker Parrots," or "dem boids," as they are known in Brooklyn). I haven't tried this rum yet, and don't know if it's distributed in Brooklyn, but I've have heard that it is already the preferred spirit among members of the Quaker Parakeet Society.

Railean chose the Monk Parakeet as its marketing icon because San Leon, Texas, is host to a small tribe of monks, who fit right in with the "modern day pirates, fishermen, and local taverns where rum is the drink of choice." It proves that many U.S. citizens regard the presence of wild parrots in their communities as sources of pride, not as the "invasive nuisance" that many utility companies, and even the Audubon Society, cite in their literature.

If you have a bottle of Railean on hand, do yourself a favor and mix yourself a "Monk Parakeet," a potent drink involving 1 shot of Railean Rum, 1/2 shot Melon Liqueur, pineapple/orange juice, 7-up or sprite. Don't drink any "Monk Parakeets," prior to meeting with your local energy company if you're trying to extract an honest answer about why they're being so mean to these wild parrots. But there's probably no better drink to curl up with to celebrate those rare moments when they do behave humanely.

Manhattan Beach Monk Parakeet Colony Wiped Out: Who Did It?

2008-01-27T14:08:00.001-05:00

Brooklyn's Manhattan Beach neighborhood, lying just to the East of Brighton Beach, has been home to wild parrots for many years. Several pairs have built nests near the Manhattan Beach main bathhouse on Oriental Boulevard. According to people I have spoken to in the neighborhood, the parrots have lived in this neighborhood for at least seven years.

I visited this thriving colony last on January 1, 2008, and saw about a dozen parrots active in the neighborhood. Today, I revisited the colony and was shocked: all the nests have been torn down, and no birds were evident anywhere in the vicinity. I suspect that Con Edison may have taken the nests down, but need more evidence. If Con Ed did so, it would represent a violation of best practices for nest teardowns, which should only occur when there is no danger of the birds freezing to death. I also want to know what happened to the parrots. Did Con Edison trap them? If so, where are they now?

If you are a resident of Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, or Manhattan Beach, and witnessed any teardowns between January 1 and January 25, 2008, please send me e-mail. These teardowns should not have happened in this time period; I am attempting to ascertain whether Con Edison, its contractor, or another entity did the work, who authorized it, why best practices were not followed in this case, whether the community was consulted, and most importantly, what happened to the parrots? I need to get as many facts as possible before I approach the NY media with this story.

Parrot Fun Stuff: Parrot vs. Keyboard Video

2008-01-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

I was talking to my pal Alison Evans-Fragale today and there's nothing that her pet parrot loves to do more than disassemble valuable computer equipment, especially keyboards. She pointed out that somebody had made a cute time-lapse video of a parrot making mincemeat of such a keyboard: here it is, courtesy of YouTube user ahhthelogic.

Yacolt Wild Parrots Get Human-Made Homes!

2008-01-24T18:10:00.000-05:00

An alternative nest platform constructed in Yacolt Washington for the wild quaker parakeets made homeless by the Clark Public Utilities Department in late 2007" border="0" />

An alternative nest platform constructed in Yacolt Washington for the wild quaker parakeets made homeless by the Clark Public Utilities Department in late 2007" border="0" />
Both photos by Chris Driggins

Here are two recent photos taken by Chris Driggins, of www.nwbirdrescue.com, showing one of the recently constructed alternate nest platforms built in Yacolt, Washington, for the wild parrots displaced by the local utility company. The sticks placed at the top of these nests weren't placed by the parrots, but were put there as an inducement for them to begin construction. With any luck at all, the parrots will soon discover it and begin rebuilding their destroyed homes.

Chris has trying to work with members of the Yacolt Quaker Parrot Preservation Association and the Quaker Parrot Society to keep the parrots alive through the cold months. You can read more about the Yacolt Wild Parrot Crisis by clicking here and you can tell officials in the town of Yacolt and the Clark County Public Utilities Department to end their anti-parrot pogrom by signing our online petition.

Breaking News: Wild Parrot Expert Travels to Yacolt; Allegations Continue Over Utility Company Misconduct

2008-01-20T16:23:00.000-05:00

Today, bad news is mixed with the good in the continuing Wild Parrot Crisis of Yacolt, Washington. While residents of Yacolt struggle mightily to erect alternative nest platforms for the wild parrots of Yacolt, there is reason to question the behavior of the Clark County Public Utilities Department. Wild parrot advocate Alison Evans-Fragale, who is following the situation closely, sent the following two emergency e-mail updates to wild parrot conservation groups noting some of these allegations, which are highly troubling. At the same time, internationally renowned Quaker Parrot expert Jon-Mark Davey is travelling from Florida to Yacolt in an effort to moderate the situation.

Update 1/21/07: An online petition has been uploaded; it petitions the Town of Yacolt and the Clark County Public Utilities Department to spare the wild parrots' lives. Please sign it and pass it on if you would like to see these innocent creatures granted clemency.

(E-mails from Alison Evans-Fragale, of EdgewaterParrots.com)

The "(parrots') stay of execution" ends on March 27th, at which time Clark PUD is expected to resume their efforts to slaughter the wild Monk Parakeets that call Yacolt their home.

Clark PUD claims they have stopped killing for now, yet today they were videotaped removing nests from utility poles in a blizzard with temperatures below 30 degrees. Additionally, I was sent photos of the poor parakeets soaking wet and freezing, watching as their homes were destroyed. Clark PUD may claim that they are not killing the birds, but the inhumane treatment they are inflicting on the birds by rendering them homeless and exposing them to severe cold will ultimately cause each bird to die a slow and uncomfortable death.

The utility company continues to lie to the public, adhering to the mantra that the birds are pests and pose a threat to their equipment. This has to stop. There are humane alternatives, and we need to join together to put an end to Clark PUD's inhumanity.

Below is the letter I sent to the local newspapers, as well as Yacolt's Mayor and Council, and Dean Sutherland at Clark PUD.

I encourage you to send your comments in defense of the Yacolt parakeets to:

Tom Vogt at the newspaper, The Columbian: tom.vogt@columbian.com

The Oregonian newspaper: holleygilbert@news.oregonian.com

The Reflector newspaper: staff@thereflector.com

The Mayor and Council of Yacolt, Washington at: TownOfYacolt@aol.com

Dean Sutherland at Clark Public Utility: DSutherland@clarkpud.com

Kindly forward this message to bird boards or anyone you think may want to help the wild parakeets. We are the only hope they have.

Alison

Alison Evans-Fragale alison@edgewaterparrots.com wrote:

Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:45:25 -0800 (PST)
From: Alison Evans-Fragale
Subject: Letter on Behalf of Yacolt's Wild Monk Parakeets
To: undisclosed recipients

Dean Sutherland, Director of Community Affairs for Clark Public Utilities, recently stated, "Clark Public Utilities is not involved in the design or implementation of the recovery or preservation efforts related to the parakeets in Yacolt".

Not involved?! Clark PUD established the parameters and deadlines for the slaughter of the Yacolt's wild Monk Parakeets, and they are responsible for the reason things are the way they are today! They failed to maintain the nests, and now they are trying to pass the buck to the local Mayor and Council.

If Clark PUD CARES, as they claim to, they should be working night and day to find a solution. If not, they have no right to demand the birds are killed or relocated!

No one knows more about what can work on the wires or poles, and individuals involved in the attempt to save the birds need input from Clark PUD to come up with a viable solution. In Edgewater, New Jersey, PSE&G and the Edgewater Parrots team developed a successful strategy to humanely manage Edgewater's population of over 200 Monk Parakeets. We were successful because we worked together. Monk Parakeet rescuers in Yacolt should DEMAND that Clark PU work with them for the very same reason!

Clark PUD should be working WITH rescuers in Yacolt -- period -- for so many reasons, including:

Every single effort to eradicate the wild Monks has proven unsuccessful. That would leave them holding the bag for the unnecessary murder of innocent birds AND having to deal with bad PR. Any benefit they think they might gain by exterminating the birds would be lost in a sea of bad PR for them -- not just locally, but nationwide!

Working with the community is excellent PR for the utility company -- murdering innocent birds while they sleep and submitting them for research is not. At a minimum, Clark PU should realize that they are creating a public relations problem that exceeds any benefit they think they might gain by slaughtering the birds.

There are many alternatives to killing. Public discussion with the community and with other power companies who face the same situation, will result in viable and cost effective solutions to this problem, while affording protection to Monk Parakeets, and allowing the community of Yacolt to continue to enjoy and respect wildlife.

I can't help but wonder why Clark PUD has chosen to kill instead of re-engineering its assets to dissuade the parrots from building their nests in utility poles.

Evidently, Clark PUD imbibed the USDA Kool-Aid. Despite their statement that the wild Monk Parakeets pose no threat, the USDA, and other companies, including one named Pandion, hold seminars to teach utility companies how to kill the birds, as well as seminars on how to "manage" public opinion. The false information fed to the residents of Yacolt by Clark PUD is the same "lesson" taught to utility companies and released to the public in CT, NY, and Florida. It is released to the public with the hope that the information will convince the public to see the birds as pests and tolerate the senseless killing.

Clark PUD is lying to residents of Yacolt. The truth is that the birds not pose a threat to agriculture or other birds. Their nests do not weigh 2,400 pounds. The nests do not cause pole fires.

Additionally, Clark PUD did not remove the nests after the breeding season in an effort to be humane. They employed a strategy utilized by all utility companies: to remove the nests when it is cold to insure that the ones they don't catch will die from exposure and stall when removing the nests until it is so late that no one will be around to see what they do.

Clark PUD released a statement that they are not killing the birds, yet they were caught on video-tape removing a nest just today! Nest removals at this time of year exposes the birds to extreme weather, including sleet, snow, and freezing temperatures, and this on-going practice of removing nests as they are being re-built is certain to result in a slow and cruel death for the few Monk Parakeets that survived the attempted eradication a few weeks ago.

The "euthanasia" they employ is far from humane. The birds that are trapped in their nets suffer multiple crush injuries, broken wings and limbs, and severed extremities before they are thrown into a gas chamber or sent to a research facility in Florida or Colorado.

There are humane solutions. In New Jersey, PSE&G successfully manages a population of over 200 wild Monk parakeets by utilizing humane solutions, including bi-annual nest removals during temperate weather, both before and after the breeding season. They also install orange insulating sleeves on utility poles after removing the nests, which deter re-building efforts. PSE&G has offered to discuss their efforts with Clark PU, but, to date, Clark has not made any effort to contact PSE&G.

Yacolt residents deserve to be told the truth by Clark PUD. They should be angry that they are being manipulated and should demand that and that Clark PU work with rescuers and consult with other utility companies in an effort to provide humane treatment of the parakeets as well as to preserve nature in their town.

Anyone wishing proof of anything I have stated in my letter, please contact me by e-mail at: alison@edgewaterparrots.com. I stand by my words and am more than happy to share my evidence with any individual who wants to know the truth and help save the Monk Parakeets of Yacolt.

Alison Evans-Fragale RN, MSN, CFNP, CLNC
Founder
EdgewaterParrots.com
Edgewater, New Jersey

Citizens of Yacolt, Washington Raise First "Monk Bunker" For Homeless Wild Parrots

2008-01-15T15:15:00.001-05:00

In a surprisingly hopeful development in the Yacolt, Washington Wild Parrot Crisis, several citizens have succeeded in erecting the first of several artificial parrot nesting platforms. Plenty of work went on behind the scenes before the first platform could be built, including securing permits. Providing non-power infrastucture roosting platforms has worked in Connecticut: let's all keep our fingers crossed that the Yacolt Quaker Parrots will adopt these "monk bunkers" soon!