Time Running Out for Yacolt Wild Parrots: Please Help!

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!

Yacolt Wild Parrot Crisis Deteriorates Into Chaos and Confusion

I am saddened to report that the wild parrot controversy in Yacolt Washington appears to have descended into near anarchy. According to my source, an emergency meeting called last weekend to discuss the fate of the Wild Quaker Parakeets of Yacolt devolved into a blizzard of "name-calling" and ad hominem attacks.

The gathered pro-parrot groups now appear split into three warring contingents: those who want to capture the parrots and give them sanctuary in a parrot-friendly city, those who want them to remain free, and those who want to capture and sell them back to Yacolt city residents for $75 each. As my correspondent (who favors keeping the parrots wild) notes, "it's now a 3-ring circus and open game on the poor Quaker Parrots." At the same time, unnamed officials of the City of Yacolt have issued an ironclad edict giving the parrots four months to "get out of town" or face a team of trained snipers (an event which was only narrowly averted last week).

While I had high hopes that there might be a happy ending to this crisis, it now appears to me that the situation in Yacolt is clearly beyond rational solution. While I count myself in the camp favoring keeping the parrots wild, it seems that the parrots have so many human enemies in the City of Yacolt that allowing them to remain there would put them in severe peril.

Wild parrots will never survive in places where powerful authorities collectively decide to be rid of them: we learned that in the 19th Century in the sad case of the Carolina Parakeet, which was hunted to extinction, and we appear to be learning it again in the City of Yacolt, Washington, which is clearly bent on making its skies parrot-free. At the very least let us rescue the remaining birds before April 1, 2008 and avoid another deadly fusillade.

Update on Endangered Wild Quaker Parrots of Yacolt, Washington

A quick update from Yacolt, Washington. My correspondent tells me that the situation there remains tense. Yacolt City officials refuse to allow artificial nest platforms for the homeless parrots to be constructed: they want the parrots removed, and will kill any remaining there past a date certain.

Neither the power company (Clark County Public Utilities, AKA "PUD") nor the town will tolerate the presence of wild parrots in Yacolt, so the only hope for those who want to save them is to capture them and relocate them to a town willing to accept them.

There will be a gathering of bird groups and bird rescuers in Yacolt this weekend to discuss the stand-off. In the meantime, a grass-roots group, the Yacolt Quaker Parrot Preservation Association, has been formed to fight the wild parrot eradication effort. A Rapid Response Team from the Quaker Parakeet Society has been dispatched to inspect the situation on the ground and in the air.

There are a lot of raw emotions in Yacolt tonight. My correspondent writes: "I was very heart broken listening to the people. They love those parrots so much and they are so angry that the city didn't informed them on what their plans were. I had an old lady cry in my arms. She doesn't want these birds to leave or die. They are all she has in life right now."

My hope is that officials in the City of Yacolt change their mind, but I know that a lot of people don't really have much feeling for the natural world, and some people just don't like animals. Maybe Yacolt is just one of those places.

What's clear is that if the majority of people of Yacolt and their elected leadership don't want wild parrots flying free in their city, the parrots won't be around for much longer. It's too bad, because the presence of these wonderful birds was already making Yacolt a popular stop-over for parrot-watchers. As one resident declared, "the parrots put Yacolt on the map."

There will certainly be more news to report soon. Right now, all I can say is that I'm very glad that our civic leaders in Brooklyn, including Borough President Marty Markowitz, have a different viewpoint, and recognize that having wild parrots around is a wonderful thing.

For more on the Endangered Wild Quaker Parrots of Yacolt, Washington, see:

• BREAKING NEWS: Wild Parrot Killings Halted in Washington State
• RED ALERT: Wild Parrots in Washington State Are Being Killed by U.S.D.A., Clark County Public Utilities
• Wild Monk Parrots Popping Up in Yacolt, WA

BREAKING NEWS: Wild Parrot Killings Halted in Washington State

I'm pleased to report that Clark Public Utilities and the U.S.D.A. have called off their plan to kill the remaining wild parrots in Yacolt, Washington. My correspondents tell me that this decision was taken only because of overwhelming public opposition. The Web site of local TV station KGW also reports the fact that they have been spared.

Thanks to all of you who protested against this cruel action: this is great news but many issues remain, including how these parrots, now homeless, can possibly survive the winter. My hope is that the good citizens of Yacolt will construct artificial nest platforms and put out plenty of food so that the survivors have a shot. But at least we can all breathe a bit easier tonight: the killing has stopped and reason (always a scarce thing) has somehow prevailed.

Again, thanks for all your support, Steve Baldwin, Webmaster, BrooklynParrots.com

Update on Washington State Wild Parrot Killings

Several new developments have occurred in the past 24 hours since I posted the original story about the Washington State Quaker Parrot killings. At least one exotic bird rescue group has approached Clark Public Utilities offering to rescue the birds. But an official known as "Lena" rebuffed the offer. My correspondent adds that "the PUD (Clark Public Utilities) does know all these other ways (of humanely controlling the parrots)" but for some unknown reason went ahead anyway.

Please call "Lena" at Clark Public Utilities and ask her to reconsider her decision. If you make the call, be polite and civil but also rational and firm. The number is 360-992-3000. I am told that the utility company is holding a meeting today to decide on a future course of action. Let's hope they opt to take the humane course.

Update 11/28: The website of The Columbian, a local newspaper in Clark County, has a poignant story (with a short video) on the plight of the Yacolt wild parrots.

RED ALERT: Wild Parrots in Washington State Are Being Killed by U.S.D.A., Clark County Public Utilities

I received a disturbing report today from a resident of Washington State. According to her e-mail, Clark Public Utilities has announced that it will be killing the 50 or so wild Quaker Parrots that have lived in Yacolt, Washington, for some time.

I contacted Clark Public Utilities and have not heard back from them. In the meantime, this news story has appeared: 3 of the 50 wild parrots in Yacolt have already been killed.

You may register your comments with Clark Public Utilities by clicking on this e-mail link, which will connect you to their general mailbox. You can also call Clark Public Utilities at 360-992-3000. (Note: Please be civil if you call Clark Public Utilities. In my view, these people are misguided but should not be abused verbally. Please convey your message calmly, even though this is obviously an emotional subject.) Also, please forward this item to any anti-cruelty animal groups you think might be effective in terms of stopping these killings.

Update: 11/28: New story on this situation. The U.S.D.A. is the party actually doing the killing (although this issue has nothing to do with agriculture). Please call the regional office of the U.S.D.A. to protest at (360) 883-1987 (phone) and (360) 885-2284 fax

Disturbing News From Burnham, Illinois: You Can Help

I received a call today from a woman in Chicago, Illinois. Her report was very disturbing. Apparently, gangs of young men are shooting the wild Quakers that live in Burnham, which is a suburb of Chicago.

I am attempting to develop information before contacting the media. You can assist me if you know:

1. Whether this situation is in fact occurring.


2. Who in Chicago media I should direct my contact to get in touch with.


3. The names, e-mails and phone numbers of regional anti-cruelty organizations active in the Chicago area.


4. Academic institutions in Chicago area that might be able to exert influence.


5. Church groups in Chicago who might have community influence in Burnham.


6. Chicago-based bird groups that might have influence in Burnham.


7. Political leaders who are pro-wildlife and/or anti-gun violence.

If you have any other suggestions, please let me know. Time is of the essence.

Thanks much,
Steve Baldwin