Sparky the Quaker Parrot is a Master Builder

Sparky the Quaker parrot belongs to Linda Magee, an important figure in the Northwest U.S. classical music scene. Linda has given Sparky a lot of room to build an extraordinary indoor nest which clearly demonstrates this species extraordinary construction abilities, evidence of which we see in Brooklyn and elsewhere wherever wild Quaker parrots are in residence. Go Sparky!

(Note: don't miss the sequence about 4 minutes in when the camera pulls back. Only then can you see the true magnitude of this Quaker's architectural ambitions!)

Photo-Essay: Brooklyn's 8th Avenue Parrots

On a chilly morning in February, a bird from the "8th Avenue Gang" soaks up some sunshine.

Brooklyn's 8th Avenue Parrots are a small but hardy crew of monks who live less than 100 yards from the Gowanas Expressway at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 72nd Street. They live in a classical pole nest built under a Con Ed transformer sited in a tiny park called Anthony Mondello Triangle.

The 8th Avenue Parrots are often active in the late morning, gathering twigs for nest construction from the trees planted along the Gowanus Expressway. But sometimes they unaccountably vanish. Often, they spend time visiting their relatives to the North based in Leif Ericson Park.

As we've documented elsewhere on this site, it's a fact that Brooklyn Parrots love pizza, so I found it less than coincidental that these parrots decided to build their nest across the street from an Italian restaurant.

How long have the 8th Avenue Parrots been on the scene? According to a friendly employee of the restaurant, "at least five years." Where did they come from? My guess is that they are a spin-off "satellite" of the main wild parrot colony in Leif Ericson Park.

Without further ado, here are some photos of the 8th Avenue Parrots taken in February, 2006. Please click on any image for an expanded view.


The 8th Avenue Parrots live in a classic pole-nest chosen by the birds because of the warmth given off by its transformer. This view is looking West; the trees at the rear of this view are planted along the Gowanas Expressway.


The best place to get action shots of the 8th Avenue Parrots is actually on 7th Avenue, directly below the trees used by the parrots to provide construction materials. But be very careful: cars often speed down this strip and there's no sidewalk to offer a photographer much protection.


An 8th Avenue Parrot glides into the pole nest with a good looking thorny twig in his beak.


A moment later, he's working the twig into the nest structure.


Another bird comes in with another twig. Watching these little birds work is an inspiring experieence.


Heave Ho!


Many beaks make light the work on 8th Avenue.


But the 8th Avenue Parrots pace themselves, and are more than willing to take a short snuggle break to add variety to their long workdays.

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 Parrot 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!