Next Brooklyn Wild Parrot Safari: Saturday, April 3, 2010

What are wild parrots doing in Brooklyn? It's a long story!

Attention all Urban Parrot fans: the next Wild Brooklyn Parrot Safari will happen on Saturday, April 3, 2010, at 11 AM. Please gather at Brooklyn College's Hillel Gate, which is at the intersection of Hillel Place and Campus Road. (Note: there will be no inspection of the Green-Wood Cemetery parrots on this safari; I have to run off to do something later on Saturday afternoon. Soon I'll bring back the Green-Wood "second section" of the trip but it's impossible this month).

Please e-mail me if you want to attend. Note: there is no rain date for this trip. I ordinarily do not cancel the tour unless the forecast is for sustained inclement weather in which birds will not fly.

Wild Parrot Safari (Brooklyn College): 11:00 AM to 12:30PM
At 11 AM, 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 11:00 AM 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, please call me: I'll give you directions so that you can meet up with us if the tour is already in progress.

What to Bring/What to Wear
Please bring a photo ID (this is required by Brooklyn College Security). Bring binoculars and a camera. We'll be exposed to outdoors so bring a hat/sunscreen if you have sensitive skin. Please feel free to wear anything except bright orange. For reasons that science has not yet explained, Monk Parrots freak out when you show them something orange.

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 good bird feed and other treats. 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

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

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!

Parrot-Like Creatures Invading New York City Subway System (Part 2)

We've written before about New York's flocks of wild parrots invading the city's subway system, and this latest photograph, from an informative subway-oriented site called subchat.com, provides new proof of the parrots' latest incursions. This photo, posted by a subchat member known as "G1Ravage," was taken at the Queensborough Plaza station in Queens, NY. It's not clear to me whether the Quaker Parrot perched on the rail is a wild bird or an escapee (look closely at the photo -- is that a leg band on the parrot's right foot?).

(Note: 8/26: It appears that the parrot in this photo is actually a Peach-Faced Love Bird, not a Quaker. What a Love Bird would be doing in the subway system is beyond me; I suppose he just got away and is hoping to be reunited with his owner).

CBS News With Katie Couric Reports on the Parrots and People Paradox

Kudos to CBS News, which tonight aired a segment on the plight of parrots bought impulsively by people unprepared to properly care for them. Parrots are bright, social, flock-oriented creatures that are often confined to tiny cages without emotional support. While it's true that the free-range Quaker Parrots we find in Brooklyn wouldn't be here without the pet trade, the unrestricted activities of this trade are one of the greatest dangers to parrots, which remain the world's most endangered bird group. I was proud to contribute a few video clips of wild Quaker Parrots to CBS to help this story be told.

Willie the Hero Quaker Parrot Interviewed on Fox News

Willie the Hero Quaker Parrot, who saved a little girl's life back in November 2008, was interviewed on Fox News last week. Willie doesn't say much in this interview, but he really doesn't have to: actions always speak louder than words, even from a talkative Quaker Parrot. We're lucky to have Willie's kind flying free in New York City!

BREAKING NEWS: Wild Quaker Parrots Appear in Amityville, Long Island

Amityville's wild parrots' nesting site appears to be within an old communications tower. Photo by Dr. Jud Newborn.

Amityville, Long Island, might appear to be an unlikely place to find wild parrots, but it appears that several birds have set up shop in a beach-side communications tower. These parrots are definitely Quakers, and quite possibly are distantly related to the flock that escaped from JFK airport nearly 40 years ago. Previous sightings of similar parrots on Long Island include reports from Lynbrook, Oceanside, and now, Amityville.

Thanks to Dr. Jud Newborn, who served as Founding Historian and Curator of the Museum of Jewish Heritage (1986-2000) and is now an independent author and lecturer. Jud took the photos you see in this story and we are grateful for his permission to reproduce them on BrooklynParrots.com


A pair of wild Long Island parrots perch on a guy wire adjacent to their well-crafted condo nest. Photo by Dr. Jud Newborn.


A suburban parrot peers out of a nest carefully crafted out of twigs. Photo by Dr. Jud Newborn.

Monk Parakeets vs. United Illuminating Co. Redux

The New York Times reports on the annual battle between Connecticut's United Illuminating Power Company and the wild Monk Parakeets (AKA Quaker Parrots) of the Nutmeg State. Fortunately, UI is conducting itself humanely this year in a 180 degree turn against its lethal parrot control methods of 2005.

BREAKING NEWS: Pro-Parrot Resolution Introduced In New York City Council

I'm very glad to announce that the long-awaited measure to protect New York City's wild Quaker Parrots was introduced this past Tuesday. Here's a communication from Barry A. Schwartz, who spearheaded the effort:

Yesterday was an "historic" day for what will hopefully be the protection of wild Quaker parrots in New York City, and, eventually, in New York State.

For the past year, I have been working with NYC Council Member Tony Avella (Queens) in sheparding a proposed resolution calling for the protection of wild Quakers in New York City, and calling upon the NY State Legislature to change the State Environmental Conservation Law adding wild Quakers to the list of "protected birds."

At the Stated Council Meeting of Tuesday, March 24, 2009, this proposal became reality when Council Member Avella introduced the proposed resolution, Resolution No. 1872-2009, to the Council. The resolution was immediately referred to the Council Committee on Environmental Protection, where, it will be discussed, and then probably open to public commnet.

When that happens, testimony may be called for, and I ask that those of you especially most expert with wild Quakers, stand ready and volunteer some time for testimony.

Let NYC join eventually the City of San Francisco in officially recognizing and protecting it's wild parrot colonies.

In the meanwhile, I ask that you help with this process, no matter where you live. Write a letter of suppport addressed to Council Member Tony Avella (250 Broadway, 17th Fl., New York, NY 1007). Send the letter to me, and I will see to it that it arrives at this office in batch. Also, the same letter may be addressed to Council Member James F. Gennaro, who is the Chair of the Environmnetal Protection Committee (250 Broadway, 17th Fl., New York, NY 10007).

Barry A. Schwartz
Feathered Friends Parrot Adoption Services, Inc.
(formerly Maspeth Bird Haven, Inc.)
P.O. Box 780344, Maspeth, NY 11378, Maspeth, NY

The full text of Resolution 1872 is available here.

Willie The Hero Quaker Parrot Gets Award From Red Cross

Remember Willie The Hero Quaker Parrot? This noble little bird, who lives in Colorado (ironically a state in which Quakers are illegal) has formally received the Animal Lifesaver Award from the Red Cross for his role in saving a little girl several months ago. Even the governor was there. Bravo, Willie: you have the heart of an eagle!

10000Birds.com Article on Wild Monk Parakeets

Charlie Moores, one of the principle contributors to the wonderful birding, conservation, and nature site 10,000Birds.com, invited me to share my views on the wild Monk Parakeets (AKA Quaker Parrots) of Brooklyn as part of the site's "Parrot Month." The interview is now live, and I'm very grateful to the folks at 10,000Birds.com for gathering my input for the site's series of articles on parrots. 10,000Birds.com has additional information on wild monk parakeets here.

2009 Wild Parrots of Brooklyn Wall Calendar

The 2009 Wild Parrots of Brooklyn Wall Calendar -- consisting of the best photos I took of the wild Quaker Parrots in the past 12 months -- is still available for 2009. Cafe Press turns the order around in a week. It's a great Valentine's Day gift for that special Parrot Person in your life.

You can buy the calendar by clicking here. All profits go to support the free Wild Parrot Safaris that I do each month.

Here is a Flickr slideshow of photos in the new calendar.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

(Don't see the slide show? You can browse the photos on the Flickr Set for the calendar by clicking here). All photos by Stephen Carl Baldwin.

Thanks for supporting the Brooklyn Parrot Society!

A Brooklyn Parrots' Christmas Story

Twas the night before Christmas and the monks were at rest,
Deep within their impressive monk parrot nests;

When just around midnight a loud noise occurred,
It shook the whole nest, it woke every bird;
It roused the flock leader, who looked at his spouse,
And said, "something big just crashed into our house;"

"Don't go out," said his wife, "you're not feeling so well,"
"I must," said her mate, "you never can tell;
It might be a kestrel, it might be a hawk,
Or even a poacher," he said with a squawk;
"Well, first," said his wife, "take a bit of your medicine,"
"No time," he replied, "it might be Con Edison."

The parrot flew out, and once perched in the cold,
Saw something big stuck way up there on the pole;
"Hey you," said the parrot, "you there, with the beard,
Your sled's on our nest - you can't park that thing here!"
"I've crashed," said the man, "I was flying too fast,"
"Can we offer some help?," the monk parrot asked;

"That's kind," said the man, "but I have to confess,
My sled is quite hopelessly stuck in your nest;
Besides, what real good can you monk parrots do?
What I need is a crane or a Coast Guard rescue!"
"Yo, Beard," said the parrot, "with all due respect,
We monks are by far Nature's best architects;

We're professional builders, we're strong and we're fair,
We'll get your contraption back up in the air;"
"You can try," said the man, "but my mind's filled with doubt,"
"Cool your jets," said the parrot, "we'll straighten this out;
I'll rouse the whole crew, and get more from outside,
We'll dig your sled out so you can go on your ride."

The flock leader started a strange kind of chirpin'
So loud that it woke all the parrots in Brooklyn;
From Red Hook, Bay Ridge, and from old Sunset Park,
Small flocks of green parrots lit down in the dark;
"Let's get this guy going," the flock leader said,
"When he's gone we can all snuggle back in our beds;"

So with razor-sharp beaks, the birds tugged and they sawed,
They pushed, and they pulled with powerful claws;
They squawked, and they strained, they tugged and they cut,
And finally, they freed the old sled from its rut.
Said the monk to the man, "you can go on your way,
And deliver your toys for a fine Christmas Day!

But the man in the sled had a tear in his eye,
And the monk parrot wondered "what's wrong with this guy?"
"Yo, Santa, take off! Fly away with your freight!"
"My reindeer won't do it," said the man, "it's too late,"
"They belong to the union?," asked the monk, with a sneer;
"They clock out at midnight," said the man with the beard,

"That's too bad," said the monk. "but I'm goin' back to bed;"
"I was hoping you'd help," said the man in the sled,
"I'm no scab," said the monk, "are you out of your mind?"
"I can waiver you in," Santa said, "it'll be fine!
You can all join the union, you and all of your boys!
And the children of Brooklyn will all get their toys!"

The parrots discussed this proposal at length,
And decided a union would add to their strength;
So the birds all squawked "aye" and each grabbed at a strap,
On the sled with the toys and the man in the cap;
With a thunderous flapping they rose in the night,
Two hundred green wings pulled the sled out of sight,

And the man in the sled, now filled with affection;
Cheerfully changed his standard directions:
"On Fonzie, on Kiwi, on Tango, and Cookie!
On Max, and on Stanley, and Chester, and Lucky!
And all of you parrots whose names I don't know
I won't soon forget how you salvaged this show!"

If you're ever in Brooklyn at the end of the year,
Make sure you look up, for what might appear;
Is a big flock of parrots, towing St. Nicklaus,
And these parrots are known as Myiopsitta Monachus.


Brooklyn's wild monk parrots celebrate after helping Santa out of a jam.

Happy Holidays to All!

© 2006-08 By Steve Baldwin

NY Post: Wild Brooklyn Parrots Seek Legal Perch

Reporter Amy Lieberman covers Council Member Tony Avella's efforts to provide protection for Brooklyn's wild parrots. (NY Post via ZooToo.com)

To go on record as a supporter of Tony Avella's effort to protect the parrots, please send email to: m19sheeh@council.nyc.ny.us

Audubon Magazine: Wild Monks' Stick Nests Create Fracas

Justin Nobel, of Audubon Magazine, interviewed me yesterday about Brooklyn's wild monks: the article is now online. The article has lots of good info, interviews with fellow "monk parrot defenders," plus the latest news from Connecticut.

Happy Thanksgiving From BrooklynParrots.com

Stanford, CT Builds Monk Parrots "Subsidized Housing" During Stadium Light Renovation Project

A Wild Quaker Parrot on Guard at a Human-Built "Monk Bunker" in Connecticut. Photo by Marc Johnson

Thanks to the input of Quaker Parrot experts from the Wildlife Orphanage and Southern Connecticut State University, wild parrots displaced by an $88,000 light replacement project in Stamford's Cummings Park will be able to use temporary "monk bunkers" while work proceeds, according to an article in the Stamford Advocate.

While it's always traumatic to see these nests torn down, it's great to see these projects being conducted at a time of year when the young have had time to fledge but before the onset of cold weather.

Even those supervising the teardown work have been impressed by the quality of the monks' construction work, as evinced by the comment of Joseph Barbarotta, who noted that the monk parakeets "must have a head engineer" to produce such impressive structures. For this reason, Monk Parakeets are widely known as the Master Architects of the Bird World.

Thanks to Wynne Parry, the author of this story, for sending it our way.

Monk Parakeet Science Marches On!

ScienceBlogs has posted an informative article on the DNA composition of the Northeast U.S.A.'s wild monk parakeets (AKA Quaker Parrots). There are four subspecies of monks which range across South America. Only one subspecies (called monachus01), which hale originally from Argentina and Uraguay, dominate in the Northeast, although a distinct subspecies (monachus02) has been sampled in Edgewater, New Jersey.This suggests that the original birds whose descendants live throughout the Northeast were supplied by a limited set of exotic bird traffickers. For more on the origin of these remarkable creatures, read What Are Wild Parrots Doing in Brooklyn?

Quaker News From All Over: Hero Parrot Saves Toddler's Life in Denver

Meet Willie, a vigilant Quaker Parrot who saved a little girl's life the other day. Willie quickly raised the alarm by repeatedly hollering "Momma Baby!" after Hannah, a 2-year old in the household, choked on some food. Hannah's babysitter heard the ruckus and came to the rescue, saving Hannah and proving once again that Quakers are remarkably intelligent, caring creatures.

There's an under-reported aspect to this story related to the war that many U.S. states (and the Federal government) have waged on these wonderful birds in the past: Quaker Parrots are classified as "Illegal Avians" in Colorado (and 13 other states, including New Jersey). As one commenter on a bird board noted, "If Colorado was strict with their laws about banning Quakers this little girl would probably be dead now. "

Anyway, let's all give three big cheers for Willie, the Hero Quaker Parrot!

You can read more about this story and watch an online video clip at the cbs4denver.com, the site of WCBS Denver.

Our New President Will Be Wild Parrot-Friendly

Chicago resident Jason M. South recounts the time that Chicago Mayor Harold Washington defended the wild Monk Parakeets (AKA Quaker Parrots) inhabiting Hyde Park from various forces allied against them back in the 1980s. I'm sure that our new president has heard them chattering in the trees during his residence in that storied neighborhood. While this fact in itself cannot guarantee a "parrot-friendly" administration, president Obama's expressed fondness for Harold Washington augers well for Chicago's wild parrot flocks.

Were Wild Monk Parrots Transported to the Northeast U.S.A. Via Hurricane Gloria?

Did the Wild Monk (AKA Quaker) Parrots of the Northeast U.S.A. Hitch a Ride on Hurricane Gloria?

Like many, I've been surfing the Web searching for news of Hurricane Ike today. I happened to stumble across a very odd claim on a web page devoted to Hurricane Gloria, an extremely destructive storm which hit the New York area on September 27, 1985. On this page, there's an extraordinary claim that I couldn't resist mentioning:

One unusual occurrence after Hurricane Gloria was the number of parrots that took up residence along the Connecticut coast. Known a Monk Parrots - these tropical birds apparently became caught up in the eye of Hurricane Gloria as it passed just to the east of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. The mild winter climate of the Connecticut coast allowed the birds to survive and breed in great numbers. Despite attempts by Connecticut Light and Power Company at eradication - the bright colored (yellow and green) tropical birds are still visible on telephone poles and in the marsh thickets along the Connecticut coast today. (emphasis added)

This is indeed the strangest claim about the arrival of monk parrots in the Northeast that I've ever heard. The notion that Monk Parrots have been using hurricanes to get around seems fantastical, but these little greenies may have some tricks up their sleeves that we barely know about. I'd have to do some more research before making any conclusions about this claim: it seems unlikely that many Monk Parrots would have been present in the vicinity of San Salvador Island in the 1980s but nobody's really explained why there are so many parrots living in the Northeast, their ability to survive violent weather, or why they seem to have arrived in the 1980s. I suppose anything in this big wild world is possible, especially when a big hurricane comes along!

Quaker Parrots Featured in New NYC Recycling Spot

A friend on the Quaker Parrot Mailing List pointed out that one of New York's new Green NYC Public Service Announcements appears to feature an animated Quaker Parrot. Of course, real Quaker Parrots don't say "Tweet, Tweet;" they say "Ack Ack." But I'm glad to see one of Brooklyn's own wild Quakers promoting a "Green New York," because more trees mean more places for our remarkable green parrots to perch upon!

Green NYC - 30 second PSA #1

Bay Ridge Parrots Face Uncertain Future

Two wild Quaker Parrots at Bay Ridge's Dust Bowl.

The wild parrots which have long lived around one of Brooklyn's last sandlot baseball fields, an area dubbed "The Dust Bowl," will soon face down a $3.2 million renovation of the field that will significantly alter their ecosystem. As reported in the Brooklyn Courier Life newspaper, the project, whose funding was secured by City Councilman Vincent Gentile, involves construction of a "secure synthetic multi-use field consisting of new dugouts, new accessible entrances, six new handicap-accessible drinking fountains and new synthetic turf" and is scheduled to begin this Fall. After completion, the Dust Bowl area will be off-limits to the public, and only be open to authorized sports teams supplied with keys.

While advocates for the project have claimed that steps will be taken to protect the wild parrots during construction, it is highly troubling that synthetic turf will now replace what has been a natural environment of sand and turf, upon which wild birds, including the parrots, regularly forage upon. Synthetic turf is made from recycled rubber tires, and physicians have already raised concerns that it becomes toxic under certain conditions. It cannot be known what long-term effects this will have on the local fauna, or, for that matter, the human population. Losing open access to the Dust Bowl, one of Brooklyn's last genuine "sand lot" fields, is also a concern. Why must humanity always insist on replacing something natural and wild with something artificial and sterile?

Photo-Essay: Wild Parrots Feast and Fight in Brooklyn

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.

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

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!

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!

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

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."

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

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.

Green-Wood Wild Parrots on ScienceFriday.com!

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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!)

Quaker News From All Over: Quaker Parrot Becomes School Mascot in Galesburg, Illinois

Nice story at Galesburg.com (home of the Register-Mail) about Al, a Quaker Parrot who's become the school mascot at the AlWood Elementary School. Al spends his workdays at the school but goes home on weekends in the care of the Dean of Students. The parrot adds a lot to the school, and is apparently both a good talker and a great listener. According to the school superintendent, "He’s more of a counselor than I’ll ever be... (the kids will) often talk to him before they’ll say anything to me."

"Parrot in the Street" Interview: What's Up With the New York Pigeon-Feeding Ban?

We caught up with Quake, one of Brooklyn's most outspoken wild parrots, to ask him how Councilman Simcha Felder’s controversial proposal to ban pigeon feeding in New York City was playing in the wild Quaker Parrot community. Surprisingly, it seems that many of Brooklyn's wild Quaker Parrots support it.

BrooklynParrots.com: Why do you support Councilman Felder's pigeon feeding ban?

Quake: Look, I don't want to misrepresent the facts here. This is a divisive issue and we parrots don't all support it. In fact I'd say that it's really only about 60-40 in support. But we put it to a vote, the "acks" had it, so we're going to endorse it.

BrooklynParrots.com: I still don't understand why you parrots support the ban. I thought you guys were generally friendly with the pigeons.

Quake: We generally are. In fact we wouldn't even have gotten involved in the issue, but the pigeons asked us to support it. So the whole thing came from them.

BrooklynParrots.com: The pigeons support the ban? That makes absolutely no sense.

Quake: If you could jump out of your fat stupid human head for a few minutes you'd see that the pigeons have nothing to lose from this ban, and everything to gain.

BrooklynParrots.com: You don't have to insult me.

Quake. I apologize. I forgot how thin-skinned you people are. Maybe that's because I haven't bitten any of you in a while.

BrooklynParrots.com: Could we get back to the pigeon ban? Why do the pigeons think it's in their best interest?

Quake: Look, none of us birds sees this thing as a law that's really aimed at pigeons. It's actually aimed at the hawks. In fact, it's basically a raptor reduction policy that's being sold to the public as a pigeon feeding ban. So it's brilliant.

BrooklynParrots.com: I'm totally lost now.

Quake: Think about it. If any politician in New York came right out and said they wanted to cut the number of Red-Tail Hawks in New York in half, you'd have all the Pale Male people burning them in effigy. Even the Audubon Society would be tearing your head off. But if you instead go after the hawk's food supply, which is mostly pigeons, you've got everybody praising you as a visionary.

BrooklynParrots.com: So you let me get this straight. If you ban feeding pigeons, you'll reduce the number of pigeons, which will reduce the number of hawks, which will help you parrots, because the hawks are your main enemies.

Quake: You know, for a human, you're pretty sharp.

BrooklynParrots.com: That still doesn't explain why the pigeons are in favor of reducing their own population.

Quake: Short term it doesn't make sense. Long term it does. New York pigeons are a lot smarter than you think. They think at least eight generations ahead. You humans should think as long-term as they do. But now I'm coming close to insulting you again.

BrooklynParrots.com: I'm still confused.

Quake: Why does that not surprise me?

BrooklynParrots.com: I mean, with zero pigeons on the scene aren't the hawks going to come after you more frequently?

Quake: No question.

BrooklynParrots.com: You're not worried?

Quake: We have full confidence in the Sentinel Alert System to protect us.

BrooklynParrots.com: How do the squirrels feel about this? Aren't the hawks going to go after them once the pigeons are gone?

Quake: The squirrels are definitely going to take a hit from this one. They're going to have to lie low for a couple of years, until the hawks leave the area. We feel bad for them but there's not a lot we can do. Besides, they're mammals: looking after them is your department, not ours.

BrooklynParrots.com: How about the hawks? What do they think?

Quake: We don't know and we don't care. We just want them out of here. Brooklyn is crawling with hawks. It's time for a change, and the pigeon-feeding ban is the first step in what we hope will be a major raptor reduction in the city.

BrooklynParrots.com: Well, thanks for your time today. You certainly have a unique perspective on this issue.

Quake: "Starve a Pigeon, Starve a Hawk:" that's the flock's new slogan. We're getting that crazy parrot guy in Brooklyn to make bumper stickers. They should sell in the millions.

BrooklynParrots.com: Thanks, again, Quake.

Quake: No problem.

Video: The Fabulous Monk Parakeets of Brussels!

A YouTube videographer named Gersendeconure uploaded a short video showing a crowd of Monk Parkeets carousing in the middle of Brussels, Belgium. These little guys are just as loud and pugnacious as their brethren in Brooklyn. Apparently, monks have lived and thrived in Belgium since the late 1970's. There's more good information on the Brussels Monks at a site maintained by Danish Monk fan Per Holm Knudsen.

Wild Quaker Parrot Video: Hawk Attack in Brooklyn!

My latest video depicts a very tense incident in which a Red-Tailed Hawk attacked a group of wild Quaker Parrots while they were feeding in Brooklyn's Sunset Park.

The hawk attacked silently and swiftly but I'm glad to say that all of the parrots got away, thanks to their famed Sentinel Alert System.

For more on the wild Quaker Parrots' continual battle against urban predators, see:

Photo-Essay: Hawk Attack in Brooklyn(August 18, 2006) and
Photo-Essay: Marauding Falcon Nearly Ruins Brooklyn Parrots' Labor Day Celebration (Sept 4, 2007). You can watch more Wild Quaker Parrot Videos by going to our video page.

News Notes: Pigeons to Blame for Minneapolis Bridge Collapse?

A report at ABCNews.com cites the possibility that pigeon dung (AKA "guano") may have been an important factor in the recent collapse of the I35W bridge in Minneapolis.

Why bring this up here? Well, because uninformed people may use this finding as another "fear factor" in denouncing Quaker Parrots who nest in steel infrastructure. In fact, however, Quaker Parakeet "dung" is chemically different from pigeon dung and does not share its corrosive properties. Just ask the folks who run Green-Wood Cemetery. After the Quaker Parrots replaced the pigeons nesting in the cemetery's main gates, corrosion to this historic brownstone structure was halted.

Louisiana Quaker Parrots Survived Hurricane Katrina!

I came across an interesting thread at a Web site called Dave's Garden. Apparently, the wild Quaker Parrots that have lived in New Orleans for years not only survived Hurricane Katrina, but have actually thrived in the ensuing months. According to a resident known as TessC, "they've multiplied like crazy" after the storm.

These are tough little birds!

Breaking News: Brooklyn's Wild Parrots Directly Related to Dinosaurs

Folks who keep Quaker Parrots as pets often refer to them as LGD's (Little Green Dragons). Now scientists who dug up and analyzed a bunch of old tyrannosaurus rex bones have reached a startling conclusion: the material in these old dinosaur bones is very similar to those found in modern birds. So it turns out that our favorite avian invaders have a proud lineage!

New Wild Parrot Web Videos Coming Soon!

Just a quick note: I'm almost finished editing two new Wild Quaker Parrot videos. The first will focus on the wild parrots of the Bronx, the second will focus on some truly wild action we've seen recently at a bird feeder in South Brooklyn. When these are ready, I'll upload them to Youtube for all to enjoy. I'm also working on a video on the Bay Ridge parrots: the ETA for completion of this is April 15.

I'm really enjoying doing digital video now, although producing these mini-opuses takes a lot of time! But I think you'll find they are worth waiting for.

Video Clip: Wild Quaker Parrots in the Snow!

During the past week, New York was blitzed by a ferocious winter snowstorm, followed by several days of beak-chilling wind gusts that brought windchills down to sub-zero zones.

Before the wild parrots of Brooklyn entered my life, I would never have dared spend more than a few minutes exposed to this arctic cold. But today such weather fills me with an irresistable urge to go out and check up on my wild green pals. How are they faring in this brutal weather? How does winter modify their behavior? Do they become desperate when snow and ice covers their ordinary foraging grounds? Do they give up nest-building to simply hunker down in their high-rise "happy huts?"

This past weekend, dressed in six layers of clothing and armed with eight pounds of bird seed and a video camera, I sought to capture the wintertime antics of these hardy avian invaders, and have completed the first of two short video segments.

I hope you enjoy the strange sight of these remarkable urban parrots as they clamber over frosty snowdrifts to get a tasty, human-supplied meal - I froze my tail off shooting this clip!



This clip, like just about every clip we upload, will be making its way into the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots documentary film.

Video Clip: Quaker Parrots Frolic in Freezing Cold!

Here's another video clip for Valentine's Day. It shows the amorous antics of two wild Quaker Parrots perching on a rusty fire escape in 15 degree February weather.

The clip opens with a female parrot perching alone: she is soon joined by her returning mate. After reintroducing himself, they do some serious beak-to-beak communcation. Later, the pair's juvenile arrives, and Mom and Dad "cool it" in deference to the youngster's adolescent sensibilities.

This clip, like just about every clip we upload, will be making its way into the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots documentary film.

New York Times "Talking Parrot" Videos

Last summer, the New York Times sent a video crew to Brooklyn to interview Dr. Joseph Forshaw, who had made a stopover on his U.S. trip to see the wild parrots of Brooklyn. Although the Times has removed the original article from public view, the videos themselves are freely viewable; if you missed them, you can watch them here:

Talking Parrots: Part 1
Talking Parrots: Part 2
Talking Parrots: Part 3

Love Under an AC Unit

To commemorate Valentine's Day, here's a video clip of a pair of wild Quaker Parrots in Brooklyn who've set up a cozy home under an air conditioner. This affectionate pair does a bit of preening, and a fair share of snuggling, which happens a lot during the winter, because it's a great way to keep warm! This clip, like just about every clip we upload, will be making its way into the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots documentary film.

Video Clip: Quaker Parrot Repels Starling

I've been watching wild Quaker Parrots living in the NYC area for two years now and have never seen them behave aggressively toward any other bird who was not an actual predator. But starlings, of which there must be thousands in Brooklyn, do sometimes "bug" the parrots enough to get a firm rebuke from a firm beak. In this 20 second clip, a Quaker Parrot drives off a starling who tries to crowd the parrot's position on a fire escape. This clip, like just about every clip we upload, will be making its way into the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots documentary film.

Video Clip: Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz Discusses the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn

I was very glad to hear from Marty Markowitz' office yesterday. It turns out that Marty mentioned the wild parrots of Brooklyn in his State of the Borough speech yesterday!

We shot some footage of Marty a few months back for the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots movie, and wanted to share a few clips of Marty talking about the "Brooklyn Boids." The office of the Borough President has been very helpful trying to track down the creeps who have been poaching our beloved birds in certain sections of Brooklyn. I can't say much about this investigation but we have several leads. This clip, like just about every clip we upload, will be making its way into the forthcoming Brooklyn Parrots documentary film.