Parakeets eating young shoots on trees

The annoying parakeets are back, feeding on young shoots in the morning and evening. They are a bird I detest simply because they are so noisy, constantly chatting very loudly. I am thankful they don't live near me. I really notice them in places such as Cator Park, where they are constantly flying around and chatting loudly.

In June 2020 there was an abundance of the parakeets in trees very close to me. I saw them in the spruce tree, eating the young shoots. I blogged about this in 2016, "Parakeet eating young conifer shoots". They would arrive in the morning, hang around for part of the day, and then be very vocal again in the evening, before flying off. They seem to have arrived earlier this year, probably around 10 June.

They are ring necked parakeets.

Thankfully by 22 June only one or two were around. Presumably whatever food source had attracted them earlier had now dried up.

In 2020 they were about 2 weeks earlier than they were in previous years.

___

UPDATE

The parakeets returned around Aug 7, arriving in the morning and evening for short periods. Thankfully they had virtually gone by the 19th. I'm always scared that they will move in permanently! 

___

ANOTHER UPDATE

The parakeets were around end of Sept for brief periods in morning and evening, but in small numbers.

__

Ring necked parakeets need trees for roosting. Their feet are not made for perching on ledges like pigeons. They breed in tree hollows.

----

2023

In June the parakeets were back, eating the young leaves etc on the trees close to me. Unfortunately they didn't go away after a few weeks as they have done in the past. Quite a few stayed. Every morning and evening they sat in the trees and chattered, then would all fly off noisily in the evenings. I didn't really hear them during the day. I'm hoping they will go once the leaves have fallen.

Parakeets mating in London

The ring-necked, or rose-ringed, parakeet is the UK's most abundant naturalised parrot and is commonly seen in parks and gardens in London. They are very vocal and create quite a noise. They originate in arid tropical countries but have adapted to the cold in the UK.

Saw these 2 parakeets mating in London in January 2017. I was in Sydenham Hill Wood, where the parakeets are known to roost. I was with a large group of people on a walk led by the London Wildlife Trust, yet the parakeets were oblivious to our presence.

And a short video -

I have posted other blogs on the London parakeets, see 'parrot' label in the right column.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Parakeet eating young conifer shoots

In late June 2015, a group of noisy parakeets appeared in trees in my area in London every evening for about 2 weeks. They chattered noisily for some time before all flying off in loud noisy groups of up to 40 birds. This process seems to be repeating this June 2016.

On 24 June 2016 I filmed this bird in the tree opposite my window, eating a late supper of young shoots from a conifer tree.

My earlier blog on the parakeets, the photos were taken in Dec 2014.

Parakeets in London

Green coloured parrots / parakeets are commonly seen in parts of London now. They are not native to the UK, they are an Afro-Asian species. They have only resided in London in significant numbers since the 1990s and are thriving.

The ring-necked, or rose-ringed, parakeet is the UK's most abundant naturalised parrot - it became established in the wild in the 1970s after captive birds escaped or were released. They are easily identified by their bright green colouration and the male of the species has a distinctive red ring around the neck.

They obviously survive the cold winter temperatures and maybe competing with the smaller native birds for food.

See more on RSPB site.

***

UPDATE 2019

In Dec 2019 the media was full of these style headlines "parakeet crime map debunks myths". These are various myths about how the parakeets arrived in the UK as its never been known for sure.
See one of the many articles on BBC page.

Parrot rehabilitation centre, Seram, Maluku

The Kembali Bebas Avian Centre is for rescue, rehabilitation and a sanctuary for parrots. It is in north Seram, Maluku, Indonesia. Seram is the largest island in Maluku province, which is part of Maluku (The Moluccas).

The birds are cared for by Yayasan Wallacea (Wallacea Foundation) and Project Bird Watch. These come under the Indonesian Parrot Project. This centre rescues parrots (and some other birds) from hunters and the middle men, as well as pet birds.

Visitors have to wear masks

 cockatoo -

Hornbill

 Cassowary

I saw :
Lories – Rainbow, Moluccan, Purple Nape, Red, Chattering.
Cockatoos – Seram, white (Alba), Yellow Crested (Sumba).
Blyth Hornbill from Irian Jaya
Electus parrot
Cassowary
And 2 kangaroo from Aru.

The centre also has 4 tree platforms, from 22m to 45m. The 22m high one is inside the parrot centre. The visitor can easily reach the platform by wearing a harness and being pulled up on a rope and pulley system.

We had afternoon tea up on the platform -

For more information on the centre, see this article I wrote, parrot rescue centre-wildasia.

For other photos from Seram, see Maluku Seram and Sawai and Akohi Cave.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission