How to See Wild Parrots in the US of A

Amazin'! You might see a feral Amazon in the Sunbelt. This one, however, lives at Parrot Safari in New Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Wild parrots cavorting among the treetops: it's a sight you could spend thousands of dollars on and travel thousands of miles to see. OR you might just find wild parrots living in your own backyard...

Things You'll Need

• binoculars
• camera

Instructions

1. 

   AVIAN HISTORY LESSON: Sherman, set the wayback machine to 1900. We tend to think of parrots as tropical birds, but the United States once had its own indigenous parrot - the Carolina parakeet - and it was as common as pigeons. Some farmers thought of them as pests and the brightly colored feathers were in high demand for ladies' hats, so the birds were heavily hunted. It's thought that a disease originating with poultry led to the parakeets' extinction in the early 1900's - although as with ivory billed woodpeckers, there are occasional unconfirmed sightings.
   The Mexican thickbilled Amazon once ranged into Arizona. Recent efforts to reintroduce the bird to that region have been unsuccessful.
   But I digress. Wild parrots live among us HERE and NOW - and in some very unexpected places.

2. 

   Flocks of feral parrots flourish in Florida and other lush, semi-tropical settings. In fact, much of the Sunbelt is potential habitat for these exotic feathered immigrants.
   Unlike their wild ancestors, ferals seem quite comfortable in close quarters with humans in suburban and urban locations. I've seen wild
   Amazon parrots while waiting in line for Universal Studios Theme Park in Los Angeles.
   Standard urban legend has it that most of these parrot populations were established when a crate destined for the airport broke open - and the parrots within escaped. Since that seems like an awful lot of crates in an awful lot of airports, the more likely explanation is that they are released former pets, escapees or descendants of one of the two.

3. 

   That's fine for Sunbelt natives, but how about snowbirds, you ask. This Noo Yawk born currently Bah-ston-based correspondent can testify that exotics thrive north of the Mason-Dixon line as well.
   MOST parrot species are tropical in origin and would be hard pressed to survive a cold, snowy winter.
   However, the Quaker, or Monk parrot of South America ranges into the Andes Mountains, where temperatures can be a tad cooler. It is also the only parrot species that builds enclosed nests, usually communal, so several birds can huddle together. Due to this unique adaptation, populations of feral monk parrots have established a clawed toe hold in such far-from-tropical locations as Chicago, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and even New York City.
   The Brooklyn borough of NYC is one of the best viewing areas.
   The monks do have an unfortunate proclivity for building their nests on light poles, which occasionally leads to conflict. When the Throg's Neck Little League in NYC's Bronx borough decided to replace its aging light poles, several monk nests had to be displaced. Marc Johnson, founder of New England-based Foster Parrots, was part of a team that went in to rescue several of the displaced parrots.

Tips & Warnings

• "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill", now on DVD, is a fascinating documentary featuring a large flock of cherry headed conures (and a few oddball parrot species) have taken up residence in San Francisco.

• The Flatbush Ave. and Brooklyn College area of New York City is one of the best places to view feral monk parrots.

• Ride or stroll along the bike path on Florida's Siesta Key and you'll see (and hear!) many monk, or Quaker, parrots.

• More info can be had at www.edgewaterparrots.com, www.brooklynparrots.com and www.fosterparrots.com

• Releasing a no longer wanted pet parrot into the wild will almost inevitably result in a sad ending for the bird. Other than a few lucky individuals, a tame bird has little defense against predators and cold winters; and will have a tough time finding food.

• If you're considering a parrot as a pet, think long and hard about it; and get as much info as you can get your hands on. Frankly, for most people, the noise, mess and demand for attention quickly overcome the novelty factor.

• While it's fun and a novelty to view them, parrots are exotic invasive species that can potentially wreak havoc on the environment, including outcompeting native birds for resources. The cactus wren of the American Southwest, for example, is having a tough time holding its own against introduced lovebirds. Hawaii considered exterminating ferals as they often outcompete endangered native species. On the other hand, an argument can be made that monk parrots are filling a void left by the extinction of Carolina parakeets; as they occupy much of the same hostoric range and are similar in diets and habit.