Wild Parrot Legislation for NY: Update

From Barry Schwartz, Geologist at the NYC Bureau of Environmental & Geotechnical Services:

“According to the office of NYC Councilman Tony Avella, the Resolution regarding protecting Quaker parrots in NYC is due to be introduced at the next council meeting on March 24, 2009. I have draft copy of the finalized resolution–the officially introduced resolution, barring any problems, will be made publicly available on the NYC Council’s website some time after March 25th. After introduction, it will more than likely be sent to Committee (probably Environmental) for further consideration.

At that point, there will probably be a period allotted for public hearing/comments, and we will need all the support possible to get this resolution then passed.

I’ve been sheparding this with Council member Avella since last year, and it is really great to see this idea turn into a proposed legislation. I am still waiting to hear back from NY State Sen. Addabbo’s office on the more detailed proposed legislation for the State Legislature to consider (changing the designation of Quakers from unprotected to protected, and changing the NYS General Business Laws and the Agriculture & Markets Laws regarding the sale of birds in NY State).”

Red Headed Parrots?

Trey from Rockville Centre reports:

On 2/28/09
This morning I witnessed a flock of wild parrots in a tree in my backyard. These did not appear to be the same species as you described on your web page. The flock of 25 to 35 birds seemed to be quite a bit larger, with red heads. I live in Rockville Centre, the parrots hung out for about 1/2 hour and kept returning to the same tree. I once witnessed a flock in Brooklyn just north of Coney Island. These were a pleasant surprise.

After some back and forth with Trey and local parrot experts, it was determined these could be Cherry Heads, as featured in the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. Have you seen these birds? Here’s Trey’s best guess as to what they look like:

By the way, for those of you who haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend it…

And yet another expert chimes in to add to the Red Headed mystery:

Every year, early Spring, a flock of wild Conures (Cherry-headed and/or Mitred) are seen near St. John’s University (Jamaica Estates area). In fact, at the same house, coming to munch on their Cherry trees’ blossoms I believe. I think Steve Baldwin has this information on his web site.

They stay for a few days, then are noted as heading off east, out towards Nassau County. It has been a mystery, no one has been able to track them. Where do they winter, we wonder?

Steve Baldwin from Brooklyn Parrots has added the following information on March 4th, 2009:

Hi Judy and Trey,

I know a bit about this flock, but they’re elusive: I’ve never actually spotted them. They’re sort of the “flying dutchmen” of wild parrot flocks in NY.

This is just a hypothesis, but I think this flock lives in Forest Park in Queens. This statement is based on all the sitings I’ve recorded of them. I definitely plan on making an expedition out there as soon as I can.

best,
steve baldwin
brooklynparrots.com

Parrots in the Snow

We had a whopper of a storm today – a foot of snow or more. The green in the parrots feathers is almost electric against the white background.

It’s also seems so strange to be seeing a tropical bird in such a cold setting!