Parrots Spotted in Merrick

Today Chris observed the following:

“On 5/28/2013 at approximately 10:00 AM I witnessed a group of 6-8 mature size Quaker parrots flying from West to East on Merrick Road, in Merrick, NY (11566).
They appeared to be agitated, as they made quite a bit of noise. They stopped for roughly two minutes and then began to head East again with great speed.
I am amazed at the tenacity of these birds, as I witnessed them as a young child and then again in my twenties.
I view them as an omen. Not as good or bad, but as an indicator of belief.
You may rub your eyes, you may doubt your ears, but those are real birds.
Thousands of miles from their ancestral home, doing what birds do.”

They likely weren’t agitated Chris; noisy is their natural state and you’ll generally always be able to hear them before you see them. ;^}

Mick’s Picture from Riverbank State Park (Riverside Drive)

Great shot, thanks!

Reports from Ft Lee and Upper Manhattan

Yesterday Mayra reported:

“Hi -

Just wanted you to know that about two months ago I saw my first parrot  just south of Fort Lee.  I have seen several since then on the same stretch of road. Last week, on two occasions, I saw a beautiful smallish parrot on Riverside Drive in Manhattan, around 96th Street.  Oh, joyous!”

It is quite thrilling when you notice them for the first time, isn’t it? Then, once that happens, like many other things you all of a sudden see them everywhere! It’s almost always likely that with these guys, you’ll hear them way before you see them – then just look up!

PS: I do wonder if the Riverside Dr. bird might be an escapee?…

Chester: Parrots will NOT be banned in CT town (and neither will chickens)

On January 19, George Sommers’ From the Parrot’s Beak reported:

Chester CT. parrots (and chickens) can stay: UPDATE: Last week’s column reported on a Chester CT man’s petition to ban “noisy fowl”, aimed at chickens but including parrots from the town.From Sally Murray, Town Secretary: “The scheduled public hearing of the Chester Planning & Zoning Commission for Monday, February 4, 2013, at Valley Regional High School in Deep River to hear the Petition submitted by John S. and Bonnie B. Bennet to amend the Town of Chester Zoning Regulations Section: Definitions, ‘Livestock’ and Section 40R, Animals, has been CANCELED due to the fact the petitioners have withdrawn their petition.” Thanks to Dr. Amy Hopkins of Connecticut’s The Parrot Club.

Wild Parrots, Hurricane Sandy and Winter

Since many of you have inquired, on December 29th, the New York Post wrote the following:

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s . . . hey, it is a bird, a parrot no less — in January! The Quaker parrots or monk parakeets, as they’re known, haven’t just lived in New York for decades, they survived Hurricane Sandy and are now ready to outlast a sub-zero winter. Read more…

Take Part in the World Parrot Count 2013

Courtesy of CityParrots.org:

Who is planning a “world parrot count” and why?

The “extra-tropical“ department of the parrot researchers group of the International Ornithological Union (IOU) with Roelant Jonker (City Parrots & CML Leiden University) and Michael Braun (Heidelberg University) organize the global parrot count. The main focus of the study are neozoon parrots, meaning parrots which have been introduced by man to locations they are not native to. Read more…

Merry Christmas from the Wild Parrots of New York

These pictures were taken a few years ago but I re-posted them for everyone to keep in mind the best present to give the parrots during this time of year is to keep those feeders full! Happy Holidays from WildParrotsofNY.com.

And just for laughs, be sure to check out the From the Parrot’s Beak Christmas Edition courtesy of George Sommers.

Nests in Babylon

On July 4th, Donna reported:

“Hello, After getting out of my car early  one morning and hearing an “unusual” bird sound, I realized it was Parrots I was hearing,  I went back and was able to snap these photos. You  can post them if you choose to.   I spotted two but there may have been young birds also. I really didn’t want to draw a lot of attention to  the birds for fear that harm may come to them.”

Thanks Donna! And you are right, many nests in Amityville and other places have simply “disappeared”. Assuming the birds were not taken (which may or may not be the case) and are adults, they can rebuild and very quickly too. But it’s not good when either fledgelings or babies are in the nests, which is almost a guarantee during this time of the year. 

Sighting in Far Rockaway

“Today I saw 3 parrots in my backyard, the tails were blue and body was green. I have a bird feeder so it does draw a lot of birds, but this was the FIRST time for a parrot!! I tried to get a picture but I’m just too slow. My husband also saw them, one flew right over his head! I hope they come back, I’m keeping my camera by my window.”

Another State Comes in with a Sighting

Today, Carol from New Jersey reported:

“Hi!
My family and I are lovers of the Quaker parrots. I’m from Leonia, New Jersey and there are a few nests outside Overpeck Park, and on other streets which are close to my home.

I have a suet feeder which the birds flock to. We’ve had 12 or more parrots at a time chowing down suet. Since I’m retired, I have the time to stock the suet feeder with blocks of suet…. this is one of my favorite hobbies…. to keep the Quakers fed.

We’ve noticed that the birds come to the backyard around November and leave pretty much in the spring/summer months. Much to our surprise they reappear at the
feeder around October/November when the weather begins to have a chill in the air. The suet feeder is really not very large, but I shove a good amount of suet in it daily… they don’t seem to mind waiting for a turn to get closer to the suet!

The Quaker….. yes….quite amazing to watch….. and we do have a great “birds eye view” of the Quaker.
I loved reading your great info about the Quaker….. .Hopefully, our Quaker friends are here to stay.
Have a great day.”

Thank you Carol for the wonderful update. It’s really not surprising at all that the parrots appear when they do. It is during the autumn and winter months that our friends are almost totally reliant on back yard feeders. Sounds like they are in great hands at your place!