Popular parrots becoming problematic for N. Texas town

EVERMAN - A growing colony of South American parrots has drawn curious bird watchers to the little town of Everman. But, now the lime green parrots' nests have started to become a pricey problem for the small city located south of Fort Worth.

The parrots don't talk, but they've clearly charmed their earthbound neighbors.

"They're pretty birds and we're proud to have them," said Chief Rander Sanders, with the Everman Police Department.

Called Quaker Parrots, they were imported as pets from South America decades ago. Legend has it an Everman couple turned their parrot loose during a quarrel, but no one really knows the true back story.

Sanders said he remembers seeing the first pair in 1992. The nest grew like nothing anyone had ever seen, he said. Then, more nests started to appear.

"You drive around and see them all over the place," he said.

The nests are parrot condos, and some are the size of refrigerators. Hanging off power poles and wrapped around transformers, the nests have started to become a city problem.

"We had instances where a transformer blew right here in front of the police building and put us out of power", Sanders said. "With the one we had two weeks ago, we've had seven of them this year that exploded. When they explode, it's like a cannon going off".

Utility officials say the nests cause transformers to heat up and spark. But, it hasn't been enough to rattle the interest of residents like Joey Davis and his puppy Gizmo. Davis said he likes getting squawked at while on their daily walks.

"They're really fun to watch", he said. I get my binoculars out and stand there at the doorway and watch them all the time.

One of the biggest nests is just a few feet from the rear area of Everman's police station.?The chief said patrol cars often get washed once a day.

Wild parrot colonies are growing in New York, New Jersey and Illinois. North Texas has several. When they threaten power lines, Oncor gets bird rescuers to remove the nests, but save the birds and eggs.

Officials in some states worry the parrots will become agricultural pests as they hunt for buds and berries to eat.

But, for now, they're Everman's biggest and only tourist attraction, drawing bird watchers green with envy.