Monk Parakeet in the Netherlands
A couple of years ago I was with my family near the shore of Echo Bay when I spotted a green, white and yellow bird in a tree. I am no bird-watcher but I know enough to know a parrot when I see one. Figuring that the bird must have escaped and there was some distraught owner looking for their bird, I had the brilliant idea of trying to catch it, put it in a box and deliver it to its owner. While my family tried to lure the bird closer, I called the SPCA of Westchester County to report the bird and see if anyone had put in a claim. The bird actually did come closer, landing on a nearby railing. In a moment of stupidity I used my lightening fast reflexes to grab the bird. As visions of my heroic welcome from the relieved owner danced in my head, the bird began squawking loudly, viscously biting at my hands, breaking the skin, and causing me a good deal of, in hindsight, well-deserved pain. The bird flew away never to be seen by me or my traumatized children. Lesson learned!
Over the weekend, I was visiting friends at their house in Davenport Neck where I was shown a photograph of a monk parrot sitting in a pine tree in the backyard of the very same house. I was amazed. I immediately recalled my brush with death at the hands of a similar looking parrot and realized that the "pet" parrot at Echo Bay must have been one of these wild parrots.
I am not sure how I never heard this story having lived in New Rochelle all these years but there are, according to my hosts, apparently dozens of parrots living in the area around Davenport Neck and have been for years. Monk Parrots are native to Latin America.
Monk Parakeets Edgewater NJ. Photo: Ira MachefskyThe story is that many years ago the birds escaped from a shipment entering the United States at JFK Airport from Argentina. The birds lived in the area around JFK for many years but eventually established satellite colonies throughout the area. There is a web site devoted to New York Parrots which includes a mention of 40 parrots flying around Davenport Neck. Wild Parrot NY explains what they called The Great Escape:
…a large shipment of birds destined for sale at New York area pet shops was accidentally released at Kennedy Airport around 1967 or 1968. Although the parrots were not officially spotted until the early 1970's, it is believed the parrots survived in the parklands surrounding the airport, and over time made their way to Brooklyn and surrounding areas where we find them today…after the escaped birds established themselves, they slowly began expanding their domain.
Each year the New Rochelle parrots migrate south to Florida for the winter, so I am told. Their return each year is treated by local residents in the Davenport Neck area as a joyous event.
I really don't know much more about these parrots. It is such an odd thing to me that tropical birds would be setting up house in New Rochelle, NY. Apparently, they like to eat pine cones. Is this true? I am hoping readers can fill in the blanks on this story but one thing I can tell you is they are not pets and they are not "lost".