Hi
Did anybody count a Ringneck Parakeet as they are moving north
Yes, we had 2 today. We live in South London. Last year we saw a flcok of 30 or 40 and have done on anf off over the last 10 years we'ved lived here.
What a wonderful looking bird...do you think you could pursuade them to move over to Southampton??
Interesting comments and a difficult subject. A non native species that could easily outcompete our native hole nesting birds. The impact of non native species can be a major problem. There are few birdwatchers that would want them to move to their area even though I agree they are very nice to look at.
The Cotswold Water park sightings website
My Flicker page
The reason I enquire with this topic is that I saw one here in Cambridgeshire 3 yrs ago and never before or since. I know they are comon in and aroud london some 60 miles south of here. I would like to see these birds as a colourful addition to our countryside and generally from what I understand (I'm no expert) that there will be no food competion as they prefer fruits not withstanding that some of the local farmer are of the mind to destroy them as they are grape growers for the ever increasing vineyard trade in the UK and worryingly I think they are within their rights to do so as they are a foreign visitor. the question is that if they have as some people can testify been in the UK for 10 t25 yrs are they now considered native but localised.
Terry
Funny that you should put this on today. My nephew lives in Wakefield and has been visited by two today.
They're on the British list as a breeding species these days but (along with Monk Parakeets) have been put on the general licence (permitting control by authorised persons) because they're regarded as potential threat to flora and fauna (including other bird species) see http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/wml-gl06_tcm6-24151.pdf
JBNTS
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
I've heard from several peeps at work that Green Parakeets have been sighted in Witch Wood in Lytham Lancashire - hopefully they,ll make their way to Blackpool. Imagine seeing one of these after a night out on the razz.
They have been thriving down south for some years now, i believe in certain areas flocks are in their hundreds. I had not realized they had moved further North. I have never seen any North of Watford and only seen my 1st two ever last weekend, not that i had been looking out for them before
Thanks for the link John B (not the sloop) You have to be of a certain age to get that one!!
Well I believe that the appearance of them up North is more likely to be colonisation of local escapees and not a migration from the south as I believe they have thrived in cities and towns where the pickings are easy and have not easily fanned out across the country. But if unchecked in town will be forced out or will somehow make it to other locations including Southampton for Maria.
I think they will be a colourful addition to our ever evolving countryside but care must be taken Remember the Cane Toad and the Rabbits in Australia
PS have a great BGBW day for those that havent done so yet I am to Titchwell RSPB site on the north Norfolk coast for the day.