here is an aggressive parrot that eats just about everything green it can get its beak on and is threatening the survival of local bird species. apparently, the first specimens were released by their owners in the 70´s after they grew tired of the birds´ raucous chirping. since then, their population has grown to well over 2,000.
there are even more in the catalonian countryside. farmers say last year quaker parrots ate over 50,000 tomatoes! experts from barcelona's museum of natural sciences are now trying to control the bird but their breeding season has just begun and continues until november. yet another example of invasive species with no natural predator in sight.
2 comments:
Wo....hold your horses. These parrots are highly social and intelligent animals! They are in no way a threat to local wildlife. In fact if you were to observe there nests you will find that other species of birds and critters will take advantage of the quaker building skills and bunk up with them....and the parrots never seem to mind! We have them all over the US. Mostly they can be found in urban areas and they don't destroy crops. That's too dramatic a statement and I would like to see proof. Please don't take measure to kill these birds!! Measures can be taken to ensure a balance without killing them. Please do more research. A great website is www.edgewaterparrots.com.
thanks - debs (deborah alperin)
hey deborah! helene here, author of this blog. glad to see folks other than my friends are getting in on the act. my statements about the parrots are based on articles i read by the bbc and a local barcie news agency (http://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/Article.aspx?TabID=2&MenuID=8&ArticleID=120). always happy to hear a different point of view though, so thank you for your contribution! hk
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