I've lived in Austin long enough to know how uniquely 'weird' it is. There are so many quirky, odd aspects of this city that truly make it one-of-a-kind. For the past few years, I've heard this tale of 'wild tropical parrots' that dwell in the downtown area and are often spotted by delightfully surprised onlookers. Being an amateur birder myself and having never seen one of these wild 'parrots' I thought perhaps I had fallen prey to another urban legend. Several friends of mine swore that, no!, they did indeed exist and can be spotted with a sharp eye all over town. I had pretty much given up on finding this exotic feathered creature. Until Monday.
I have a morning ritual that includes feeding the chickens and dogs, watering the garden, and filling up the various bird feeders I keep. Usually when I go out to fill up the bird feeders all my feathered friends fly away in a panic thinking me some giant raptor that is going to attack them. I have about ten different species of avians that frequent my feeders on a regular basis and every so often will find a new, unusual one out there grabbing a snack. So, much to my surprise as I'm pouring birdseed into my tube feeder I look up and gasp. Not even four feet away away from me is an electric, neon green and yellow parakeet!! The kind one sees in a cage as someones beloved pet. What!?? At first I immediately assume it has escaped the confines of a tiny cage and found its' way to my bird sanctuary. Then I recalled the famous 'parrots of Austin' and quickly went inside to consult with my bird books and the ever faithful Internet for a positive ID. After a few minutes of searching, there was no doubt that what I had perched in my cedar tree was indeed a Monk Parakeet. There are, I learn, about 700 of these birds living in and around the downtown area of Austin.
A native of South America, the monk parakeet started appearing in North America in the late sixties. One story I read says that they were imported as pets and a crate of them was dropped and busted open at the Kennedy Airport in New York releasing dozens into the wild. These 'escapees' quickly established a wild population on Long Island. They have been reported in several different states but Florida and Texas are home to the largest populations in North America, with Austin boasting the largest breeding population in the state.
The Austin birds may have come from an intentional release in the late 80's or early 90's. The 'legend' claims a woman named Janet Giles released 19 monk parakeets when they simply became too much for her to take care of, near Zilker Park. And from there the birds began establishing themselves all over the downtown area. According to the Travis Audubon Society, there are about 720 parakeets that live in the Austin area. I've heard about giant nests that they construct. Apparently they build very large, dome-shaped twig nests and are often occupied year round. They nest communally, yet construct separate entrances and chambers for each pair. How cute! A nest 'condo' may house up to 20 pairs of birds, sometimes more.
Many folks keep these birds as pets as they can be very animated, social and apparently good 'talkers'. An ornithologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife states that monk parakeets are on the top ten common caged birds people keep. And under optimal conditions a monk parakeet has a lifespan of 25-30 years. Not as long as a larger parrots(up to 75!) but certainly longer than the family Fido. I read, as well, that in captivity they bond closely with one person and are known for their loyal nature. Which reminds me of my Grandfather's pet parrot Stoop, who was not particularly nice to anyone. Except my Grandfather.
The monk parakeet gets its name, because compared with other parakeets, they are rather 'un-flashy'. Well, you could have fooled me. Because this bird certainly stands out among all the other birds at the feeder including the male Painted Bunting which looks as if he rolled in a rainbow. The Monk Parakeet is most certainly eye catching.
It's quite unusual that this bird has opted to stop by my feeder and bird bath. But even more curious is that he's been here for 5 days! I mean to say, he has not left the cedar tree that the feeders are hanging on. Every single time I look out the window or walk by he's still there just perched. He must be amused by all the avian activity that goes on out here. (And that fact that he has an endless supply of water and seed) Perhaps he just wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and decided to take some vacation in the Hill Country at Rockmoor Bird Sanctuary. Where the feeders always full and the bird bath never runs dry.
I'll keep everyone posted on our little green friend and report if I find any macaws or pelicans in the near future.
Sally Anne
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