BrooklynParrots.com: A Web Site About the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn

Next Brooklyn Wild Parrot Safari: Saturday, July 12, 2008

2008-07-01T01:27:00.000-04:00

Photo: Wild Quaker Parrots in Flight Over Midwood, Brooklyn
How did they get here? It's a long story!

Attention all Urban Parrot fans: the next Wild Brooklyn Parrot Safari will happen on Saturday, July 12, 2008, at 12 Noon. All interested wild parrot fans should meet at Brooklyn College's Hillel Gate, which is at the intersection of Hillel Place and Campus Road. Our tour runs in two sections. You can attend either section, or both, depending on how many wild parrots you'd like to see!

Please e-mail me if you want to attend, so I know how many folks are coming. Note: the rain date for this trip is Sunday, July 13th, same monk time, same monk location.

Wild Parrot Safari -- First Section (Brooklyn College): 12:00 Noon to 1:45PM
At noon, we'll inspect the Brooklyn Parrots' "Ellis Island." Their large nests around the soccer field represents the first major colony in Brooklyn. The site is easy to get to via public transportation. Just take the Number 2 train (Seventh Avenue IRT) to the end of the line, walk one block Southwest on Hillel Street past the new Starbucks, and look for the main Brooklyn College date. The tour begins at the entrance at Noon sharp. Allow some extra time, given that the MTA is doing lots of construction/train re-routing on weekends. Driving instructions are available at Brooklyn College's main Web site. Parking is fairly easy to come by in the neighborhood. If you're late, just call me: I'll give you directions so that you can meet up with us if the tour is already in progress.

Wild Parrot Safari -- Second Section (Green-Wood Cemetery): 2:30PM-5PM.
Due to popular demand, our monthly tour will run an optional "second section." After getting our share of the raucous antics of the Brooklyn College Parrots, at approximately 1:45 PM, our group will walk to the Q Train (BMT) station at Avenue H and journey to Green-Wood Cemetery, where we will observe the late-afternoon antics of the parrots residing there. If you just want to see the Green-Wood parrots, show up at 2:30 PM and we'll be there. To get to Green-Wood, take the R Train to 25th Street and walk one block East to 25th and 5th Avenue.

What to Bring/What to Wear
Please bring a photo ID (this is required by Brooklyn College Security). Bring binoculars and a camera if you'd like to immortalize your wild parrot-watching experience. The weather will probably be bal, but we'll be exposed to the wind and possibly strong sun. I ordinarily do not cancel the tour unless the forecast is for sustained rain in which birds will not fly.

Please feel free to wear anything except bright orange (Monk Parrots freak out when you show them something orange: in fact orange tags are one of the best ways to convince Monk Parrots to build away from electrical infrastructure). Wear green, blue, white, but orange will drive away the birds.

This Tour is Free, But the Parrots Are Hungry!
The Wild Parrot Safari is free - if you wish to help your hungry urban feathered friends, bring some bird seed: trust me, the parrots won't soon forget the gesture. Wild monk parrots also appreciate "real parrot food," especially unshelled peanuts, sliced apples, and raw sunflower seeds. Finch food or millet are always welcomed by our hungry urban "peeps."

See you in wild, exotic Brooklyn!

Steve Baldwin, Webmaster, BrooklynParrots.com
steve@brooklynparrots.com
646-361-2879 (phone)

Quaker Parrots Featured in New NYC Recycling Spot

2008-06-26T17:32:00.003-04:00

A friend on the Quaker Parrot Mailing List pointed out that one of New York's new Green NYC Public Service Announcements appears to feature an animated Quaker Parrot. Of course, real Quaker Parrots don't say "Tweet, Tweet;" they say "Ack Ack." But I'm glad to see one of Brooklyn's own wild Quakers promoting a "Green New York," because more trees mean more places for our remarkable green parrots to perch upon!

Green NYC - 30 second PSA #1

Wild Parrot News From Beyond Brooklyn: Californians Rally to Declare Parrot As New State Bird

2008-06-15T15:20:00.000-04:00

The proprietors of ParrotNotQuail.com have organized an online petition which they hope will result in a parrot replacing the quail as the California State Bird. According to the site, more than 200,000 people have signed it.

California is home to a sizable population of wild parrots (whose most storied members are found in San Francisco), and while it's gratifying to see the Golden State's indigenous parrots getting some high-visibility cyber-recognition, California has a bad record in terms of being friendly to our beloved Quaker Parrots, being one of only two U.S. States in which ownership of a pet Quaker is a crime. My hope is that this new movement will underscore the degree to which wild parrot flocks are largely a "value-added species" to North American skies.

Brooklyn Parrots on PetLifeRadio.com

2008-06-11T12:43:00.003-04:00

PetLifeRadio.com, a recently-launched pet podcasting site, just uploaded an audio interview between myself and Diane West, editor of NewYorkTails.com. You can listen to this interview or download it to your ipod by clicking here.

Bay Ridge Parrots Face Uncertain Future

2008-06-05T11:43:00.002-04:00

Two wild Quaker Parrots at Bay Ridge's Dust Bowl.

The wild parrots which have long lived around one of Brooklyn's last sandlot baseball fields, an area dubbed "The Dust Bowl," will soon face down a $3.2 million renovation of the field that will significantly alter their ecosystem. As reported in the Brooklyn Courier Life newspaper, the project, whose funding was secured by City Councilman Vincent Gentile, involves construction of a "secure synthetic multi-use field consisting of new dugouts, new accessible entrances, six new handicap-accessible drinking fountains and new synthetic turf" and is scheduled to begin this Fall. After completion, the Dust Bowl area will be off-limits to the public, and only be open to authorized sports teams supplied with keys.

While advocates for the project have claimed that steps will be taken to protect the wild parrots during construction, it is highly troubling that synthetic turf will now replace what has been a natural environment of sand and turf, upon which wild birds, including the parrots, regularly forage upon. Synthetic turf is made from recycled rubber tires, and physicians have already raised concerns that it becomes toxic under certain conditions. It cannot be known what long-term effects this will have on the local fauna, or, for that matter, the human population. Losing open access to the Dust Bowl, one of Brooklyn's last genuine "sand lot" fields, is also a concern. Why must humanity always insist on replacing something natural and wild with something artificial and sterile?

Breaking News: Connecticut Wild Parrots Face New and Deadly Threat

2008-05-30T10:54:00.004-04:00

A wild Quaker Parrot in Connecticut takes up a defensive position in preparation for further human assaults on his colony.

Two and a half years after activists successfully halted United Illuminating's deadly campaign against the wild parrots of Connecticut, a Connecticut Superior Court judge has allowed UI to resume its parrot-killing policy. While there is no immediate indication that United Illuminating will resort to such deadly measures in the next few weeks, it now has a legal free hand and it appears that nothing short of an act of the Connecticut legislature can spare the parrots from further harm.

This legal defeat is a serious blow to Wild Parrot Conservationists and other groups concerned with the welfare of wild animals. From what I have learned, it appears that the legal strategy pursued by Friends of Animals was deeply flawed. The groups has stated that it intends to appeal the decision but the damage is deep, and the parrots will find themselves in serious danger in the weeks and months ahead.

Memorial Day 2008, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn

2008-05-25T19:27:00.011-04:00

Wild Quaker Parrot rises above markers for American Civil War Dead, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, May 25, 2008, by Steve Baldwin

Photos: Bay Ridge 2008 Norwegian Independence Parade

2008-05-18T16:48:00.006-04:00

This Sunday, May 18th, was a rainy day, which made it a poor day for photographing Brooklyn's Wild Quaker Parrots. But I ran smack into Bay Ridge's annual Norwegian Independence Day Parade, so I shot some pictures of some colorfully-clad humans marching joyfully through the wet streets. Enjoy!

-steve baldwin

If you can't see the embedded slideshow, you can browse the pix on the Flickr Set I created for this event by clicking here.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Brooklyn "Wild Quaker Parrots" Appear on CSI NY

2008-05-12T14:31:00.010-04:00

I don't own a television set, but I received numerous reports this week that a key plot point in the plot of Season 4, Episode 19, of the popular TV show CSI NY centers around the wild Quaker Parrots that live in Brooklyn.

The parrots (or rather several particles of parrot guano) figure into the citywide hunt for the "Cabbie Killer" when this guano is found on a tarp left behind by the killer. The scene concerning the parrots occurs about 18 minutes in; the exposition (on the grounds of the mythical "Kings County College") goes as follows:

Detective 1: "Analysis of the white trace I pulled off our latest tarp came back as avian waste."

Detective 2: "There are about a million pigeons in this town."

Detective 1: "But how many wild South American Quaker Parrots do you think there are? (pointing up at tree upon which numerous squawking parrots are perched). Back in the late sixties there was some crook working the tarmac at JFK unloading cargo planes and he liked to keep some cargo for himself. Only he got more than he bargained for when he opened one from Argentina. It turns out that it was packed full of parrots. Once they flew the coop they took up roost here, multiplying in numbers and noise ever since. So maybe our cabbie killer got his tarps from someplace in this vicinity."

Unfortunately, while CSI's exposition is more or less on target, the parrots shown aren't real wild Quaker Parrots, but seem to be Conures and/or Caiques. Apparently, much of CSI NY is actually shot in California (where Quakers are illegal), hence the odd substitution.

I'm gratified that the Brooklyn Parrots are now solving crimes for the NYPD, but am more than a bit miffed at CBS, because the last thing I want is for people to start racing to Brooklyn looking for flocks of wild Caiques and Conures (there are none here). I don't mean to squawk, but there are enough wild myths about the wild parrots in Brooklyn floating around -- the last thing we need is more misinformation served up to the credulous multitudes!

Is PSE&G The Most Parrot-Friendly Utility Company in the U.S.A.?

2008-05-09T11:46:00.005-04:00

Like other utility companies serving customers in regions of the U.S.A. where wild parrots now fly free, New Jersey's Public Service Electric & Gas must occasionally remove nests built by the parrots on electrical infrastructure. But PSE&G has demonstrated extraordinary sensitivity towards both the parrots and the folks who like them, as was demonstrated in a recent e-mail exchange between Alison Evans-Fragale, of EdgewaterParrots.com, and representatives in its Overhead Construction Palisades Division.

This exchange concerned the fact that the nest teardowns scheduled to occur in March and early April (an ideal time when it is both warm enough for de-nested parrots to survive but before their annual breeding cycle begins) could not be performed. Instead of simply doing the nest teardowns later in the Spring (when there would be major damage to eggs in such nests), PSE&G agreed to wait until some time after the babies have fledged (which usually occurs by late summer).

If you're a regular reader of this site, you know that I have written some harsh words about other utility companies whose wild parrot control policies have been heavy-handed and harsh. But PS&G has proven it has a heart by listening to the wildlife community, moving toward best practices, and forging a path that I am confident will lead to a situation of improved coexistence between parrot and man. In a world where money too often wins out over kindness, PSE&G deserves praise by all who value our free-range urban parrots.

Photo-Essay: Wild Parrots Feast and Fight in Brooklyn

2008-05-03T16:24:00.000-04:00

Springtime in Brooklyn means lots of tasty leaf buds begin to blossom, attracting flocks of wild Quaker Parrots. At beautiful Green-Wood Cemetery, one of the best places to check out some serious feral parrot action is in some of its soaring chestnut trees. (Click on any photo for an enlarged view; also please check out my other Photo-Essays on the wild parrots).

This Horse Chestnut Tree (Aesculus Hippocastanum), native to Greece and Albania, stands just a few yards from where the wild Quaker Parrots (native to Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil) have built their huge nest complex.

These wild Quaker Parrots are just getting ready to devour one of their favorite treats: wild Horse Chestnut blossoms.

Do horse chestnut blossoms have some mysterious aphrodisiac quality useful to the Quaker Parrots' pre-mating season rituals? Or are they just delightfully delicious?

Either way, these hungry parrots don't waste any time digging in.

Elsewhere in the Cemetery, there's a lot of arguing going on, and it's par for the course whenever you find wild Quakers undergoing their annual pre-mating season madness.

"Ouch - hey buddy, I wasn't looking at your gal the wrong way, was I?"

The parrots' rambunctious behavior occasionally interrupts their feeding.

But most birds simply enjoy the feast, and leave the noisy physical contact to the teenagers.

What's So Bad About Being Bio-Biased?

2008-04-29T14:38:00.003-04:00

The New York Times' Natalie Angier writes amusingly of humans' penchant for favoring animal species anthropocentricly reflective of their own moral values. I suppose I'm guilty of such behavior myself, given how much I write about the peaceful, family-oriented qualities of the free-range Quaker Parrots of Brooklyn. Furthermore, I really do believe that the irrational affinity that many Manhattanites display for hawks and falcons is due to an unconscious self-identification with such stylish predators.

Language plays a big part in the good animal/bad animal dichotomy, which is why my own pupils narrow and adrenaline levels rise whenever somebody unfairly vilifies our newly native Monk Parrots an "invasive species." At this point I must remind them that our beloved monks have been "introduced" to urban environments, just like those fancy peregrine falcons they're so attached to.

Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots: The (Definitive) Full-Motion Version!

2008-04-24T11:31:00.000-04:00

The song "The Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots" has evolved significantly from its humble roots as a free MP3 file. First folks asked for a Youtube version, so still photographs were added to the track. Then folks began asking for actual MTV-style moving images to accompany the song: the resulting video is embedded below: enjoy! -- and remember, "they're mighty loud and they're mighty raucous; the scientists call them Myiopsitta Monachus!" - Steve Baldwin

Lyrics: The Ballad of the Brooklyn Parrots (Guitar: D /E chord alternation throughout)
I've got some news for you baby, and it might not be so good
There's an avian invader in the neighborhood
Yeah, they're little green parrots from the Argentine
They make their nests so high in the power line

It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
Now they're all over the borough, you can see them in the air
The little green birds that just don't care -- about you
Or your girlfriend on a respirator -- yeah, they're avian invaders, baby
And they're all over Brooklyn now

Yeah, they're mighty loud, and they're mighty raucous
The scientists call them Myiopsitta Monachus
And they're all over town, you can look up and they're looking down on you

Yeah, they're little green parrots from the Argentine
They make their nests so high in the power line
And they call them a pest; I wonder if their hearts are true
Living on the avenue

Refrain:
It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
It happened back in 1968, a bunch of parrots broke loose from a shipping crate
There's an avian invader in the neighborhood

(Copyright 2006-2008 Steve Baldwin)

Science Notes: Quaker Parrots Directly Related to Tyrannasaurus Rex!

2008-04-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

An intriguing article published by the New York Times confirms what many observers of the wild parrots of Brooklyn have long suspected: our airborne "green dragons" are directly related to Tyrannassaurus Rex. Welcome to the 'hood, Dino!

Breaking News: Bronx Wild Parrot Colony Bounces Back!

2008-04-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

Wild Parrots at the Throggs Neck Little League Baseball Field, The Bronx, NY

Last June, a major wild parrot rescue operation was mounted to save more than fifty baby Quaker Parrots endangered by a planned lighting replacement project in the Bronx (you can see a photo-essay or watch a Youtube video documenting this event). The rescued baby birds were safely transported to New England, where, now fledged, they constitute a "Strategic Quaker Parrot Reserve" under the care of Foster Parrot's Marc Johnson.

Barry Schwartz, of the Maspeth Bird Haven, recently returned to the Throggs Neck Little League to survey the progress made by the colony to re-establish itself. He reports that "the colony has now built nests on all seven of the light poles; some nests are now of considerable size, and the sounds of Quakers can be heard on all four sides of the block the field occupies. I only had 15 minutes to look around, but would say that the Quakers must have laid bumper clutches since last year, making up for the ones relocated to Foster Parrots."

This happy development will be very welcome news for the residents of Throggs Neck, many of whom feared that last year's light replacement project would leave them parrotless.

Wild Parrots Invade Red Hook; Some Residents Denounce Nests as "Unsightly"

2008-04-22T10:27:00.006-04:00

Brooklyn's excellent "Gowanas Lounge" blog reports on the stir caused by wild parrots in Red Hook. The Red Hook colony is one of Brooklyn's less explored wild parrot colonies (because it's difficult to get to via public transportation, as are many interesting spots in Red Hook). Scientists believe that this wild parrot colony was formed several years ago by a "breakaway" group from nearby Green-Wood Cemetery.

Some property-minded residents of Red Hook are evidently complaining about the shape and general condition of the parrots' nests, characterizing the construction as "slovenly." I would advise these residents to simply give the parrots time to complete the core construction tasks (after which they will certainly focus on finishing and general "beauty work." Quaker Parrots are hard-working perfectionists who will not give up until every twig is trimmed carefully to present an aesthetically attractive exterior. After all, these parrots are considered to be "the master architects of the bird world."

Breaking News: Eyewitness IDs Con Edison in Brooklyn Wild Parrot Colony Disappearance

2008-04-21T11:57:00.004-04:00

A witness who requests anonymity has contacted me about the mysterious disappearance of the wild Quaker Parrot colony in the Sheepshead Bay/Manhattan Beach area of Brooklyn in January of this year. According to this person, a single Con Edison truck, operating in daylight, removed all the wild parrot nests along Oriental Boulevard during the 3rd week of January. This account accords with my own observations. It is not clear what happened to the parrots themselves.

What is particularly distressing about this account is that it directly contradicts statements made by Con Edison that the nests were removed "by poachers," an explanation which is on its face patently absurd. While there have been past poaching incidents in Brooklyn, the poachers steal the parrots, not the nests. In this case, however, all traces of the once-thriving wild parrot colony in Manhattan Beach were removed.

As I've noted on many occasions, I have no animus toward Con Edison, which I believe usually acts in a generally transparent manner. In the past, I have received many accounts from residents of Brooklyn alleging that the utility company engages in tactics (including the use of chemical agents and an alliance with criminal parrot poachers) which have not been borne out by the facts. Compared to other utility companies that routinely kill wild parrots, Con Edison's stance is moderate and I believe that they deserve credit for behaving in a moderate way.

Still, it is troubling that Con Edison did not simply tell the public what it was doing in this instance, and especially troubling that it the removals in January, at a time when the parrots were exposed to harsh weather. My sincere hope is that Con Edison chooses transparency and best practices over secrecy and unilateral actions in the future. If you have additional information about the missing Manhattan Beach wild parrots, please send me e-mail at steve@brooklynparrots.com.

Amazing Quaker Parrot Nest Construction Video: Sparky Builds His Dream House

2008-04-08T01:49:00.005-04:00

Back in January, we wrote about Sparky the Quaker Parrot, of Portland, Oregon. Sparky's owner, Linda Magee, described by Oregon Online as "the doyenne of Portland's Chamber Music Northwest," has graciously allowed Sparky to build large structures in her dining room. Linda's new time-lapse video captures Sparky's efforts over a 10-day period. In Linda's words, we now see "more evidence of the skill, intelligence and hard work of the amazing Quaker parrot." There's more avian architecture to enjoy at sparkyvonvogelsang; Sparky's Youtube channel.

Would Barack Obama Be a Parrot-Friendly President?

2008-03-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

To my knowledge, none of the current presidential candidates have taken a position on the wild Quaker Parrots inhabiting many of America's cities. Frankly, this might be a good thing, given that any debate over the parrots should be conducted in a measured manner to minimize the risk that the issue might further polarize the political landscape.

Still, it seems that of all the current candidates, Barack Obama might have the strongest emotional affinity with the Quakers, because one of his political mentors, former mayor Harold Washington, did so much to help them back in the 1980's. After numerous parties attempted to eradicate them from Chicago, Washington went to bat for them. He died too young, but the parrots he helped have thrived in Hyde Park (now, fittingly, Harold Washington Park). We lost our indigenous parrot (the Carolina Parakeet) 100 years ago: let's hope that our next president manages to conserve their kind.

Green Parrots and Irish Pride: It's the Annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade!

2008-03-28T14:52:00.003-04:00

I'm part Irish and part parrot, so I always enjoy the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade which happens in Brooklyn a couple of weeks after the Manhattan parade. The parade happens tomorrow (March 30, 2008), its official site is here; the weather should be good, and here's a video I shot of the 2007 parade. Enjoy!

Green-Wood Wild Parrots on ScienceFriday.com!

2008-03-27T12:37:00.003-04:00

Carl Flatow of ScienceFriday.com produced a nice online video about the wild parrots at Green-Wood Ceremony. I'm the "MC" and there are some excellent shots of the parrots reacting to the appearance of a local raptor. Enjoy!

NBC Nightly News Report: Parrots vs. Power Companies

2008-03-06T10:57:00.005-05:00

NBC News investigative reporter Aram Roston recently uploaded on the current controversies involving Monk Parakeets and energy companies. It runs for a bit longer than 3 minutes and there are some very good video sequences showing Brooklyn's beloved "boids." Interestingly, Aram Roston doesn't just investigate Monk Parakeets; he's written a brand new book called The Man Who Pushed America to War: The Extraordinary Life, Adventures and Obsessions of Ahmad Chalabi - check it out!

Lucky Quaker Parrot Freed From California Shelter, Granted Asylum in Oregon

2008-03-05T12:24:00.000-05:00

Quaker Parrots are illegal in California, and when one recently escaped, was sent to a shelter, and the authorities were notified, it seemed that certain death lay ahead (Pennsylvania and California both have "instant kill" policies for wild Quaker Parrots.

Fortunately, several kind-hearted humans intervened and managed to have this little bird flown to Oregon, a state willing to provide asylum for his kind. Here's to the good folks at SD Exotic Bird Rescue who saved this cute little fellow -- you can read more at SD Exotic Bird Rescue's site.

Update 2/16: Wild Quaker Parrot Crisis in Yacolt, WA

2008-02-16T07:20:00.005-05:00

Today, Washington TV Station KATU provided an updated report on the situation in Yacolt, Washington. As I've indicated on this site, the situation in Yacolt is highly unfortunate, because it appears that while a humane solution involving alternative nest platforms has been forged, evidence exists that the power company continues to remove nests despite the fact that doing this practically ensures that many birds will not survive the winter.

KATU's report about at least one dead Quaker Parrot being found in the vicinity of a recently removed nest is accurate. An autopsy was performed to identify the exact cause of death and the medical examiner's report will soon be released to the media.

While this latest news is most disturbing, I sincerely hope that the citizens of Yacolt, their elected officials, and the local power company can somehow find a way to reach a humane solution that addresses all legitimate concerns of the local community. I would like to see the squabbling and name-calling stop, tempers cool, and a good-faith discussion to being. While it is to be expected that passions will flare on either side of the issue, I implore those who care about their wild parrots behave in an appropriate, transparent manner, and would ask City officials and power company officials to do the same.

Please Help The Rescued African Greys of Camaroon

2008-02-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

Parrots are the most endangered birds in the world, and it's rare that the bad guys who poach them get caught. But almost 1,000 endangered African Grey parrots were recently liberated from a shipment at Cameroon Airport, and most of them survived. These parrots are being cared for at a wildlife refuge, and the World Parrot Trust is trying to help them. Please donate to this worthy organization to provide for their care and rehabilitation.