Where are all the parakeets?

[nearlyspringyay]

Are you in London? Do you have any parakeets around? We had colonies and colonies of them, gradually over lockdowns they've disappeared. Just realised I haven't seen a single one for months.

We're over run with magpies and crows.

What's happened? Have they migrated but I've never noticed that before or did a cull actually happen?

There's a colony in Stretford in Manchester! Also my brother lives near Greenwich and says there are some around that area.

We have them up here in Glasgow too, thriving colony in Victoria Park, they venture down as far as the Clyde.

Would love them to be in my garden. They're so pretty

There's loads and the NE coast (inland) according to our local residents facebook pages apparently! I'm yet to see any!

NE England

Where did these parakeets originate - were they escaped pets that bred?

Never seen a wild parakeet in the UK - I don't think they'd survive the winters where I live.

Wow so pretty but yes I was wondering how they cope in the cold too.

We’ve had 3 or 4 of them on our bird feeders every day this week - north London suburbs. Must say I hadn’t seen them quite for a while before that though!

We have them in the West Midlands too. There’s a colony at Walsall
Arboretum and I see them all the time
in Dudley.

What kind of food do they like in bird feeders? I’ve not seen any on my bird feeder. We have them in my area, I see plenty flying around but my neighbour had their trees trimmed this winter so there’s been less cover for them so none hanging about where I can observe.

Was watching them in my garden today. There is a pair that nested last year in a hole in an osk tree in our garden. There are many flocks of them round here their calls dominate and drown out the birdsong. They often sit in a line along my washing line and will sit in my winter flowering clematis.
I live on Hertfordshire/London borders, first noticed them about 10 years ago whilst crossing my local park early morning.

There are lots of stories about where they came from but basically, yes they were originally escapees. Probably from multiple places rather than one source though.

I think parakeets are originally from the foothills of the Himalayas which has a climate somewhat harsher than ours (not the lush tropical jungle we usually associate with parrots). So they should easily be able to survive here, especially if there are feeding stations aplenty!

What a great photo!

Awwwww i want some! Send them to York please! 😊

It's really interesting - I've found some info online. The graphic showing distribution misses my area although they do go as far north as Newcastle, so they must be adapting themselves somehow to the cold.

Speaking of colourful birds, I've only ever seen one kingfisher in my entire life. That was three years ago and miles away. And I've found out today that there are at least two at the ponds over the road from me. On that basis, I'm not holding out much hope of seeing a parakeet.

Hammersmith used to be like a Zoo when we lived there between the mass parakeets and foxes. Had a peacock once wander down from Holland Park I assume.

High st Kensington used to have Flamingos on the roof gardens.

@Caspianberg I remember the flamingos from many nights out there!!

Loads in my back garden too - south London zone 3

Funnily enough it turns out I've been seeing kingfishers for years on one of my regular walks. It's literally just a flash of colour and they're gone though. It's a really unlikely place for kingfishers (to my mind anyway) and it never crossed my mind. I put it down to imagination, butterflies or escaped budgies until a random conversation with a birdwatcher.

Parakeets are much more in your face and obvious though. I first saw one in the wild in the North West 35 years ago. That might have just been a random escapee but it was nowhere near any houses and at around this time of year, so cold.

Been down a wormhole with these British parakeets - I enjoyed this article which explains why they cope OK in winter:

www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/06/the-great-green-expansion-how-ring-necked-parakeets-took-over-london

We have one, well I've only ever seen one at a time, on the Sussex coast. It happily winds up the local Jackdaw. I hope more come this way. It makes my day when I see it.

Lots in Peterborough, seem to increase in number all the time.

loads in bexley heath