Arrrr, ere be parrots

[Snoop Doug]

News of my pirate thang has reached the bord world. Came home Sunday, eleven of these in the tree in our back garden. Eleven - shiver me timbers!!

[img]http://i33.tinypic.com/2v9sq45.jpg[/img]

[-Adam-]

You been to Africa lately Snoop?

[Amy]

Well, that's the neighbourhood gone - noisy things, them parakeets

[Dombo]

But very nice on toast.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Dombo"]But very nice on toast.

[Kasper]

Arrrr, hurr nat Rrong, Snoop, der be parakeets in dem dere tree's!!!!

Jast don't be tempted to shoot one or u'llll hav 11 years of bad luck thanx to the good ship RSPB.
Dey arrr a protected species ,oooooo arrrrrr
dey 've had to travel a long way to get ere!!!

How would you feel on getting to Charlwood and some pesky blighter took exception to our colourful attire and excessive chattering and started an ethical culling of cyclists!!!

Let me know if you manage to catch one of dem dere beauties, as i could do with a bit of company on one of my long solo breakaway's!!!!
Pieces of Eight!!!
K

[Apples]

Parakeets now outnumber native British birds after escaping into the wild
Parakeets have reached record numbers in the UK, outnumbering native species such as kingfishers, barn owls and lesser-spotted woodpeckers.

The birds first came to Britain as pets but some escaped into the wild and are now a common site in suburban South East England, particularly west London and Kent, although they have been as far north as Scotland.

While native woodland birds have suffered from climate change and loss of habitat, the tropical birds have thrived in warmer temperatures.

In the latest estimate, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) said the population has now reached a record 20,000, the majority of which are living in the South East.

Bedecked with emerald green feathers and a rose-red beak, the ring-neck parakeet was brought to the UK from India and was first reported in the wild in 1969.

By 1996, there were 1,500 of the birds living in the wild, by 2002 there were 6,000.

There are now more parakeets in England than kingfishers of which there are only 5,000 or lesser-spotted woodpeckers of which there are just 6,000.

John Tayleur, of the BTO, said: "Parakeets thrive on vast range of food: fruit such as pears, apples, cherries and grapes, as well as the berries of holly and and mistletoe, along with nuts, cereals, flowers and weed and tree seeds.

"They seem to get to these berries and seeds earlier than other species."

However this has caused concern among fruit farmers and seasonal traders. On the continent parakeets have been blamed for decimating crops. Mr Tayleur said parakeets were costing Painshill Park vineyard, near Cobham, Surrey, £5,000 a year in damage and bird-scaring devices.

There are also concerns about the effect on native species. Scientific studies show parakeets lead to a fall in the population of nuthatches and there are concerns for willow tits and woodpeckers that compete with the tropical birds for nesting space.

However, conservations say that since the population is confined to a particular area, there is no need for a cull.

Recent figures from the RSPB show some species of woodland birds, many of which would compete directly with parakeets, have declined in recent years. For example number of willow tits have fallen 77 per cent decline since the census started in 1994.

Graham Madge of the RSPB, said parakeets probably now outnumber around 50 species of birds in the UK. He explained that parakeets, that nest earlier, can deprive other birds of space as well as food. He said there was no need to cull the population because the birds are still confined to particular areas around in the South East. However the RSPB will be keeping an eye on the situation.

"There are a large number of birds which are now outnumbered by parakeets such as kingfishers, barn owls and red kites. But that is not to say they are declining because of parakeets."

He added: "On the evidence we have so far there is nothing to suggest parakeets are causing a problem for native birds because they are confined to a small range. But there may be concern if they they become much more widespread."

The Government is currently developing a framework for dealing with non-native species - such as the parakeets, Chinese mitten crabs and grey squirrels - and assessing the impact on native species to these shores.

[Snoop Doug]

I don't mind em....much. Have to say though I was not happy when the green gits ate all our sunflower seeds. Three sunflower heads 18" in diameter packed full of seedy goodness. Bleedin parakeets ate the lot

[Andrew G]

Thanks for that Apples .
[quote]Chinese mitten crabs

[Mike I]

Don't get parakeets in the garden yet, but we do get furry foreign visitors on the bird feeder.

So, anyone know how I can keep the squirrels off my tits' nuts?

[Checks punctuation very carefully .... we're fine .]

[Ian A4size]

....never seen such a well baited hook......

[Jon H]

[quote="Mike I"]So, anyone know how I can keep the squirrels off my tits' nuts?