Forum Topic

Green parakeets

Doe anyone know if the green parakeets have recently been culled? They seemed to have greatly diminished in Ealing, Chiswick and surrounding areas.

Susan Norris ● 4204d17 Comments

So are these the same parakeets that fly over Isleworth (St Johns Road) or do we have another roost around here or Richmond way perhaps?

Anne Rowe ● 4199d

Plentiful amounts of parakeets in West Ealing thanks! :) Perhaps they have all shifted from central to west?! When it was super hot earlier in the year and windows were left open at night, I was constantly woken up by them most mornings (pre 7am) which I hadn't encountered before. That and flippin' magpies seem to have increased ALOT this year come the early mornings. Having a peck at our window sealant no less for some weird reason.. I LOVE birds but these two have been irking me somewhat this year unfortunately..

Daniele Humphreys ● 4202d

There are plenty that live in the large tress as you enter Walpole Park from Mattock Lane.  I have recently moved to West Drayton and there are dozens that fly over the station every morning.  They're great!

Andy Vaughan ● 4202d

We back on to Elthorne Park and I have not noticed and decrease in Parakeets, I enjoy the noise of them in the trees, in fact I think this summer we have seen more

Declan Devine ● 4202d

Thanks Nigel - so many urban myths about parakeet origins in the UK - which one do most believe I wonder?

Gerry Tan ● 4202d

Good old Wikipedia"The specific origin of the birds is not known, but they most likely came from a single pair of breeding parakeets which escaped or were released in the mid-1990s. Other origins have been attributed to them: the most popular idea being that they escaped from Ealing Studios, West London, during the filming of The African Queen (which was actually made in the Isleworth Studios) in 1951. Other theories are that they escaped from an aviary during the 1987 hurricane; or that a pair released by Jimi Hendrix in Carnaby Street, London, in the 1960s, are to blame."

Nigel Brooks ● 4202d

Here's a question about green parakeets. They are not native to the UK, but how did they arrive here and how come they seem to thrive here? Any theories?

Gerry Tan ● 4202d

Here you go, Richard. You're right about Wormwood Scrubs:http://londonbirders.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:Malcolm_Riddler/Imperial_College_London_-_Ring-necked_Parakeet_Study_%28April_11th_Roost_Counts%29

John Walker ● 4203d

Number of parakeets in and around Elthorne Park have noticeably decreased over recent years. About 10 years ago was a roost in Poplar trees behind the park, the then ranger estimated 1500 - 2000 birds.

Chris Edwards ● 4203d

The numbers in Chiswick don't seem to have diminished at all.  We see them flying over our garden on their way from Chiswick House Gardens to their evening roost. (I always assumed it must be Wormwood Scrubs.  Our parakeets are certainly not heading towards Perivale, so perhaps there's more than one 'mega-roost'.)

Richard Jennings ● 4203d

The plan was to cull two years ago - I spoke to a park ranger who told me it's vital to other wildlife who lose out of food because the parakeets 'swarm'.However, the twist is nobody could decide the best way to do it (the ranger felt strongly that shooting them was best). So it never happened. Assume the lack of numbers (compared to previous years) is due to lack of food and moving off to find more.

John Bodman ● 4203d

Nothing wrong with starlings but that 'flash of green' from the parakeets when there are few flying together is a lovely sight.

Nigel Brooks ● 4203d

I had a group of 9 or so come to my garden nut feeder roughly three times a day for past four years but have not seen them for a week or more, hence I wondered about culling?

Susan Norris ● 4204d

Plenty around Churchfields earlier today and had a couple in my garden this morning. I see them whizzing through the sky all the time as they fly to and from their mega-roost near Perivale golf course.What's wrong with starlings, Nigel? I rather like the cheeky little critters.

John Walker ● 4204d

Saw about 15 of them in North Acton flying across the A40 two days ago!

Madeline Kerketta ● 4204d

We have noticed a much diminished presence of parakeets in and around central Ealing during the last year. They used to frequent our neighbourhood parks and gardens almost every day - screeching through the air - now we seldom see and hardly ever hear them. We don't know if they've been culled. Perhaps some local ornithologist might tell us.

Gerry Tan ● 4204d

There was an 'abundance' over Elthorne park about an hour ago. Makes a change from ruddy starlings.

Nigel Brooks ● 4204d