The Burdens of Beauty

The Burdens of Beauty, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.

I found this Parrot at Milford and I was astonished as I never heard of Parrot being seen in wild by anyone from US in my knowledge. Fellow photographer from India told me about how these birds came here and I tried to find more on net....below is excerpt from what I read.

Even though we don't normally associate parrots with America, one species once ranged over much of the eastern United States in huge numbers: the Carolina parakeet. Tragically, the species was wiped out by humans; the last one died in an Ohio zoo in 1918.

Parrots are again flying wild in the United States, however, even if they are not native to the states they now inhabit. Several species, from budgies to Amazons, have become established in places like California, Florida, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. These populations are made up of escaped pet birds, and there are differing opinions on whether this is a good or bad situation.But these birds are obviously as tough and adaptable as they are beautiful.

Parrots worldwide, however, are in trouble. The twin threats of habitat loss and human encroachment—added to the constant demand for these birds as pets—have caused the disappearance of some species and the real risk of extinction for many more.

The above picture is of a Monk Parakeet.

INTERESTING FACTS

* Also called Quaker Parrot, feral Monk Parakeets in the U.S. were first recorded in New York in 1967.
* Although it is an invasive species, there has been little data showing a negative impact on either native species or agriculture. It is, however, often considered a nuisance as groups are very noisy and messy in foraging.
* Its large, communal nests of sticks are easily identifiable and are often built on support poles of electrical lines.
* A group of parakeets is collectively known as a "chatter" and a "flock" of parakeets.

The Monk Parakeet has a large range, estimated globally at 2,800,000 square kilometers. Native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay, and present in various parts of Europe, Asia, and North America, this bird prefers subtropical or tropical forest and dry savanna ecosystems, though it has been known to live in many artificial environments such as rural and urban areas. The global population of this bird is has not been precisely determined, but despite heavy trading does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of the Monk Parakeet is Least Concern.