Forum Topic

Still no parakeets

A while back somebody posted on here about not seeing their regular flock of parakeets in their garden. As the parakeets visiting my own garden regularly went missing in Spring, I confidently predicted that they'd return. "They're simply feeding off emerging buds somewhere else"But maybe that's the problem. Reading up on them there are/werebig roosts in Richmond Park. However Richmond Park probably doesn't supply a tenth of the variety of buds that say does Kew Gardens.And if I were a plantsman at Kew I'd probably be heartbroken tosee a rare bush or tree being systematically stripped of itsbuds by flocks of parakeets.Not that I'm saying this is what has happened. But of there were in fact a cull of parakeets in Kew Gardens, for perfectly understandable reasons, and with all necessary permissions from the relevant authorities if such are required, then I doubt that fact would be widely publicised, if at all.Obviously this would be welcome news for those people who define themselves by the things they most hate in life - and are keen to share that hatred with all and sundry. But to me at least it would be a shame to never again see these regular visitors michael adams     

Michael Adams ● 1971d42 Comments

In terms of damage to plants, I find that mostly the parakeets don't cause too much trouble - which is not to say they're not a menace elsewhere.My ongoing war is with wood pigeons. There's a beautiful ash tree in my neighbour's garden and the minute it starts to come into bud they just sit there ripping off the emerging shoots - then evacuating their not inconsiderable bowels all over a paved seating area at the bottom of my garden. It has to be washed and scrubbed every day. I have my methods of "moving them on" which I will not reveal on a public forum, but I 'm hoping we might attract a local neighbourhood sparrowhawk before too long.I notice that this year there only seem to be four swifts zooming above Grove Park - it can't be long before they don't come at all which would be incredibly sad. I always keep a lookout for them as harbingers of summer.

Bruce Hammal ● 1971d

Parakeets are also bad news for indigenous garden birds, which I would much rather see and hear in my garden than these squawkers.

Keith Iddon ● 1971d

Keith Iddon opined:"Parakeets are also bad news for indigenous garden birds"Not in my garden they weren't. First because they fedat different times. And secondly when they didn't most parakeets defer to starlings for one. Who having pointy beaks can use them in a stabbing action  " I would much rather see and hear in my garden than these squawkers "Maybe its a function of old age but I can't hear them at all. Woodies with their rhythmic messages always endingon a single upward toot, I can hear fine. I don't mind them at all on my early morning walks. But to have one outside your bedroom widow tooting away to his or her mate two streets away might be enough to drive some people to distraction. Dunno  michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 1971d

It is really odd we have a flock of Parakeets that regularly gather in a neighbour's tree - but for the last few weeks they've been among the missing, have no idea why.

Vanessa Smith ● 1971d

It's the LTNs.  They can no longer navigate as they don't recognise the traffic patterns.  Probably them that ripped up the counters out of revenge and are now hiding.  I have had a pigeon (or likely several generations)build a nest and rear its young every year on the ledge, hidden by my climbing rose below my bedroom window for many years.  They don't make a mess but the noise at about 5 am is very loud and I need my sleep.  This year I got rid of last year's nest and put a broom across the window ledge thinking that would discourage them.  It didn't.  The female just determindly rebuilt the nest a little further along, patiently hatched the eggs and delivered two little fluff bundles.  They have all now disappeared, no doubt to eat themselves silly.  I really don't want them back next year but don't know how to stop them.

Claire Moran ● 1971d

Parakeets are back in numbers.

Alina Dansord ● 1970d

Pretty sure you can't shoot them anymore, after the recent change in the law. You need to apply for a licence, at least, and give justfication. But if I'm wrong, let me know, because...After much tinkering, I have built a parakeet-proof birdfeeder in my garden. Awesome. Just love watching them try to feed, and fail, while the small birds are feeding just fine.

Simon Pedley ● 1970d

"I really don't want them back next year but don't know how to stop them."Pigeon spikes is one humane answer. I had to install some on my house about five years ago and still the pigeons who used to roost there try to come back (but haven't yet succeeded in reestablishing a nest). They are creatures of habit and will try to stay as close as poss to where they know and love. I told my immediate neighbours both sides and offered to put spikes up on their properties but they declined.  And the pigeons just shimmied across to one of their houses.  But I did warn them...  Good luck!

Marie Power ● 1970d

We should never wipe out a species of wildlife, encouraging larger birds Will help keep parakeets away if you don't like them, I like to see them.

Janice Evans ● 1970d

If you don't like the sound of the parakeets, never move to the Coast the Seagulls would drive you nuts.

Janice Evans ● 1970d

I'm afraid that sentiment simply doesn't apply when it comes to non-native species. Ask the Austrailans about cane toads or New Zealanders about possums. They have a strict eradication programme for all "incomers" that have done such terrible damage to their indigenous wildlife. South Africa is attempting to remove all introduced trees while we have Japanese knotweed, giant  hogweed, and American Crayfish, on our own long and growing list of non-desirables. The red squirrel is possibly the most obvious victim of being out-competed - by its grey North American cousin. We caused these problems and it's up to us to put them right.Most of our native birds are in dramatic decline and need all the help they can get if they are to survive. If you want to see parakeets, go to India (when it's allowed again). The same goes for Tigers - or maybe we should release a few of them into Richmond Park?

Bruce Hammal ● 1970d

Bruce Hammal explained" I'm afraid that sentiment simply doesn't apply when it comes to non-native species.  Ask the Australans ....They have a strict eradication programme for all "incomers" *I take it then, that you're in favour of the total eradication of wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, most species of beans, roses, camellias, maples. domestic cats, domestic dogs, horses, cattle etc. etc.?  None of which are native to the British Isles. Not of course forgetting humans. Given that Piltdown Man was, regrettably for some no doubt,exposed as a hoax in 1953michael adams  * Not that they're having a lot of luck with miceat the moment it seems.

Michael Adams ● 1970d

We used to hunt the red squirrel so also to blame for that, it's often just an exercise for hunters.

Janice Evans ● 1970d

lol

Keith Iddon ● 1970d

In Australia they don't bother hunting the fox they just blow up the den,if you like that sort of thing.

Janice Evans ● 1970d

Fair point Michael. I can think of a few people I'd put on my eradication list!

Bruce Hammal ● 1970d

Saw (and heard!) about 60+ flying from the river towards CHR over Devonshire Road around 8pm last night. I'd say they're still around!

John Hannon ● 1970d

Gamekeepers in Richmond Park were shooting them from 2017 to 2019and shot 117. info from Google, not sure on laws for this at present butyou need permission from land owner.

Janice Evans ● 1970d

I see them regularly in Ravenscourt Park...

Suzanne Taylor ● 1970d

Agree with you Michael. It was us who made the error, not them, so why should they suffer?  There are ways of allowing wildlife to live together but inevitably some predation will inevitably ensue.  I am delighted to see the re-introduction of animals across Europe who were extinct here, including wolves, beavers, bison, lynx, vultures and in the UK storks among many others. This will inevitably affect other species.  Who among us is to judge who should live and who should die?

Claire Moran ● 1970d

Nature sometimes provides a "solution" to non-native species introductions.For example, the revival in Pine Marten numbers in Ireland has greatly reduced Grey Squirrel numbers, to the benefit of Red Squirrels, whose numbers are recovering.This is thought to be for two reasons. First, being lighter and smaller, Reds can escape Pine Martens by climbing to flimsy branches which won't support the weight of a Marten. Second, not being native, Greys don't have the instinctive fear of Martens which Reds possess i.e. even when they sense the presence of Martens, they don't get too alarmed, whereas Reds quickly scarper.And it's the same with the American Mink. It has been found that as Otters have returned to many of our rivers, they reduce Mink numbers by outcompeting them for food and territory, sometimes even by killing them directly.Perhaps some of our native species will take to predating on Parakeets?

Richard Cathcart ● 1970d

Thank you to Alina Dansord, John Hannon, and Suzanne Taylor. I'm more than happy to be proved wrong in heralding their demise, even if others maybe aren't quite so enthusiastic.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 1970d

Not had any in W5 since early spring when a small flock of seven regularly turned up to eat the peanuts in my feeder. Unfortunately they have been replaced by a similar number of pigeons, two of whom have made a nest in the garden.

peter king ● 1970d

"Perhaps some of our native species will take to predating on Parakeets?"Parakeets are regarded as delicacies by London's peregrine population.Back to the original post, I've seen no lack of parakeets in W4 over the past few months, and the same goes for other introduced species like Egyptian geese and mandarin ducks.

Mike Firth ● 1968d

Neither are the Aussies keen on moggies - who do tend to go after Possums - so a lot of people have to keep cats in at night. Perhaps they're regretting it now -given the mouse takeover? You interfere with Mother Nature at your peril sometimes.

Vanessa Smith ● 1968d

I have lived in my house for 20 years and there is a flock of parakeets living in the garden of a house across the road.  I have never seen them in my garden and rarely see them when they swoop in a flock at dawn even. So they are not a problem here.  I have wood pigeons, turtle doves, a pair of Jays, a pair of blackbirds, 5 robins a fox and a gang of squirrels we have 4 of the oldest trees in Chiswick which house woodpeckers and squirrels together.  A fight breaks out every now and then and the sight of it is spectacular.  All the overgrown ivy starts moving like the tree is alive and then a pigeon or other interlopers is ejected out like a scene from Tom & Jerry.  I have a walnut tree which is the size of the house and the squirrels have already been sending scouts in advance of nuts.  The pair of magpies were in it this morning having a row and making one. I would share some pics but I don't seem to be able to do it here anyone got any tech skills can tell me how to do it

Caroline Carney ● 1968d

If you go to the "new" chiswickw4 site
https://new.chiswickw4.com/#forum
when you post you can then use the + symbol to add images.

Bruce Hammal ● 1968d

Could they not just be sitting on eggs

Helen Martin ● 1968d

Michael, I sure like the idea of eradicating human beings. Can I give you a list of individuals for immediate action ?

Chris Vessey ● 1968d

I've seen a few in Chiswick Park, but maybe not so many as last year. Maybe they got bird-flu?

James Tickell ● 1967d

Chris Vessey ● 1966d

James, We had a flock of Parakeets in our back garden this morning at 6.30, by 7.00 they had gone. Hope not to see them again, noisy creatures !

Chris Vessey ● 1966d

More noise than planes.

Janice Evans ● 1966d

"More noise than planes." They were quiet while feeding yesterday evening ...

Richard Jennings ● 1966d

They've returned to W5 as well but there is no easy food as the feeders are empty. Might dissuade them from stopping

peter king ● 1964d

What a stupid reply from the ignorant empty vessel. Drunk again Kris?

Claire Moran ● 1964d

Nice clear photo.

Janice Evans ● 1963d

I would rather 20 parakeets screeching than 20 crows with their kra kra kras.....

Lucas Cox ● 1963d

peter king explained:" They've returned to W5 as well but there is no easy food as the feeders are empty."W5 again, I saw two or three yesterday for the first time in months; fighting over the little food that was already there for the other birds. As Someone's Law would have it, I put out more this morning that hasn't been touched at all.Possibly 2 minutes after sending this post ? Fingers crossed.A local cat was sitting on the fence and I'm not sureif he figures in the equation or not. A nice black cat with white paws as if he's been standing in milkor white paint. That's maybe the trouble with liking all sorts of animals, regardlessAnd while I make it a policy to always get on with my neighbours, I can imagine the gritted teethof some of them when looking out of the window.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 1963d

Hmmm. This time last year there were parakeets everywhere.And Michael Brown was all over this site.Now we hardly ever hear of either.Coincidence? I think not."Fly my pretties, fly!"

Richard Cathcart ● 1963d

Yes Richard was wondering about MB. Conspicuous by his absence for a while now.

Alina Dansord ● 1960d

I think he's away with the fairies not the parakeets,Richard.

Keith Iddon ● 1960d