Ring-necked Parakeets

[JeffH]

I was down in South London on business yesterday and eventually managed to find a parking space next to a park in Lewisham.

On returning to my car I heard some loud screeching calls coming from the trees in the park and then spotted a couple of Ring-necked Parakeets. I know they're now fairly widespread with some quite large populations in some parts of the country but as it's a few years since I last saw one of these birds (we had one in the garden for a few days back in the late 1970s) and despite not having any binoculars with me, I stood and watched them for a while.

Within about 4 or 5 minutes there was quite a large group of them all calling and screeching loudly and whilst they're nice birds to see I can now understand why so many people who live near to some of their roosting sites complain about the noise. I certainly wouldn't want them roosting in my garden!

Jeff

[aeshna5]

Even though I see these birds almost daily I still enjoy watching their antics.

It's estimated there are at least 30,000 around the London area now- I guess the only accurate way would be a co-ordinated count of birds flying into communal roosts.

There is concern that they may have negative effects on some other native species, particularly other cavity breeders, though as yet there isn't too much evidence they are affecting other populations despite observations of individual birds being ousted.

In Richmond Park there is now a large population of these noisy birds + the park has done a standard monthly bird walk for 8 years now. What is interesting is that while the parakeets have approximately doubled in numbers each year, no other hole nesters have declined + a couple of other cavity nesters have also increased.

[NuttyMeg]

my uncle lives in Richmond and a few years ago we were house sitting for him. saw a couple of ring-necked parakeets in the garden and at that time we weren't aware they were common in these parts then, thought they were escaped pets until we looked them up!!

[rlchew]

RNPs .... noisy, colourful and entertaining .... and very exotic for the UK!

I usually see groups of these birds down in Kent (Northdown Park near Ramsgate/Margate) but I also saw some in Richmond Park a few weeks ago when I went up there to photograph the Red Deer.

Here is a RNP from Kent ....





Richard