Kirkby Stephen Parrots

[zail]

Saw a programme about wild parakeets living in southern England and it reminded me of the Kirkby Stephen parrots so I thought I'd google and it led me here...

I went to school in Kirkby Stephen and used to see the parrots so often they just became normal.. Apparently at one point they used to swoop down on the primary school and pinch sandwiches from kids in the playground, but that may have just been a local urban myth... Generally they would go back home at night and I remember one year a pair of red macaws nested on a local roof.. don't think they hatched any chicks though.. They're definatley worth looking out for if you're in the area...

[ucfadll]

My mother lives in a small village outside Kirkby Stephen, just down the road from John Strutt, the 'owner' of the birds.

From what I understand, John receives many rescue parrots / parakeets and macaws from both unwanted homes and Customs (i.e. smuggled birds they find). After keeping them in aviaries when they first arrive, he then allows them to come and go at will. John has also bought up a lot of land around the town as conservation areas and has put in some lovely footpaths / walks along the old railway line there.

It certainly makes it an interesting place to live as you'll never know what is going to fly over next. It must be amazing for visitors who probably never understand why locals don't seem surprised to see exotic birds in town.

There used to have be a very friendly small grey parrot which would visit the house most days, especially in winter. It would just hop in the open window and sit on the Aga for warmth and chat away to anyone it could find. Oh, and wind the dogs up...I'm sure it thought it was game. Even if you weren't around you would know that it had visited as it would deliberately pick up everything on the window ledge and throw them on the floor. It obviously didn't like objects getting in its way.

After it spotted my mother in Kirkby Stephen one day (or, more accurately, my mother spotted it and it recognised her whistle) it flew down to sit on her shoulder. She then discovered that it visited a number of other houses around the town on a regular basis as well. It must have just liked human company.

The last time we saw it was when we were out walking the dogs near John Strutt's house. It was with another similar looking bird, so had presumably found a mate. Again, it recognised us and came to say hello (literally!) though its mate was much more wary. After they flew off we never saw it again and often wonder what happened.

Anyhow, if you ever go through Kirkby Stephen keep your eye out for something unusual and colourful; they are around and about most days.

Darl

[big bill]

Firstly Darl welcome to the site,thanks for the update great to read just goes to show you never know what goes on around you ,I enjoyed reading it .