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Monk Parakeet ( Myiopsitta monachus ). Physical Characteristics. 29 cm long on average 48 cm wingspan weighs 100 g Females tend to be 10-20% smaller It has bright green upperparts
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Physical Characteristics • 29 cm long on average • 48 cm wingspan • weighs 100 g • Females tend to be 10-20% smaller • It has bright green upperparts • The forehead and breast are pale grey with darker tent and the rest of the under-parts are very-light green to yellow. • The remiges are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering. • The bill is orange.
Nesting Problems • Monk parakeets have an unfortunate habit of building on electrical poles, especially around heat-generating transformers.
Native Habitat • South America, ranging from central Bolivia to south Brazil, Uruguay and southern and central Argentina. Red= Native Habitat
Introduction • It is unknown how long the Monk parakeet has been in the United States due to the pet trade. • However, it is believed that the Monk parakeet first became problematic as an invading species in 1968.
Some Introduction History • They were released throughout the eastern coast of the United States both deliberately and by accident. • From 1968 to 1972, 64,225 parakeets were recorded to have been imported to the United States through the pet trade. • In 1968, the birds escaped in JFK airport through damaged crates. • The birds have also been released either deliberately or by accident by their owners. • Some zoos, no longer wishing to maintain their Monk parakeet exhibit, also released their holdings.
Why Were They Introduced? • They were released throughout the eastern coast of the United States both deliberately and by accident. • From 1968 to 1972, 64,225 parakeets were recorded to have been imported to the United States through the pet trade. • In 1968, the birds escaped in JFK airport through damaged crates. • The birds have also been released either deliberately or by accident by their owners. • Some zoos, no longer wishing to maintain their Monk parakeet exhibit, also released their holdings.
Range Throughout North America Dark Green = Introduced Range of Monk Parakeet
Ecological Benefits • Monk parakeets positively play on the psychology of the inhabitants of the areas they have invaded, since most of these places are cities which contain very little wildlife. • These gregarious, bright birds add a natural element to city streets, which often support little plant and animal life.
Ecological Effect • In South America, the parakeet is considered a major agriculture pest, where flocks devour cereal grain and citrus fruits. • In the United States, the bird is not yet an agricultural threat and an ongoing debate exists as to whether or not it even has the potential of becoming a pest. • Monk parakeets have damaged power lines and caused short circuits in urban areas.
Ecological Effect Cont’d • It is thought that they might compete with urban species of birds and maybe even natives, for food and nesting sites, but this claim has not been thoroughly studied and is based on a few instances where monk parakeets have been spotted fighting with blue jays, robins and house sparrows. • Ecological principles indicate that if monk parakeets continue multiplying, which is currently the case, they will become a threat, or at least a serious competitor, to urban exotics, like pigeons and house sparrows, which have become synonymous with cities. • They also might become a threat to the few natives, like the robin and blue jay, that still struggle to survive in cities.
Economic Effect • Monk parakeets are capable of becoming agricultural pests, but only if their population increases and large colonies are formed closer to agricultural areas. • If such nesting occurs, the birds could cause significant if not widespread damage to grain and fruit crops resulting in reduced yield. • The Monk parakeet’s nests could cause problems for the utility industry with fires and collapses of nesting structures. • The bird is currently a popular pet, and altering its legal status could cause significant economic disruptions in the pet trade.
Management Practices • In the 1970's, US Fish & Wildlife service implemented an eradication plan of these birds, which was unsuccessful, only removing these birds from the state of California. • The Monk Parakeet, like any other exotic, should be controlled as a safety precaution, for it is much easier to prevent the establishment of a species than to eradicate the species after it has proliferated out of control. • In order to prevent a monk parakeet explosion, it is necessary to control its resources.
Management Cont’d • The abundance of food sources, like birdfeeders, ornamental and exotic tropical fruit trees, make it difficult to prevent population growth. • Since it's resources are so difficult to limit, the only other option left is to reinforce a plan to decrease the Monk's feral population.
More Management • Killing these birds would not be an option since this would upset the animal-right's activists and profuse bird-lovers. • The best solution might be to replace these birds into the pet trade, since they are popular pets, are rated as one of the top ten best speaking parrots, and cost only about $150 within the states.
