Parrot invasion overwhelms coastal Argentinian town
Coastal town Hilario Ascasubi in Argentina is facing an invasion of thousands of parrots escaping from deforested hills. At peak times, there can be as many as ten birds per resident, Reuters reported on Monday.
"The hills are increasingly deforested, which causes the parrots to fly towards towns to find food, shelter, and water," said biologist Daiana Lera.
The parrots have been arriving in the town for a few years, seeking refuge in the fall and winter. In the summer, during the breeding season, the birds migrate south to Patagonia.
Squawking and leaving droppings
According to Reuters, the birds drive residents mad by squawking and leaving their droppings everywhere.
The parrots eagerly gather on rooftops and electrical wires.
"The birds chew on the cables, which can let water in and cause power outages. These parrots are a big problem for us and create new costs every day," said local journalist Ramon Alvarez.
Residents have tried many ways to scare the birds away, such as using noise or lasers, but nothing has helped.
Burrowing Parrot - an attractive bird that can live up to 20 years
The species that is making life difficult for Argentinians is the Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus). Naturally, it inhabits, besides Argentina, central Chile, and Uruguay. The length of this bird is 18-19 inches and it weighs up to 1 pound. It can live up to 20 years.
Burrowing Parrots often end up in captivity due to their attractive plumage. The lower part of their body is reddish-orange, the edges are yellow, and the tail feathers, known as rectrices, are blue-green.
Source: PAP, Exotic Birds
