Tropical birds and a blizzard a.k.a. Chicago Fall
As I write this we are waiting in great anticipation for the first major snowstorm of the season. 8-12" with high winds as a bonus. Of course, that could really translate into anything from 1-3" to 2 feet. (with the combination of "lake effect snow" and the unpredictability of the weather-we've had the pendulum swing both ways after a snow prediction.
So, imagine my surprise when I survey my outside (after the cries of the next door neighbor's doberman that lives outside year-round) to find these creatures:
Sort of seem out of place-don't they? (there were 5 of the bright lime green birds eating those berries). I'll have to see if they come back on Friday and I could get a better photo.
After some careful research (performed by Glenn)I think we pinpointed who these creatures are.
Monk parakeets
And, for the record, we do not live in Hyde Park-so these guys are moving at least a little from there. Still a far cry from Argentina.
Labels: monk parakeets
posted by Christina at 6:11 PM
4 Comments:
That is really neat. I've read somewhere that many of the escaped birds manage to survive and that colonies have formed in the wild.
I would freak out if I saw some outside in a tree.
Okay, I'm so jealous that the famous Chicago anomoly of Monk Parakeets have visited your homestead. This can only be a really good omen. And right before the first snow too- very cool.
A few years ago in the middle of winter we saw a huge hawk in the tree across the street- that was pretty cool.
A hawk! Wow-that's probably why you don't have monk parakeets in your neck of the woods.
Sadly "our" monk parakeets have yet to reappear. Every time we hear a bird chirping we head to go look.
Now, if we can only figure out a "monk parakeet ONLY" bird feeder, we'd be all set.
There was concern when the birds first appeared in Hyde Park that they could spread and be a threat to crops. Their spread has been slow, luckily.
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