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November 18, 2008
Green Parrots?
So... - am walking to the train on 15th street and look up into one of the bare trees and see a green parrot and think aww someone's bird must have escaped from their home. until I see 4 other rather huge green parrots all munching on the berries left on the trees. Anyone know of "wild" green parrots in Brooklyn?
Comments
There is a large colony of green parrots in Greenwood cemetary.....legend has it that about 30 years ago a shipment of parrots escaped when theylanded in JFK.....
Posted by: PHfamily at November 18, 2008 9:08 AM
All over the internet. I think there are a few websites that deal specifically with photos of the parrots.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2008 9:13 AM
that's awesome! do they talk with old school brooklyn accents by any chance!?
-rob
Posted by: PitbullNYC at November 18, 2008 9:17 AM
ha! - dibs you are right, I should try "googlesearching" before hitting Brownstoner - but there are tons of websites devoted to these parrots. It was a cool sight to see
thanks!
Posted by: gemini10 at November 18, 2008 9:17 AM
rob...some of them have developed "neighborhood hypersensitivity syndrome" and even behave racist towards others like Canadian Geese. They are however totally insulated from the Mutant Asset Bubble.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at November 18, 2008 9:21 AM
hahahahah
Posted by: PitbullNYC at November 18, 2008 9:25 AM
There are also a group by the "dust bowl" on 65th and 10th!
Posted by: nybk01 at November 18, 2008 10:14 AM
It's not Brooklyn, but there was a lovely film a few years back about a similar flock and their caretaker in Berkeley, CA, called "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill".
Posted by: vinca at November 18, 2008 10:36 AM
Gemini10, check out this website, it should answer your questions about "our" beautiful parrots!
http://www.brooklynparrots.com/2006/03/greenwood-cemetery-parrots.html
Posted by: bren at November 18, 2008 11:04 AM
Vinca, telegraph hill is in san francisco, not berkeley. There, like here, there seem to be a few different flocks in the city. Berkeley may have its own, but I do recall there was a book or newspaper articles on the telegraph hill group. A film would not surprise me.
Posted by: ownhs at November 18, 2008 11:16 AM
Perhaps Vinca meant Telegraph AVENUE.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at November 18, 2008 12:59 PM
"Vinca, telegraph hill is in san francisco, not berkeley. There, like here, there seem to be a few different flocks in the city."
Hence the origin of the phrase "gas as a tree full of parrots."
Posted by: SnarkSlope at November 18, 2008 2:12 PM
Doh. That should have been "gay as a tree full of parrots"...
Posted by: SnarkSlope at November 18, 2008 2:13 PM
What do they do in the winter, aren't they designed for more tropical climates? A quick perusal of the websites didn't say much.
Just curious, now that I know they exist I'm fascinated.
Posted by: henrystreet at November 18, 2008 3:39 PM
Thanks, sorry…writing about the left coast with my right brain (if that). Setting is Telegraph Hill in SF. And although worthy of Berzerkeley, and having nothing to do with parrots, another lovely film with origins in SF is "A Sidewalk Astronomer."
Posted by: vinca at November 18, 2008 5:14 PM
On my street, 2nd Street btwn Smith/Hoyt, there is a duo of a green Quaker parrot and a love bird parrot. They live together in one of the house's facades. I'm not sure if they are gay...
Gennaro Brooks-Church
ecobrooklyn.com
Posted by: gennaro at November 18, 2008 6:26 PM
They are Quaker or Monk Parrots and very hardy creatures. There are a ton of them around Brooklyn College (and a colony by the atheletic (sp?) fields.
We have been told (not sure I buy it) that they set up shop by electrical transformers in order to stay warm in the winter.
They scream like crazy but are super smart and social little guys.
In warmer climes they are considered a huge pain (south america and as I understand it parts of spain).
Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at November 18, 2008 7:13 PM
These parrots have a long and colorful history. They are monk parrots and had their origins in South America and somehow escaped at one time and adapted their tropical skills to the NorthEast. Supposedly there are some groups scattered around the New York area, NJ too. They are very adaptable, very affectionate and protective toward one another and have been known to dive bomb dogs and other creatures on the street who they feel to be threats. They are beautiful, tough, tender, plucky, protective and the ultimate survivors -- true Brooklynites. I think that they should be our mascot!!!
Posted by: donatella at November 19, 2008 10:10 AM
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