LONDON’S CALLING

How London’s parakeets became such an icon across the UK.

The UK has extremely diverse and interesting bird life. Despite countless exotic birds from all over the world visiting our shores, one species sticks out like a sore thumb, and it looks like they’re here to stay.

The world is your oyster

The ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) is one of the most adaptable and opportunistic parrot species on the planet. Native to a broad range across Central Africa and Asia, this species is now a common sight in highly urbanised areas of Europe, the Middle East and several US states. Cross populations of the two Indian subspecies P. krameri manillensis and P. krameri borealis have been of interest to tourists visiting London since the 1960s. Since then, this exotic bird has established itself in many major cities all over the UK, stretching right up to Edinburgh. Copying opportunistic garden birds, these highly intelligent animals have learnt to capitalise from their bold nature and bright colours.

An unlikely introduction

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the introduction of parakeets to the UK. From rumours of Jimi Hendrix releasing a pair of birds on Carnaby Street in the 1960s, to damaged aviaries during the great storm of 1987, the truth is likely to be much less exciting.

In fact, a study by several London-based Universities led by Steven Le Comber in 2019 suggests that the initial release of these birds was most likely linked to health concerns related to ‘parrot fever’. This disease, known scientifically as Chlamydia psittici had a 15% mortality rate and although it is thought to have only affected around 800 people, global news platforms incited significant fear around keeping birds. Despite records of parrots being kept in the UK dating all the way back to 1504, where Prince Henry Tudor (and later, Henry VIII) kept an African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), these new fears prompted the British public to release their birds instantly.

It was later discovered that although this disease was dormant in Amazon parrots (Amazona .sp) from Argentina, it was awakened by the conditions used to import these animals from the wild. This led to the Parrot (Prohibition of Import) Regulations of 1930. Nowadays, the effects of ‘Parrot fever’ or psittacosis are mild and generally likened to a flu. Although mostly found in parrots, many different birds can carry the virus, which is then referred to as ornithosis. This disease cannot be transmitted between humans. UK Government suggests around 25-50 people contract the illness each year from inhaling pathogens from dried bird waste. Of course, most of these cases are private keepers, poultry farmers and veterinarians. Although the disease poses very little risk today, those with weakened immune systems should take extra caution when keeping pet birds, by ensuring the cages are cleaned regularly and new birds are observed and quarantined appropriately.

Of course, the first instances of psittacosis at the end of the 18th Century and ensuing pandemic in 1929 did prove to be extremely worrying. Medical professionals had very little understanding of zoonotic diseases and thus wrongly linked the new flu to being in contact with any bird. With so many keepers releasing their animals into the wild in a short space of time, populations quickly formed and continued to breed throughout the 20th Century.

In London alone, 500 parakeets were counted during a roost survey in 1983. By 2002 this number had increased to 5,800 over five different nest sites. Just a decade later, in 2012, The London Bird Atlas counted 32,000 parakeets across the city.

Adaptability

Although societal fears likely prompted the release of many birds in the early 20th Century, there are many contributing reasons why ring-necked parakeets have found themselves in the wild over the years. John Hawkins, Section Supervisor at Just for Pets Coventry, has been keeping and breeding birds for over 25 years, including ring-necked parakeets. He told Exotics Keeper Magazine: “They were really popular as a beginner’s parrot. They were inexpensive, commonly available, they can be trained to talk and with the help of various videos on Youtube etc where they are shown playing peekaboo and doing all sorts of tricks they’re always in high demand. People say they want a Ringneck, expecting it to turn out like that. Unfortunately, the truth is there’s very few that actually will.”

“People will buy them as young aviary birds because they’re much cheaper than hand-reared babies. These inevitably turn out to very nervous and un-handleable. They take a long time to tame down and don’t do what the person expected it to do, like the ones they’ve seen on the internet. Ring necks naturally go through a ‘bluffing’ stage which can lead to unintentionally reinforced unwanted behaviours such as biting. They’re a big flock bird so they naturally squabble and fight over food etc. This is why they do so well as an invasive species, they will readily defend themselves and even challenge other birds. When the new owner tries to tame them, they will also do that to you. You try to approach them, and they’ll go through a stage where they try to bite through the bars. They’re not cuddly, they like their own personal space and it takes a lot of time and patience to try and tame them. Unfortunately, they are one of the most common species that people get, then quickly rehome or, obviously in some cases, simply let go.”

Unfortunately, romanticised ideals of pet birds have been pushed by media outlets for many years. Although it is possible to keep parrots very successfully and provide an enriching life whilst also having a great pet, this often takes a lot of time and dedication. Parakeets, despite their size can be some of the more demanding of the species. However, they are also underestimated in other aspects too, even by the more dedicated of keepers.

“They’re also really good escape artists too. They’re so clever, so quick and agile that when people try to tame them, they often don’t realise their ability and determination to get away and will very quickly learn how to open cage doors or squeeze through feeder hatches and then they’re straight out the window. Even breeders who are experienced with other species can underestimate their chewing ability and house them in basic wooden framed aviaries with poor quality chicken wire. They’re very destructive and will quickly chew through the wire and wood, resulting in lots of escapees. Yes, people did release birds because of Psittacosis, it did happen. But, the truth is they’re so good at getting out and much more likely to survive, so there’s a greater chance of them successfully establishing populations in the wild. They’re a flock bird that will naturally travel great distances to find other parakeets and will breed prolifically. There’s no way to tell for sure, but I would say it’s more that they’re simply great escape artists, rather than because people didn’t want them.”

The bigger picture

Although ring-necked parakeets are popular amongst tourists and generally welreceived when compared to invasive amphibians and mammals, they still impact ecological niches in ways we are yet to fully understand. A study in 2014 by H. Peck et al for the Behavioural Ecology Journal seems to give us some possible answers.

The researchers aimed to track the impact that these non-native birds had on the feeding habits of native birds at garden bird feeders. Peck writes: “The high-density populations of the rose-ringed* parakeet in urban centres, provides a situation in which interspecific competition for resources with native species might be expected (Tayleur 2010). Urban gardens and parks provide alternative food sources such as supplemental feed and nonnative plant species. As such, they enable rapid population growth of both native and nonnative adapter species, reflected in their positive association with human population density (Daniels and Kirkpatrick 2006; McKinney 2006; Fuller et al. 2008; Strubbe and Matthysen 2009)”

“It should be noted that wild rose-ringed parakeets often forage gregariously and therefore monopolize a feeding site (Pithon 1998). During our experiment, 95 out of 136 visits by wild parakeets to the experimental feeding station were when one of our captive parakeets was present in the cage, further demonstrating parakeets’ gregarious nature. Given this we would expect that the impacts demonstrated here are a conservative estimate of those that would be seen with free-living parakeets.”

By discovering that parakeets do in fact disrupt the feeding habits of native species and are also drawn in by other parakeets, there is a clear ecological impact from these birds. The research also suggests that the parakeets rely heavily on urbanised feeding stations, again suggesting that by reducing these feeding opportunities, population numbers could potentially be controlled.

John added: “Ring-necks are also very culturally important in India. We have a lot of Indian customers asking for ring-necks because they or their family have had them previously before living in the UK. They are often the first bird they ask for when looking to purchase a pet bird in this country. Their connection with Ringnecks means that often in areas where the wild parakeets visit their gardens every day, they’re actively encouraging them by feeding them and it’s meaning the populations are booming. Of course, this isn’t just those communities, tourists all over the country are continuing to feed them, just because they’re brightly coloured and quickly learn to exploit us humans as a food source. Funnily enough, these birds are so adaptable they learn from native city-birds like pigeons that ‘people mean food’. It’s interesting really, a lot of the inner-city wild parakeets can actually behave tamer, readily landing on people for food, than many of the ones found in captivity!”

Parakeets as pets

‘Parakeet’ is a broad term used to describe a whole array of around 115 species of small parrot. Generally, these birds are seed-eaters with a slender build and a tail that forks. Species from all over the world and a variety of habitats fall under this category including budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). A leading cause for the number of invasive parakeets in the UK is misinformation.

John continued: “As a pet bird and an aviary bird (which are two completely different worlds) ring-necks do have their positives. However, the important thing is that people do their research on the species to understand their behaviour traits, so they are aware of their limitations and have certain expectations of them, especially if they’re a pet. If someone comes in looking for a ring-neck, the first thing we ask is “why do you want a parrot and what do you want from it?” Usually the answer is something like “I want it to talk”, we want to be able to handle it” so we advise them: Ring necks

“Conures on the other hand, are really tactile, really affectionate, they’re always preening and feeding each other. Naturally, they’re a much better pet because they crave close social interaction and you can become their companion. They will literally get in your hoodie and your pocket and play lying on their back, even in the cage on their own. They’re just wired up differently. If you get a bird that’s like that naturally you can tap into this behaviour and build on it, so it will be more suited to being a pet bird. The ring-necks on the other hand, if they don’t want you near them you’ll know. They do that with each other, they’ll often sit on either ends of the perch, away from each other, not huddled up sided by side. If a bird displays these natural behaviour traits, it takes a lot to train them to accept human interaction. On the opposite end of the scale, conures can’t be away from each other, so they’re much more suitable and trainable as companion pets”

`Keeping birds in captivity generally requires a lot of time and patience. As highly intelligent animals, mental stimulation is key to ensuring a good pet, or aviary bird. Providing plenty of opportunities to fly and interact with toys and owners is key. UVB is also recommended for birds kept indoors, although due to the three-dimensional movement patterns of these animals there is still much to be understood about species-specific requirements. However, one of the most complex aspects of bird care is their diet.

Pet bird diet

naturally live in big flocks. They are gregarious and they’re always squabbling over food, position, space and they’re not a cuddly, tactile bird that can be seen regularly preening each other etc. They will challenge stuff and they will fight a lot. There’s a limit to how cuddly they are and how much they like to be handled.”

It is no secret that parrots are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They are often compared to toddlers, with research suggesting some species are as cognitively capable as a five-year-old child. It is no wonder that their clever tactics to get their own way can often surprise many new pet bird owners. Unlike toddlers, parrots remain in this state of seemingly perpetual adolescence for life, which can be over 50 years. Despite their incredible ability to learn and mimic human language, communicating with parrots about the intricacies of diet and nutrition is simply impossible. This means that fussy child-like tantrums in order to receive the tastiest, fattiest treats from a keeper can often create an unhealthy dynamic for many years at the expense of the parrot’s health. Understanding parrot thought-processes and language techniques can be a great way to ensure our husbandry is of the highest standard and we are providing the best for our birds, which may not necessarily be in-line with their demands.

If we were to offer a typical child a selection of chicken nuggets, chocolate, vegetables, fruit and oats which items would disappear first? Most would fail to make the healthiest choice and go straight for their favourite tastiest food. This is one of the biggest mistakes a bird keeper can make when it comes to providing a diet for their pet bird.

John Hawkins explains: “With nearly all caged birds we see that their diet is often too heavily reliant on seeds, with many parrot and parakeet species being seemingly ‘hooked’ on sunflower seeds and peanuts. They’ll literally pick out these high fat foods and ignore anything else. While seeds do have some nutritional benefits including oils, an all-seed diet typically lacks up to 32 essential vitamins and minerals which cannot be considered a complete diet.”

With research now equipping us with a better understanding of our birds needs and in a continued effort to improve their diet, the more up to date way of feeding our companion parrots is by providing a complete pelleted food. Brands like Psittacus are quickly taking the bird-keeping world by storm. By ensuring that species-specific research is done, a complete diet tailored to the birds’ nutritional requirements can be provided that prevents the parrot from selectively feeding. This instead provides a complete, balanced diet in every portion, leading to healthier birds with less waste.

John continued: “The typical scenario is that a customer owns a parrot and so goes and buys a bag of food conveniently labelled parrot seed. They fill the bowl up to the brim and put it in the cage. When presented with a traditional seed mix most parrots instantly sifts out their favourite foods which typically tend to be the high fat sunflower seeds and peanuts. This is known as selective or buffet feeding. Parrots by nature are very messy, wasteful eaters who actually eat fairly small amounts but regularly throughout the day. They will not eat a whole bowl of seeds in one sitting. They will very actively dig through a large bowl of seed scattering it everywhere whilst searching for their chosen favourites. This behaviour is then unwittingly reinforced when the bowl is simply refilled to the top again as the owner wrongly assumes their bird doesn’t like the foods that have been discarded or left. Eventually they’ll get into a cycle where the bird only eats a handful of its favourite ingredients, with 60-70% of the seed that’s offered going to waste and ultimately in the bin. This is not only costly for the customer who inevitably comes in complaining about how much money they spend on wasted food but more importantly the bird will suffer as it then has a poor diet. I’ve even had cases where customers have resorted to buying bags of wild bird seed consisting of just sunflower seeds because ‘it’s all their bird will eat’!”

“If you can have a conversation and explain things from the birds perspective, the customer will often quickly understand and be willing to make changes. Reducing portion sizes so that only small amounts of foods are put in the bowl, just enough to cover the bottom and also when and how food is offered can be simple steps to improve the birds diet. Recommending pellets and explaining the advantages can ultimately improve things even further.”

Responsible keeping

Keeping any exotic pet requires lots of research, time, dedication and in most cases, money. Many enthusiasts will find the appeal of keeping various taxa throughout their lives and this can be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling interest. However, appropriate research needs to be done beforehand. Although rehoming centres across the UK work hard to facilitate unwanted pets, the ecological damage that can come because of irresponsible ownership cannot be easily rectified. Always seek the advice of an expert to help guide your choice of species, well before embarking on the appropriate research into husbandry.

Making a nest for yourself

Ring-necked parakeets are not the only parrots that have developed a stronghold in London. In fact, London Bird Atlas (LBA) has listed nine separate species that have established themselves, to varying degrees, in the capital. The reports vary massively. For example, there were 47 reports of cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) sightings in London between 2007 and 2013. However, this is unsurprising as they are the second most popular pet parrot in the UK and provided no evidence of breeding. Other species including the Senegal parrot (Poicephalus senegalus) have been sighted over many years and seem to survive extremely harsh conditions, including British climates for over 6 years. The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is another interesting example. Coming from central Bolivia and south Brazil, this species is extremely adaptable. According to the LBA, escaped birds were first found breeding in 1930 at Whipsnade. In London there were four distinct localities in Borehamwood/Elstree, Isle of Dogs, Chiswick and Southall. The Borehamwood population