We have a 'resident' colony up here in a park in Glasgow, about fifteen miles from where I am. They now seem to be setting up home permanently in the nearby NT garden though. I'd seen them flying across now and again, but they were too high, and although I couldn't make out what they were, I knew it was something unfamiliar, and with a quite distinct call. I had a roof slate repaired some time later, and the chap mentioned green parakeets, and because he could see all the birds in the garden, he asked if we ever got any. I said no, but a few days later, I realised that's what I'd been seeing. I then saw them quite often in the trees along the farm road when walking that way, as it was on the route they were using.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The only "free" parakeets in the UK that I am aware of are the Indian Ring Neck p's. They were bought in as Aviary birds on some estate ( I think in the Home Counties somewhere ? ) many years ago. Inevitable escapees plus other later irresponsible owners and there you go. Similar situation to the Red Eared Terrapins, ( the Ninja Turtle craze ), Muntjac and many others - accidental escapes or deliberately let loose over the years. The environment suited them, they found a food source, bred and became UK citizens. We all know, as the climate changes, many other species are gradually finding a home here too. No doubt some Govt dept is busily trying to work out how many Parakeets can be stuffed on to a plane - destination Rwanda
I remember thinking they were quite exotic when I was walking the dog round the perimeter of the local golf course. I used to get excited when I spotted one. But that was in the early 70s
I'm not too sure exactly when they were first brought here as "exotics" but it was late in the era when large estate owners vied with each other to keep the most exotic species. The likes of Lions and Tigers were very popular too. In a way, similar to the Great Plant Hunters of the Victorian era altho they were considered to be more of a scientific experiment. Often the same result tho. We haven't really learned much as the introduction of exotic species as pets/food sources/experimentation continues world wide to this day. As a Bird/Reptile lover, I'm a wee bit biased I suspect ! I can see that flocks of parakeets descending on people's bird feeders can be extremely frustrating and annoying but it's our own fault ( collectively as humans ) in reality. Sorry....... Here endeth the sermon ( rant )
Isn't there a wholeload of wild wallabies wandering about the UK. ( I'm sure there's a proper collective noun but I like mine.) Random link there are others
Isn't there a wholeload of wild wallabies wandering about the UK.
There was a small population of them near us in the southern Peak District in an area called The Roaches. They were rumoured to have escaped from the Roaches zoo during the second world war and managed to survive until the 1990's. Amazing to think they could have survived up there in a winter as cold as 1963 though!
Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
There's still some on the island in Loch Lomond. They've been there the best part of a century. It was thought they'd died out, but a few were spotted again a while back, and have been sighted this year too. They'll be inbred to the point of not being healthy. A huge mistake.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I was just going to mention the Coypu but thought I’d check first, I remember seeing these in Norfolk in the wild but seems they have been eradicated and by 1989 all were gone. Bought over to Britain for the fur trade.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
There's still some on the island in Loch Lomond. They've been there the best part of a century. It was thought they'd died out, but a few were spotted again a while back, and have been sighted this year too. They'll be inbred to the point of not being healthy. A huge mistake.
Probably the same is true of the small population at Leonardslee Gardens, Sussex.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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I'd seen them flying across now and again, but they were too high, and although I couldn't make out what they were, I knew it was something unfamiliar, and with a quite distinct call. I had a roof slate repaired some time later, and the chap mentioned green parakeets, and because he could see all the birds in the garden, he asked if we ever got any. I said no, but a few days later, I realised that's what I'd been seeing. I then saw them quite often in the trees along the farm road when walking that way, as it was on the route they were using.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Inevitable escapees plus other later irresponsible owners and there you go. Similar situation to the Red Eared Terrapins, ( the Ninja Turtle craze ), Muntjac and many others - accidental escapes or deliberately let loose over the years. The environment suited them, they found a food source, bred and became UK citizens. We all know, as the climate changes, many other species are gradually finding a home here too.
No doubt some Govt dept is busily trying to work out how many Parakeets can be stuffed on to a plane - destination Rwanda
We haven't really learned much as the introduction of exotic species as pets/food sources/experimentation continues world wide to this day.
As a Bird/Reptile lover, I'm a wee bit biased I suspect ! I can see that flocks of parakeets descending on people's bird feeders can be extremely frustrating and annoying but it's our own fault ( collectively as humans ) in reality.
Sorry....... Here endeth the sermon ( rant )
Random link there are others
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/wallabies-sighting-uk-kangaroos-invasive-species-where-b1719692.html
sorry, couldn’t resist it.
There was a small population of them near us in the southern Peak District in an area called The Roaches. They were rumoured to have escaped from the Roaches zoo during the second world war and managed to survive until the 1990's. Amazing to think they could have survived up there in a winter as cold as 1963 though!
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Bought over to Britain for the fur trade.