The parakeets are the result of those who kept them in Aviaries from which they escaped over time. Also those "pet" owners who decided they were more trouble than they had originally envisaged and let them loose. Similar to the Ninja Turtle craze when Red eared terrapins were all the rage but then became a pet which the owner was responsible for - Oh Wow, we never realised they would grow, need attention, etc., etc. These creatures were introduced to the UK deliberately and the assumption was that they could escape or be discarded without too much worry. The climate in many parts of the country has suited them and therefore they will breed and spread where they can. It can be annoying but don't blame the parakeets - they didn't get here on their own and like anything/anyone else, they will take advantage of their situation where and when possible. Parakeets are smart but, unlike humans, they don't indulge in "vandalism" just for the sake of it.Again, unlike humans, there is usually a reason behind their behaviour.
You can also buy bird repellent scare tape, a double sided reflective tape. 24mm wide and costs around £6. We had a problem with the blackbirds last year - taking a peck out of the apples on the tree ... not the same apple, of course - but a peck from each, just to check the taste! 🙄. The trees are standards, so pretty big - my husband tied long strips to the branches and, as we couldn't get to them all, we weighted the end of the tape and threw it over the tree in a criss cross effect. It kept the blackbirds from doing their 'quality control checks'. Just make sure you tie the ends securely to the branches. Our son-in-law used it on his moored boat to stop the seagulls from covering the deck with poo ... it worked for him too! The poo from the seagulls, that is. 😳 😅 Good luck - I can understand your frustration.
Tape sounds interesting @ShepherdsBarn. The quality control thing😂 that’s exactly it for the plums...a single peck, oh not ripe, let’s try another one, oh not ripe either, let’s try them all, in June...and repeat until Tree stripped.
@happy_18mDZwQC2R we picked many baskets of cherries ( not ripe) and have ripened them indoors befor the birds take them when they are still green. Eat some today. Lovely.
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These creatures were introduced to the UK deliberately and the assumption was that they could escape or be discarded without too much worry.
The climate in many parts of the country has suited them and therefore they will breed and spread where they can.
It can be annoying but don't blame the parakeets - they didn't get here on their own and like anything/anyone else, they will take advantage of their situation where and when possible.
Parakeets are smart but, unlike humans, they don't indulge in "vandalism" just for the sake of it.Again, unlike humans, there is usually a reason behind their behaviour.
Our son-in-law used it on his moored boat to stop the seagulls from covering the deck with poo ... it worked for him too! The poo from the seagulls, that is. 😳 😅
Good luck - I can understand your frustration.
https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/policy-insight/species/invasive-non-native-species/ring-necked-parakeets/