Hyde Park parakeet tree topples over.

[Ellen Forradalom]

The Chicago neighborhood of Hyde Park has a famous population of feral monk parakeets. Accounts vary as to their origin, but they settled down here, built enormous nests, and stay year-round--the harshest climate they've been known to live in.

Yesterday a tree containing one off the largest nests toppled over. It was in Harold Washington Park at 53rd & Lake Shore Drive. My husband and dog got there about fifteen minutes after it happened. Apparently some birds were killed, but Animal Control rescued some birds, as well as babies and unhatched eggs.

Today I went by to see the wreckage. The tree had been sectioned by the Forestry Dept. and was awaiting removal. The parakeet nest was just a pile of sticks. Sad.

For more on the parakeets: http://www.monkparakeet.com/jmsouth/

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Any idea why the tree fell???

I've read about that tree. How sad. Wonder if the parakeets will relocate elsewhere. Hope so.

[WilliamPitt]

2. Polly want a cracker...aaaaaaaaaaa!!! *smash*

Sorry. I'm evil. Glad Animal Rescue was there to help.

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. Yeah, sure, it's funny

until YOUR house topples over. :-)

[Ediacara]

3. Quaker Parrots are fantastic

Which is how Monk Parakeets are refered to 99% of the time :-)

They're really quite fantastic little birds that build huge communal stick nests in trees (the only parrots to nest colonially). They're actually illegal as pets in some states because they choose to nest in colonies on telephone or electrical poles, which is, a bad situation for the birds and for the electricity company.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. There were some big-ass nests in that tree, too.

And they do nest in utility poles; I see that in Nichols Park, a few blocks west.

[DS1]

7. ass nests? is that where matcoms come from?

:shrug:

[madrchsod]

4. that sucks

but i`m sure they`ll get the best care possible.

[AngryAmish]

8. I always thought they were small parrots, not parakeets

Shows you what I know. I'll just sit here and wallow in my ignorance.