New Rochelle’s Wild Parrot Colony Brings Sounds and Sights of the Latin America to Davenport Neck

Written By: Robert Cox

DSC00500A couple of years ago I was with my family near the shore of Echo Bay when I spotted a green, white and yellow bird in a tree. I am no bird-watcher but I know enough to know a parrot when I see one. Figuring that the bird must have escaped and there was some distraught owner looking for their bird, I had the brilliant idea of trying to catch it, put it in a box and deliver it to its owner. While my family tried to lure the bird closer, I called the SPCA of Westchester County to report the bird and see if anyone had put in a claim. The bird actually did come closer, landing on a nearby railing. In a moment of stupidity I used my lightening fast reflexes to grab the bird. As visions of my heroic welcome from the relieved owner danced in my head, the bird began squawking loudly, viscously biting at my hands, breaking the skin, and causing me a good deal of, in hindsight, well-deserved pain. The bird flew away never to be seen by me or my traumatized children. Lesson learned!

Over the weekend, I was visiting friends at their house in Davenport Neck where I was shown a photograph of a monk parrot sitting in a pine tree in the backyard of the very same house. I was amazed. I immediately recalled my brush with death at the hands of a similar looking parrot and realized that the “pet” parrot at Echo Bay must have been one of these wild parrots.

DSC00487I am not sure how I never heard this story having lived in New Rochelle all these years but there are, according to my hosts, apparently dozens of parrots living in the area around Davenport Neck and have been for years. Monk Parrots are native to Latin America.

The story is that many years ago the birds escaped from a shipment entering the United States at JFK Airport from Argentina. The birds lived in the area around JFK for many years but eventually established satellite colonies throughout the area. There is a web site devoted to New York Parrots which includes a mention of 40 parrots flying around Davenport Neck. Wild Parrot NY explains what they called The Great Escape:

…a large shipment of birds destined for sale at New York area pet shops was accidentally released at Kennedy Airport around 1967 or 1968. Although the parrots were not officially spotted until the early 1970’s, it is believed the parrots survived in the parklands surrounding the airport, and over time made their way to Brooklyn and surrounding areas where we find them today…after the escaped birds established themselves, they slowly began expanding their domain…[read more].

DSC00488Each year the New Rochelle parrots migrate south to Florida for the winter, so I am told. Their return each year is treated by local residents in the Davenport Neck area as a joyous event.

I really don’t know much more about these parrots. It is such an odd thing to me that tropical birds would be setting up house in New Rochelle, NY. Apparently, they like to eat pine cones. Is this true? I am hoping readers can fill in the blanks on this story but one thing I can tell you is they are not pets and they are not “lost”.

DSC00489

PHOTO CREDIT: All photos courtesy of Henry Camardell.

What do you know about New Rochelle’s monk parrot colony? Have you seen them? Heard them?

7 thoughts on “New Rochelle’s Wild Parrot Colony Brings Sounds and Sights of the Latin America to Davenport Neck”

  1. Flying the Coop
    These “monk” aka “quaker” parrots are very social birds with a knack for building “mansions”. They are in the lights in Pelham Bay Park and can be found nesting on the grounds of Brooklyn College and cemetary. They are illegal to buy or sell in NJ, yet legal to own and not sell in CT. I suggest purchase or head to a rescue center if you would like one as a pet, but pls. do not attempt to capture a wild one. They will fight to the death, if that includes using their beak like the end of a bottle opener. They are adorable and we should be so lucky to catch a glimpse of them foraging.

  2. The Trinity School Conspiracy!
    If you go to the field behind Trinity School take a look up at the top of the light poles. The rather large bundles of sticks and leaves piled up in the catwalk are the nests of these parrots. They build what amounts to apartment buildings that expands as the colony grows. There’s actually separate entrances to individual chambers for pairs of mated birds. From what I’ve gathered from amateur ornothologists, this species is unique in it’s nesting habits choosing to build in man-made structures rather than in more natural environs such as tree holes. They are also tolerant of the cold of winter. Utility companies routinely find them nesting on top of transformers and light poles. We’re treated to their colorful and distinctively noisy presence in the East End, usually in the spring as they venture about. Once you hear their unique squawk, you’ll find them by hearing them well before you see them. That’s how I came to notice them at Trinity. We were there for a little league game and they were squawking away. Wouldn’t be surprised if there 100 of them up in the lights. When we first saw them, we also thought they were lost pets until we counted them. Not likely someone lost so many at once. Upwards of 15 at a time have been counted the trees and on the electric lines in our neighborhood. So, they travel in packs which is indicative of gang activity, they are noisy, obviously violent and they take over territory. Apparently a criminal enterprise with an international twist to it. Mathew funtime may be on to something. Quite a treat. Go down to Trinity and have a look, then see if you can find more nests in your neighborhood. Please be careful, they are, afterall, “wild” !

  3. Parrot nests
    There are many parrots that live on top of the light poles (that do not work) in the rear softball fields at Trinity School. You can see part of the parrot nests from the ground on the light poles. You can also hear and see the parrots flying all around the area.

  4. New Rochelle’s Monk Parrot Colony
    I read your article with amusement because when I first spotted the birds a few years ago I thought the same thing-that it was an escaped pet (only I didn’t try to catch it). I live next to Trinity School and there are several nests in the light grates over the playing field. I’ve also seen them on City Island, and heard they are as far up the East Coast as Ct. I’ve even heard them in the parking lot of Stop & Shop on Main St. I pretty much got the same story about how the birds got here. At one point Con Edison wanted to distroy the nests because they were causing a problem but rescinded in lieu of public out cry. They are also hear year round. I’m glad the birds are here and from what I see, they’re here to stay. That’s nature for you!

    1. year round?
      Don’ they freeze their tail feathers off? I thought they were tropical birds.

      Apparently they are quite adaptable.

  5. WILD parrot?
    Using the term “wild” to describe this parrot is a deliberate attempt to advance the ferocity of said bird.

    The textbook definition of “wild” means uncivilized or barbarous. Couple that with the little anecdote about the bird attack, and what do we have:

    I’ll tell you what we have: an obvious attempt to draw internet ratings with a flamboyant story of a ravenous pack of untamed, hazardous and potentially evil exotic birds nesting among the innocent citizens of New Rochelle.

    Well sir, I’m not buying it.

Comments are closed.