May

NOLA Parrots

By Tess

New Orleans has always had some wild parrots flying around, but since Katrina, they’re everywhere. We have a group of them that loves this big, busted up tree behind the house- the uppermost branch was killed by the winds, but with no leaves, it makes a great perch.

They’re Quaker Parrots, aka Monk Parakeets, about a foot long, brilliant green in back and grey in front. They quawk quawk quawk , and are ranked in the top 10 birds you can teach to talk. There are mornings I’d love to teach ‘em to be quiet, but mostly it’s just amazing to look out at the bird feedeer and see them there, this little bit of tropics in my yard.

We’re going to put up a specific feeder for them and see if we can coax ‘em closer.