What? Wild parakeets in London?

Kevin and I were walking on Brompton Road, when I spied a flash of green overhead. It reminded me of the first time I saw wild parrots in Tobago. "Are those parakeets?," I asked incredulously. "In London?" And then we spotted them again, and this time, we were certain. "They are parakeets!"

That's when the internet comes in handy. A quick search, and I discovered that London's green residents are ring-necked parakeets, sometimes called rose-ringed parakeets. You can easily identify them, for as the Londonist website says, "they are the only large green birds in the kingdom and they shiek like throttled muppets."

The site also revealed that the parakeets like to hang out in Kensington Gardens, so I cajoled Kevin into going to the gardens with me. And there they were, getting handouts from avian enthusiasts, along with some savvy hangers-on (pigeons).

I couldn't wait to meet the green beggars.

I don't much like the way I look in the photo, but the birds are photogenic. 

Apparently, the parakeets have thrived in the city because they are not a tropical species. No one is exactly sure where they came from, though there are several theories. What makes the most sense is that a few escaped from aviaries in Surrey during the Great Storm of 1987, because by the early 90s, sightings in London were becoming common. 

It's not known yet how they are affecting native species, though, in the city, it appears that they mostly compete with pigeons. I know some people, understandably, dislike introduced species, but I have a lot of sympathy for displaced animals and birds. After all, humans are the interventionists who have ruined more habitats for native species than any others. That's why I don't agree with those who want to kill animals that are in "the wrong place," or who have become overpopulated. For me, the best choice is relocation or contraception. (But I digress.)

In any case, like "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill," depicted in the wonderful film of the same name, the parakeets of London are adding vibrant color and beauty to the urban landscape--and maybe a touch of wonder too.