I was notified today of a Monk Parakeet colony in Clark Co.

The Clark Co. PUD has a problem since the birds are nesting under the power transformers. The birds have been there at least a year. I believe there are about 15 birds between two power poles. They removed the first nest once and they came back sticks in tow the next day to rebuild.They have insulated the transformers but the birds continue building and the sticks are beginning to reach the top of the transformer where they are afraid of a fire and power outage. They feel one power outage is too much for their customers and must solve the situation. The plan is try to catch as many of the parakeets as possible, hoping to catch at least one of each pair (he said they mate for life). They would have to go to some large avairy where they could continue to build and nest as they have. Just today they have decided that since they have been in the wild from probably birth, they would not be "cage-able" pets.

The guy in charge is strapped by buget and man power and trying desperately to figure the best way out of the situation without hurting the birds. He has been in contact with many agencies, internet information, other cities that have had to deal with the problem of these what many are calling "nusiance birds".

I am thinking that since these birds are building on power poles, it might be ingrained in them to do so and that they are not likely to nest in trees. There is a huge tree just down from them that would have been great and everyone involved would have been happy about.

Are Monk Parakeets "homing" parakeets? Would they return to the area if they were moved far away? Or would that just be a problem for another community?

Does anyone have information on this subject? I have put a photo on the internet of the nest below.

http://home.pacifier.com/~birder/monk.html

Sherry Hagen
Vancouver, WA
littlebirder at pacifier.com