It brings us pleasure to report that Brooklyn parrots now appear to be living in Thomas Greene Park in Gowanus. We’ve never noticed them there (and the parrots are very noticeable based on their distinctive squawking) and don’t recall seeing reports of a colony there–although parrots have been reported in Park Slope, possibly drawn by apple trees–so we assume it’s fairly recent. In any case, the reason for our parrot pleasure is that a reader writes:
Has anyone reported seeing the flock of perhaps 7 or 8 feral parrots in Thomas Greene Park? I have seen them from my roof on DeGraw Street flying noisily between somewhere up-slope and the trees in the park. Saw them a few weeks ago and again last evening. As soon as you hear or see them it is clear that these are no native birds.
We encountered a colony on City Island recently and knew without even looking up that there were parrots around based on the noise they were making. Unfortunately, the photo here, while of a Brooklyn parrot is not of a Gowanus parrot.
7 responses so far ↓
1 steve baldwin // Sep 24, 2007 at 7:25 am
Wow – Parrots in Gawanus Park – this is big news.
I have a new hypothesis about why the parrots are turning up in areas where they haven’t been seen before. There have been multiple nest removals in South Brooklyn this past year by Verizon, Con Edison, and the NY Education Department. These disruptions may be causing the parrots to seek more parrot-friendly neighborhoods.
2 Anonymous // Sep 24, 2007 at 8:24 am
I saw the parrots last year eating apples and pears at the Armory. A group of 6 or so birds. Very loud and boisterous. They were there for a week or so and then disappeared. They were raiding the trees, taking one or two bites and then dropping the apples on the ground for the starlings to finish off. The homeless ladies who use the space under the trees for recreation would be able to give you more info.
3 ccgh // Sep 24, 2007 at 8:39 am
most likely from Green-Wood Cemetery’s colony. they have quite a range. unless you see nests, very noticeable bundles of twigs, multi tiered (very Scarano-esque…I joke), they as you observed…they’re there for ‘dem apples!
4 Anonymous // Sep 24, 2007 at 10:52 am
The parrots have been appearing in the neighborhood more and more. Here are some sitting on my terrace last summer. I love having them around.
5 J$ // Sep 24, 2007 at 12:30 pm
yeah they’re all over JJ Byrne Park now, so Gowanus is not far.
6 steve baldwin // Sep 24, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I agree with the comments of ccgh and anonymous. The parrots seem to be attracted to Park Slope because of the apple trees.
There is, I believe, an additional reason causing many of the birds housed in the Green-Wood parrot complex to visit Park Slope. There is a very active Red-Tail hawk in Green-Wood (who apparently also hunts with a Falcon) and the parrots appear to be using the Slope as a relatively safe refuge. But they go home each night to their main colony — I have yet to see any evidence of nest facilities being constructed by the parrots in Park Slope.
7 Shaina // Sep 24, 2007 at 1:38 pm
i’ve been seeing/hearing the parrots in my neighbors’ backyards on 10th street between 3rd and 4th avenues for the past few months. there are a few big trees back there that they like to perch in. i’ve been trying to get a picture of them to send into this blog, but they’ve remained elusive when i’ve had my camera on me. they do drive my cats nuts, though!
funny thing is, this isn’t the first time we’ve had “tropical” birds in gowanus…the guy who used to own the antique/junk shop and the watch repair shop on 3rd between 10th and 11th used to keep about 10 parrots and macaws in cages in his back yard; it sounded like a jungle during the day! he left a few years ago, so it was really funny to hear squawking again when these new guys came around.