A couple years ago, I was told that there were several colonies of monk parakeets that live in the Northeast. The story I was told is they escaped a shipping container at the airport many many moons ago and continued to thrive in small colonies along the Northeast. I have seen them many times in Florida, but went on a mission to find them more locally. After some searching, I found a nesting colony in Winthrop that had apparently been there for years. I watched as three parakeets worked to repair the nest.
According to the Mass Audubon, the monk parakeet, also known as the Quaker parrot, has established itself in Massachusetts and other U.S. states, primarily due to the pet trade. Originally from the temperate to subtropical regions of Argentina and surrounding countries, these medium-sized parrots are known for their bright green plumage, grayish breast and pale yellowish underbelly. They build large, communal nests from sticks and twigs, which house multiple birds, each with its own chamber.
The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 16 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs
