Parrots in the London Area A London Bird Atlas Supplement Richard Arnold, Ian Woodward, Neil Smith 2 3 Abstract species have been recorded (EASIN http://alien.jrc. Senegal Parrot and Blue-fronted Amazon remain between 2006 and 2015 (LBR). There are several ec.europa.eu/SpeciesMapper ). The populations of more or less readily available to buy from breeders, potential factors which may combine to explain the Parrots are widely introduced outside their native these birds are very often associated with towns while the smaller species can easily be bought in a lack of correlation. These may include (i) varying range, with non-native populations of several and cities (Lever, 2005; Butler, 2005). In Britain, pet shop. inclination or ability (identification skills) to report species occurring in Europe, including the UK. As there is just one parrot species, the Ring-necked (or Although deliberate release and further import of particular species by both communities; (ii) varying well as the well-established population of Ring- Rose-ringed) parakeet Psittacula krameri, which wild birds are both illegal, the captive populations lengths of time that different species survive after necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), five or six is listed by the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) remain a potential source for feral populations. escaping/being released; (iii) the ease of re-capture; other species have bred in Britain and one of these, as a self-sustaining introduced species (Category Escapes or releases of several species are clearly a (iv) the low likelihood that deliberate releases will the Monk Parakeet, (Myiopsitta monachus) can form C). The other five or six¹ species which have bred regular event. Extrapolation from 6 months of lost be reported as lost; and (v) the low likelihood of self-sustaining populations. In the London area, at least once in the UK are currently classified as and found notices (hosted by the Parrot Society UK) species with free-living populations being reported four species have bred or attempted to breed, while not self-sustaining (Category E) (Harrop, 2013). indicates that a minimum of 400 captive parrots as found. For some species, these factors could lead two others have shown themselves able to survive However, three of them, Monk (or Quaker) Parakeet escape each year in Britain, including 168 birds which to significant under-reporting of escapes. Indeed, outside captivity for long periods and a further two Myiopsitta monachus, Blue-crowned Parakeet (or are recorded as ‘found’ (presumably re-captured, Fletcher and Askew (2007) estimated that several are reported widely and frequently as escapees. Conure) Aratinga acuticaudata and Peach- faced see Table 1). Around 17% of the reported escapes hundred Ring-necked Parakeets may escape or be While the control programme for Monk Parakeet (or Rosy-faced) Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis occurred in the London area. released from captivity every year in Britain which continues, it currently seems unlikely that any of have previously been recommended for inclusion in Reports of escaped birds also appear regularly is substantially more than the number of any kind of these species will become as numerous as the Ring- Category C (Dudley, 2010). in county bird reports (NBN Gateway). There is not parakeet reported as lost or found. necked Parakeet in the near future. Importing parrots into Britain was legal from much correlation between the data derived from the early 1970s until 2005, when an EU-wide ban the lost or found notices and that derived from Parrots in the London Area Introduction on the import of wild birds came into force (in county bird reports, even when those species with Self (2014) lists 29 species of parrots which have There are approximately 356 species of parrots response to avian influenza). Excluding Budgerigar free-living populations are discounted. For example, been reported at large in the London area (Appendix (Psittaciformes) globally. The native range of parrots and Cockatiel, a minimum of 554,000 individuals the African Grey Parrot is the species most often 3). A further two species were reported in the is predominantly within the tropics and the southern of approximately 260 taxon were imported to the reported as lost or found, while it is one of the least London Area during the London Bird Atlas Project, hemisphere. These include parrot species which UK between 1975 and 2005 (https://trade.cites. frequently reported as an escape by birdwatchers, bringing the total to 31. Of these, up to 20 species occupy temperate areas of the southern hemisphere org/). The ten most numerous of these imports for instance, only two were reported to be at large were recorded in the 10-year period 2006 to 2015, including New Zealand, Tasmania and southern accounted for nearly 60% of the total, with the by the bird watching community in the London area with most of these species being non-breeding and Chile and Argentina, and others which occupy most numerous of these, the African Grey (including mountain regions in more tropical zones. Excluding the Timneh sub-species) accounting for 16% of Table 1: Escaped parrots in Britain, extrapolated from lost and found notices (n=208) the total imports. The imported birds included naturalised populations, the northern limit of parrot Rank Common name Scientific Name Origin Proportion of reports distribution appears to have been determined by approximately 26,000 Ring-necked Parakeet, 6,000 1 African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Africa 33.8% natural features in Africa (desert), Asia (mountains) Monk Parakeet, 7,300 Blue-crowned Parakeet, 2 Parakeet - - 13.0% and Australasia (sea) and by human activity in the 4,400 Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria, Americas; the Carolina Parakeet, which occurred as 63,500 Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus, 3 Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Australia 11.1% far north as New York, became extinct in the 1930s 20,000 Blue-fronted Amazon (or Parrot) Amazona 4 Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus Australia 7.2% (Forshaw, 2010; Hume & Walters, 2012). aestival, 12,000 Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis 5 Amazon Amazona sp. South America 6.3% Parrots are popular as pets and many have roseicollis and 420 Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus 6 Conure - South America 4.3% escaped or been deliberately released outside haematonotus, see Appendix 2. Many parrot 7 Lovebird Agapornis sp. Africa 4.3% their native range. Lever (2005) gives accounts species are easy to breed in captivity and, despite 8 Alexandrine Psittacula eupatria Asia 3.9% for up to 35 parrot species which have become the current import ban, the captive population of 9 Cockatoo Cacatua sp. Australia 3.9% at least some of these species is expected to be naturalised outside their native range, worldwide, 10 Macaw - South America 2.9% as a result of escapes and introductions (see stable or increasing. For example, Fletcher and 11 Eclectus Electus roratus Australasia 1.9% Appendix 1). Naturalised and escaped populations Askew (2007) estimated that at least 802 captive 12 Kakariki Cyanoramphus sp. New Zealand 1.9% of parrot species are especially prevalent in the bred Ring-necked Parakeets entered the captive southern states of the USA; for example, Sibley population per year between 1990 and 2004, which 13 Sengal Poicephalus senegalus Africa 1.4% (2000) describes 27 species which are encountered might be roughly equal to the death rate for the 14 Parrotlet - South America 1.0% regularly in North America (see Appendix 1). Other population of 26,000 imported birds, since these 15 Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus South America 1.0% localities with naturalised populations of parrots can live up to 34 years in captivity (http://genomics. 16 Barraband’s Polytelis swainsonii Australia 0.5% include parts of New Zealand and Europe. In senescence.info). Young birds of many species, 17 Caique Pionites sp. South America 0.5% Europe, there are up to 11 alien parrot species with including Ring-necked Parakeet, Monk Parakeet, 18 Lorikeet - Australia 0.5% established populations (aliens), while a further 41 Blue-crowned Parakeet, Alexandrine Parakeet, 19 Pionus Pionus sp. South America 0.5% 1 The sixth relates to a possible breeding record of Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus Cover: Ring-necked Parakeet at the London WWT. (Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne) haematonotus in Northamptonshire in 1998 (Ogilvie & RBBP, 2000). Source http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/lost-stolen-and-found-parrots 4 Table 2: Species of Parrot recorded at large in the London Area 2006 – 2015 Category Description Common Name Scientific Name 1 Breeding Fully naturalised, increasing or stable Ring-necked parakeet Psittacula krameri Species Accounts 2 Annually, stable or declining Monk-parakeet Myiopsitta monachus 3 Occasionally Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Blue-crowned Parakeet Aratinga acuticaudata 4 Non-breeding Long-lived (more than one year) Senegal Parrot Poicephalus senegalus Blue-fronted Amazon Amazona aestiva 5 Short-lived, frequent reports Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 6 Infrequent reports Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita Solomon’s Cockatoo or Cacatua ducorpsii Ducorps’s Corella Galah Elophus roseicapilla African Grey Parrot Psittacus erithacus Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius Blossom/Plum-headed Psittacula roseata/ Parakeet cyanocephala Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis Sun Parakeet or Conure Aratinga solstitialis Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica Yellow-crowned or Amazona ochrocephala Yellow-fronted Amazon Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora Scarlet Macaw Ara macao infrequent escapes that may not survive for long or wintering seasons. The second type shows the are soon re-captured, see Table 2. number of years in which a species was recorded Of most significance are those species which have in a given tetrad for the 10-year period from 2006 shown themselves capable of breeding or surviving to 2015. The third and fourth are standard breeding in the wild for long periods (more than one year), and winter season maps in the format of the London here or elsewhere in Britain, plus species which Bird Atlas and in the same period.