Monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots, are a species of parrot that is native to South America. They have established wild breeding populations in several states in the United States, including Connecticut.
The monk parakeet is a medium-sized, bright green parrot with a gray breast, green wings and tail, a pale beak, and a blue forehead. They build very large nests out of sticks in trees, telephone poles, and other structures. These nests can cause damage and electrical fires.
Monk parakeets were brought to the United States as pets in the 1960s and 1970s. Many escaped or were released, and they began establishing breeding populations. The largest populations are in Florida, Texas, New York, and Connecticut.
In Connecticut, monk parakeets were first observed breeding in the wild in Greenwich in 1973. Populations soon spread to other towns along the coast and inland. Their large nests and potential to cause damage led to initial efforts to eradicate them in the 1970s and 1980s.
Current Population Status
Monk parakeets are well established in Connecticut today. The population appears to be stable or increasing slowly. They are now found in at least 92 of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities.
The centers of their population remain in southwest Connecticut in cities like Stamford, Bridgeport, and Greenwich. But they have expanded inland to places like Waterbury, Hartford, and Groton.
Counts of their massive nests have found between 196 to 226 nests state-wide in recent surveys. Each nest houses multiple breeding pairs, so the total population is estimated at 2,000 to 4,000 birds.
Geographic Range
Here is a table summarizing the geographic distribution of monk parakeet nests and populations in Connecticut based on surveys:
| Region | Number of Nests |
|---|---|
| Southwest CT | 125 |
| Greater Hartford Area | 45 |
| Connecticut Coastline | 40 |
| Eastern CT | 16 |
As the table shows, southwest Connecticut has the densest population, with over half of all nests concentrated in that region. But monk parakeets have spread across most of coastal and central Connecticut at this point.
Population Trends
The population of monk parakeets in Connecticut has been increasing since they first became established in the 1970s. However, the rate of increase seems to have slowed in recent decades.
Surveys of nests and bird counts have found:
- In 2000, there were about 156 nests and 1,200 birds
- In 2010, there were 203 nests and 2,500 birds
- In 2020, there was an estimated population of 2,000 – 4,000 birds
The stalled growth may indicate the population is reaching equilibrium or the carrying capacity of the environment. However the underlying population remains stable and monk parakeets remain thoroughly established across southern Connecticut.
Effects and Management
The presence of monk parakeets in Connecticut has resulted in some notable effects on infrastructure, agriculture, and native species. There have also been continuing efforts to control or manage the population.
Effects on Infrastructure
The large nests built by monk parakeets are constructed on man-made structures about half the time in Connecticut. Common nest locations include utility poles, cell phone towers, electrical substations, and bridges.
Their nests can become massive over time, with some containing over 200 pairs of birds. The weight and debris can damage the structures they are built on.
Additionally, their nests near electrical equipment have caused power outages, fires, and other damage. For example, in 2012, a fire was sparked by a nest on a transformer in Stratford that caused over $500,000 in damages.
Agricultural Impacts
Monk parakeets are known to eat a wide variety of fruits, seeds, and crops. In Connecticut, they occasionally damage field corn and fruit orchards.
One study estimated they caused a 1-2% loss in some cornfields they frequented. Their agricultural impacts are minor overall, but can be significant on a local scale.
Effects on Native Species
There is some concern that monk parakeets may compete with native bird species, especially other cavity nesters. However, research in Connecticut has found no strong evidence of diminished populations of native birds so far.
Blue jays and other native species may actually benefit from using abandoned monk parakeet nests. Continued monitoring will be needed to watch for long-term changes in native bird communities.
Population Management
Early control efforts in the 1970s and 80s focused on dismantling nests and trapping programs to try to eradicate monk parakeets. These programs significantly reduced the population temporarily.
But the cost and effort was unsustainable. With monk parakeets now widely established, management has shifted to controlling local conflicts.
Nests are still removed if they threaten infrastructure like power lines. Trapping programs near crops or sensitive areas also help limit damage. But large-scale eradication is no longer considered feasible.
Conclusion
Monk parakeets remain well-established across Connecticut, with stable or slowly growing populations centered in the southwest but present statewide. Their large nests can create conflicts with infrastructure that require control efforts. But they do not appear to be heavily impacting native species or agriculture so far.
Continued monitoring of nest sites, population trends, and their ecological impacts will be important to manage Connecticut’s naturalized monk parakeets responsibly into the future.
