Monk Parakeets in NJ

Several weeks ago, Amanda and I spotted green birds behind our house. We thought our eyes were playing tricks on us or something, because come on, green birds in New Jersey? After seeing them a few more times, we started doing research. We pored over our Sibley’s, but were unable to find anything.

The other day, Amanda asked Brian the Ornithologist at the Nature Center about our mystery birds. Turns out they’re Myiopsitta monachus, Monk Parakeets. On the one hand: wow, parakeets in our backyard! On the other hand: they’re an invasive species in North America.

I managed to snap a couple pictures of the noisy buggers this afternoon.

September 22, 2005 - 06:04 PM