ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS

A medium sized parrot native to Africa and the Indian subcontinent, with an unexpected and expanding feral population around the world, especially in the Netherlands, and the vicinity. These colourful and extremely noisy birds were introduced to Europe as exotic pets imported from the tropics, and have probably managed to escape from captivity. According to one hypothesis, the relocation of an American trading company in Amsterdam-West didn't exactly go as planned, accidentally releasing hundreds of parakeets from their menagerie. Larger cities in the west of the Netherlands, Brussels, Paris and London, where trees, food and water is abundant with no predators and relatively mild winters, are home to these birds since the mid 70's.

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However charming they might be, they are also regarded as invasive aliens (just like rabbits and pheasants were once...) endangering local native species. Love them or hate them, there is no argument that they do add colour and spice to the often gloomy skies!