Earlier this year it was forecast that the ring-necked parakeet population could surge to more than 100,000 now that the bird has become firmly established in southeast England. There are already an estimated 20,000 of them, surpassing native birds such as barn owls, nightingales and kingfishers.
Now at least two other similarly exotic species are successfully breeding. One, the monk parakeet, has been found in both Devon and Hertfordshire. The other, the alexandrine parakeet, has established an enclave in Merseyside.
The secret of the parrots’ success lies in their adaptability and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds says they could displace natives such as owls and lesser-spotted woodpeckers, which use the same kinds of holes in trees for nesting.
Dr Chris Butler, a zoologist at Oxford University and an expert on the wild parrot population, said there were now too many to control: “The number of parrots is increasing by 30% every year.” Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth, called for tough action before the invaders could spread.
The government is considering a report that recommends the creation of a new agency with powers to exterminate invasive species.