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diversions
CSULB is home
for some wacky parrots
By Gabriel Lefrancois
On-line Forty-Niner
They fly around
campus in flocks, wreaking havoc with loud piercing screeches.
Their alleged love for Cal State Long Beach eucalyptus trees
is apparent.
The Mitred Parakeet
a member of the parrot family has become a fixture
on campus and certain areas of Long Beach, mainly the Belmont
Shore and Los Altos areas. Their green body and red mask separate
them from any normal-looking bird in the surrounding area.
Although it is
odd to even think of the idea that a parrot could exist in
a Mediterranean climate, they do, and they are slowly beginning
to grow in population.
"We have been
studying these birds for a few years now," said Charles
Collins, a professor of biological sciences at CSULB.
"Their numbers have been increasing fairly steadily over
the past years. We have examined their flock size and the
overall trend of the birds, which started at around 35-40
a few years ago. Now they are close to 90."
But one question
remains and the real answer is yet to be uncovered.
According to Kimball
Garrett, ornithology collection manager at the Los Angeles
County Museum of Natural History, the Mitred Parakeets are
rumored to have come over by way of the bird trade in South
America and released. Still, another possibility is that the
birds have escaped at some point in time from aviaries or
people that owned them.
"These birds
were imported in large numbers in the late '70s and early
'80s," Garett said. "Nothing is for sure and there
are many rumors regarding how the birds became a fixture in
the community. Many of the trade tactics of parrots is carried
out illegally. I would assume this is how a number of them
escaped."
The parakeets are
natives of South America and reside in places like Peru, Bolivia
and the East slop of the Andes. According to Garrett, the
birds favor the Southern California coastal area because it
resembles their native habitat. This is one reason the parakeet
is able to survive in the Long Beach area. But not everyone
is a fan of the feathered flyers survival.
The City of Long
Beach Bureau of Animal Control said they have received many
calls from people because the parrots make so much noise.
The bureau claims they are not responsible for the birds,
but they will assist if someone calls to report an injury.
"People will
say, 'do something about it,'" said Mark Carey, senior
officer of the bureau of animal control. "There is nothing
we can do. We can't go out with a shotgun and shoot them ...
that wouldn't be good P. R."
According to Steve
Garvin, owner of the Feather Tree aviary in Long Beach, there
are a number of different types of the Mitred Parakeet.
"It's amazing,"
Garvin said. "There are 28 different types and only two
types do well in this environment. They have definitely found
a way to survive and prosper."
The Mitred Parakeet
situation seems to be on the back burner for now, according
to animal control.
"How the situation
will resolve itself, I'm not sure," Carey said. "But
if there is enough public outcry, then something will have
to be done. At this time we have no intentions of doing anything."
One thing that
is for sure is the parrots have no intentions of leaving the
area and as Collins said, "there is a good indication
that the population will survive."
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