We have a very interesting phenomenon here in San Diego- flocks and flocks of wild Red Crowned Amazon Parrots. Urban legend says that years ago, parrots escaped from a pet store and now fly free and live in the neighborhoods of San Diego. While their origins in this area are not completely clear, one thing is for sure- there are a lot of them - at least in our neighborhood and they are LOUD! Every spring/summer they seem to show up in the sky, sitting in trees, eating berries and creating lots of commotion in the mornings and evenings. They wake us up early in the morning, squawking and landing in the trees around our home. I have been fascinated with our neighborhood parrots for years- there is something quite exotic about waking up to parrot noises in morning- kind of like waking up in a jungle or somewhere far, far away. My fascination has lead to stalking them with my camera from our deck (a girl has gotta have hobbies!) and recently decided to follow them around the neighborhood and up the street- I found about twenty parrots amongst the trees, happily munching away on red berries- they hit the jackpot.
Gorgeous! I'd love to see that once :)
ReplyDeleteWow, thats so cool! What beautiful birdies :)
ReplyDeleteThis is delightfully odd! I love falling asleep to the sound of owls (on the odd occasion), but waking up to parrots? I'd love to do it one day!
ReplyDeleteAren't they fabulous! Didn't know you had them in San Diego. I have read about the wild parrots of Telegraph hill. Must be wonderful to see them!!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! We have some up here, too! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteHow very special and beautiful. So glad you shared this!
ReplyDeleteoh wow, those are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so funny: I live in Heidelberg, Germany and the scenario you described is the same around here. I added some pics to my blog.
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting. I love it that they are free to fly like they were meant to be. You got some beautiful shots of them. Thanks for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteOh how strange! They are so beautiful and that must be a real sight to see. I feel badly for you on the noise though, we have a Senegal parrot and she makes a ridiculous amount of noise by herself! I can only imagine a flock of her haha!
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible! I would love to see that out my window!
ReplyDeleteYou should rent "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". It's a lovely documentary about a similar story of birds and a man that cares for them. I loved it and I think you will, too!
ReplyDeleteAlisa- we have the same problem here on Florida coast - except with Quaker parrots and Macaws - talk about NOISE !! Plastic owls work well if you want to scare them off - look at hardware stores - don't feed them you will have hundreds - one of my silly neighbors did once - I moved !!!
ReplyDeleteyour pictures are amazing! it is awesome that the birds were able to survive outside their natural habitat.
ReplyDeleteWow, that must be amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow! Beautiful shots of beautiful parrots!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's sooo cool that there are parrots flying wild in around San Diego. I would love to go parrot watching in my own backyard!
ReplyDeleteHow interesting! Looks amazing, but I bet they are noisy!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Okay - these are really the coolest pictures I have ever seen! How excited you must have been to get the shots, awesome pictures, thanks so much for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteRent the Movie The Parrots of Telegraph Hill if you haven't read the book. Here we have Monk Parakeets. Rumor has it they have begun living in the entranceways of subway tunnels. The Audobon Society did a great study of them to see if they would compete with Owls-not in the least! Owls would use the top of existing Monk Parakeet nests as homes but the two birds kept totally different schedules. TMI? :)
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I've seen the Telegraph Hill parrots documentary, and it was awesome. You're very lucky to have the beauty of these gorgeous birds in your own neighborhood flying freely as was intended for them. :o)
ReplyDeleteSo...I used to live in OB and heard the parrots all the time. Now I am in Escondido, and I swear I heard them flying overhead this week! I've been in this house for the last two years and have never before heard them in this location. Silly birds, leaving the coast for the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard to capture nature like you did. I am sure that you are not just an ordinary photographer. You are very good. I can see it on your images.
ReplyDeletewe've got the same ones here in Barcelona, Spain, it said they come from Argentina...and have colonized all the palm trees here. Yes they are very noisy:)
ReplyDeletewe've got the same ones here in Barcelona, Spain, it said they come from Argentina...and have colonized all the palm trees here. Yes they are very noisy:)
ReplyDeleteinteresting....we have some up our way in the San Gabriel Valley-seems so many other readers have similar bird stories. I don't seem to mind them-thought they are loud!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...
interesting....we have some up our way in the San Gabriel Valley-seems so many other readers have similar bird stories. I don't seem to mind them-thought they are loud!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing...
Oh my - that brings back memories. We lived in Pasadena 30 years ago and they were there too. and I heard the same urban legend about them. Your blog is beautiful and makes me very hungry for food and art!
ReplyDeleteThis is so fabulous! We have them here in Los Angeles as well, it's so special. Have you seen the parrots of Telegraph Hill? A wonderful, wonder documentary.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos... I've tried to spy on them myself (I live in San Diego) but they always seem to choose green trees that camouflage them. You took such fantastic photos!
ReplyDeleteLove your food photos too. Makes me inspired and ready to crawl out of my food rut! Thanks! : )