Parrots invade Argentinian town, wreak havoc on residents
The coastal town of Hilario Ascasubi in Argentina is facing an invasion of thousands of parrots, which are fleeing from deforested hills. In peak periods, there are as many as 10 birds per resident, Reuters reported on Monday.
"The hillsides are disappearing, and this is causing them to come closer to the cities to find food, shelter and water," said biologist Daiana Lera.
Parrots have been coming to the town for a few years, seeking shelter in the autumn and winter. In the summer, during the breeding season, the birds migrate south to Patagonia.
Screeching and leaving droppings
As Reuters writes, the birds drive residents crazy, screeching and leaving their droppings everywhere.
Parrots eagerly gather on roofs and electric cables. "They bite and damage the cables. Water can then get into the wires when it rains and transmission is cut off. These parrots create daily costs and problems for us," said local journalist Ramon Alvarez.
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Residents have tried many ways to scare the birds away, such as using noise or lasers, but nothing has worked.
Patagonian conure - an attractive bird that can live up to 20 years
The species causing such trouble for Argentinians is the Patagonian conure (Cyanoliseus paragons). This bird inhabits central Chile and Uruguay, in addition to Argentina. Its body length is 46–48 centimetres, and it weighs up to 0.45 kilograms. It can live up to 20 years.
Patagonian conures are frequently kept in captivity due to their attractive plumage - their lower body parts are reddish-maroon, the edges are yellow, and the tail feathers, called rectrices, are blue-green.
