Pesty immigrants scare away locals
Gangs of immigrants have been troubling locals across London, according to new reports.
Hundreds of complaints have been logged from angry native birds, in response to a growing population of rose-ringed parakeets.
The parakeets, who like to hang out in large roosts of up to 6000 individuals, have been causing noise disturbances and crop damage.
Mr Barry Tit, of Peckham, said: “It’s the rowdy gang culture I’m not a fan of. They think they can come in, take my spot on the bird feeder, drown out our dawn chorus. I actively avoid gardens where they’re hanging out now - I find them too intimidating.”
They have also been blamed for London’s housing crisis. Like our native woodpeckers, parakeets opt to nest in tree cavities and some locals are concerned about a shortage of suitable nesting sites.
Ms Grace Woodpecker, from Richmond, said: “There’s a limited number of holes as it is and with these parakeets coming in there just won’t be enough for us all. As soon as we find something suitable, they’ve got there first - I’m quite worried.
“Who’s going to do something about these pests?”
Parakeets, like rooks, crows and pigeons, have been put under general license, meaning they can be legally shot if they are seriously damaging crops or a threat to public health and safety.
Peregrine falcons, introduced to take care of rowdy pigeons, have recently been taking matters into their own talons.
Bruce Falco, a member of the falcon squad at Tate Modern, said: “We’ve noticed these bolshy birds in recent years, acting like they belong here. It’s a real problem for us so we’ve started picking them off if they’re causing trouble.
“You have to keep the population down, keep control of our skies, make London great again.”
The parakeet population claim they’ve been here since the late sixties, though no one can be quite sure how or why they got to London in the first place.
Polly Krameri, spokesbird for the Council of Parakeet Welfare, said: “Our ancestors may have come from Africa, Nepal, India, but we were born here -
this is our home.
“It’s our culture to hang out in large communities, we really value familial and social support - it’s one of the reasons we’ve settled in so well here and elsewhere in Europe.
“Where’s the evidence that we’re having detrimental effects on native wildlife? I know for a fact that blue tits are thriving. London is a multi-cultural environment - people aren’t
making such a big fuss over canada geese or grey squirrels are they?”
