Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Red-masked Parakeet



Red-masked Parakeet aka. Cherry-headed Conure
San Francisco, California, USA
Member of the Parrot Family
§A Chatter of Parakeets§

~true bird fact~ These parakeets are not native to San Francisco, rather famously so. They are feralized populations of escaped pets. Groups like this have established themselves not only in San Francisco, but in Spain, Hawaii, Florida, Mexico, and Texas. Although none of these populations have yet been around long enough to be considered 'established', they are doing well and growing in size, living off the fruits of the palm trees and other tropical vegetation that are commonly cultivated in these places. Another bird that has managed to thrive on the unthinking hubris of human beings.

How endangered are they? Despite all those succeeding invasive populations, Red-masked Parakeets are considered Near Threatened by the International Union on the Conservation of Nature in their native Peru and Ecuador. It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 of these birds there, and populations are declining due to poaching and habitat loss. Again folks, do these birds a favor and do not take them in as pets. Just enjoy them for what they are.

Enthusiastic for fairly mundane things
Likes weird, gimmicky candies (ie. pop rocks, astronaut ice-cream)
This bird loves the 90's!
Sometimes gets so involved in in doing one thing that they don't notice anything else going on around them

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