Squawk!! Parakeets to be put on the pill!
Stray pets get contraceptive ... to stop them breeding
IT may sound like a bird-brained idea – but wildlife experts are considering a plan to put some of our feathered friends on the pill.
The number of wild ring-necked parakeets in Scotland has soared, prompting concerns over their impact on native species.
Proposals to tackle the invaders include spiking fruit, berries, nuts and grains with contraceptives.
More drastic action could include them being shot in a cull.
The parakeets, known for their bright green plumage and crimson bills, are a favourite with birdwatchers and are becoming more common, particularly in Glasgow.
But Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is preparing a report for the Scottish Government on the best options for dealing with the birds.
Stan Whitaker, SNH’s expert on invasive non-native species, said: ‘This is a difficult issue, as many people really enjoy seeing the parakeets. They are spectacular birds – but they have the potential to affect native birds and fruit crops, which is a concern we’re evaluating with the Scottish Government and stakeholders.’
Glasgow’s colony began via pets which escaped and then bred.
At least 27 birds were recorded in the city over the winter, SNH research suggests, although the actual number may be higher.
The birds – native to the southern Indian subcontinent – gather in a communal roost in the city’s Victoria Park, before dispersing to different areas in early spring.
Some research suggests they compete with the native nuthatch for nesting holes in trees, and damage fruit crops by feasting on the new buds. SNH says the parakeets are among the 100 worst invasive non-native species in Europe and that such species cost the Scottish economy £250 million a year.
Mr Whitaker said: ‘The report will be an objective assessment of the costs and benefits of removing ring-necked parakeets. We will likely consider three options.
‘Do nothing – allow the population to become established and see what happens; suppress breeding through, potentially, use of contraceptives, which is unlikely to be successful in the longer term.’
He said the third option was to ‘remove birds from the population by live capture or shooting, which has been moderately successful with monk parakeets in London and elsewhere’.
US research has already led to monk parakeets being fed sunflower seeds coated with a contraceptive which inhibits the formation of reproductive hormones, with some success. While single birds and pairs of ring-necked parakeets have also been seen in Edinburgh, there is no evidence of those birds attempting to breed.
And not all experts agree they are a threat to native species.
A spokesman for the British Trust for Ornithology said: ‘We monitor trends and we have done some research into ring-necked parakeet and competition for nesting space with native species – but we’ve found very little evidence that there’s any competition.’