The Parrots of San Francisco!! Starring cherry-headed conure … Guest Starring blue-crowned conure …Tonights Episode … I had no idea!
Had I known there were wild parrots living in San Francisco I would have made more of an effort to seek them out during a recent visit to the city. As it was they found me! Difficult to pick out in the trees they were not difficult to hear! What a wonderful noise!
First reports suggest a couple of quarantined birds escaped in the late 1980s and took up residence on Telegraph Hill in the city. By the mid 1990s the numbers were approaching 50 and today number over 300. Judging by the noise I can believe it! We overheard a taxi driver telling a fellow tourist that the residents of the adjacent tower block wanted the parrots all shot but I can find no reference to this online.
Judging by the signs under the trees it is clear that people used to feed the parrots (one lady was still attempting to do so). Signs indicated that it is some kind of Federal, City or park misdemeanor to feed the birds. Doubtless if you get caught you will be shipped to Guantanamo Bay or something (where I suspect there may be even more parrots!). Seriously though you can hear what it sounds like in the video below, although spotting an actual parrot is not so easy!
If I ever live in San Francisco I think I will investigate moving to the same condo block! In the meantime there is a Documentary film called The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill which I have added to my watch list.
