Monk Parakeets in Texas also called Quaker Parrot, were first recorded in New York in 1967 after escaping shipping crates at JFK airport. These parrots originate in Argentina and are well adapted to temperate climates. In South America, Monk Parakeets live in dry savannas and woodland up to about 6,000 feet elevation.
This picture came from San Leon TX, Galveston Co. A stable population of Monk Parakeets in Texas has existed there for many years.
Although it is an invasive species, there has been little data showing a negative impact on either native species or agriculture. The Monk Parakeet global breeding population is estimated at 20 million. Three percent being in the U.S. cities. Stable populations exist in San Diego, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Providence, Miami, and St. Petersburg.
I frequently see small flocks of up to 20 birds in the Houston area. Monk parakeets are the only member of the parrot family to build stick nests and to nest in colonies. In addition Monk Parakeets in Texas build these huge nests on telephone poles and high tension power poles. Certainly the power company frowns on this habit of using power poles because it sometimes creates problems when the nest shorts out a transformer. It appears as though Monk Parakeets in Texas are here to stay.
