SHORELINE — The Hannah family has had some unusual visitors this fall: a flock of six to nine green parrots eating out of their apple tree.
The parrots first showed up at the family’s home near Ridgecrest Elementary School on Oct. 23.
“They were paired up, hanging out together and sitting in our really old apple tree in our backyard,” said Kathy Hannah. “They were usually here early in the morning, and just before sundown, and they are really loud.”
They eat out of the top of the apple tree, and sometimes they sit all in a row on the power lines.
The green parrots in the Hannahs’ yard are about 10 inches tall from head to tail, and are usually found in South America, not the Northwest.
“It’s known that there are about three or four flocks of parrots that have gotten loose and are flocking around together (in the Seattle area,” said Kurtis Wright with Fin and Feather pet shop.
One well known flock lives in Seward Park.
“They are not usually birds that would hang out together,” Wright said, “but in a situation to avoid being picked on by larger birds like crows, they stay together. It’s the safety in numbers routine.”
Wright said most likely, these parrots were individual pets that got loose.
“The majority of the time, it’s people who’ve had their birds outdoors in the summer and they get away from them. Then you’ll see ‘lost bird’ signs hanging up in the neighborhood,” he said.
The birds will hide and do what they can to survive and can actually pretty easily find other same-sized birds, like other parrots, and start hanging out together.
“They seem to slowly adapt to our weather. Most of them will cuddle together,” Wright said. “After about a year or so, they turn feral.”
The Hannah family hasn’t spotted their visitors since late last week, and wonder if they will return next fall to dine from their apple tree.
“It’s been quite a novelty,” Kathy said.
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