Strategies for parakeets?

[Mr. Gain]

For the first time this year, I'm seeing ring-neck parakeets looking to nest on one of my local permissions. Initial numbers are in single- or low double-digits, but still too many.
I have no experience controlling this species, so would welcome advice from anyone who has.
My Plan A is to target the holes where they're nest-building, shooting them from a hide with an air rifle, but I'm also wondering if:
a) they could be drawn to a feeder, and if so, what type and what feed would be most effective; and
b) there is any effective method of trapping available.
Thanks in advance

 

[tedsalad]

When they build in number (and they will) you will be using the shotgun!

You are definitely on the right path by trying to prevent them getting a strong hold.

 

[sh1kar]

Gelignite and diesel

Quelea

 

[Siggy]

Unbelievably in my opinion, this non-native, invasive species is protected the same as any other bird so you will need to work under license e.g GL 42

GL42: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to prevent serious damage

www.gov.uk

it does list all the methods you can do, but you can only kill them for prevention of serious damage to crops, fruit and vegetables.

 

[Pedro]

They are bloody and deceptively fast flying things. Raptors that generally catch birds in flight have a hard time with them. So if it comes to using a shotgun, give it a fair bit of lead if you are shooting them on the wing.

 

[Mr. Gain]

Unbelievably in my opinion, this non-native, invasive species is protected the same as any other bird so you will need to work under license e.g GL 42

GL42: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to prevent serious damage

www.gov.uk

it does list all the methods you can do, but you can only kill them for prevention of serious damage to crops, fruit and vegetables.

Thanks. I'm aware of that. It was the farmer telling me they'd been eating the buds off his apple trees that put me on to them. I can't safely shoot them in his garden/ orchard, as it's between a road with plenty of horse and pedestrian traffic and an active farmyard. I've therefore identified the area they seem to have decided to nest/roost in and am hunting them there.

 

[artschool]

i saw these in london. how far north are they getting?

 

[LuckyEddie]

i saw these in london. how far north are they getting?

There’s a small flock in Glasgow as well as Kirkcaldy.
Also reported being sighted on the edge of Dundee

 

[jall55]

i saw these in london. how far north are they getting?

A few just off M1 J28

 

[Mr. Gain]

I'm just N of the M42, S of Birmingham

 

[artschool]

thats really interesting i figured they would only stay in the south because its warmer

 

[Brad93]

Hundreds in essex

 

[merlin]

These two?



Oh...... hang on a mo...... ...... I may have misread the thread title.........

 

[Mr. Gain]

That's one pair that won't be breeding.

 

[Skinny Pete]

If you target the roost site you may get 1 or 2 chances before they go elsewhere to roost.
You are better off targeting them at feeding sites or where they congregate before going back to the roost site. Keep the roost site untouched untill you are down to the last couple.
Nest sites are hard to locate as they normally don’t call on their arrival. They will investigate a few cavities before committing.

 

[Mr. Gain]

If you target the roost site you may get 1 or 2 chances before they go elsewhere to roost.
You are better off targeting them at feeding sites or where they congregate before going back to the roost site. Keep the roost site untouched untill you are down to the last couple.
Nest sites are hard to locate as they normally don’t call on their arrival. They will investigate a few cavities before committing.

Thanks. I think these two were staking a claim to an ash tree with a potential nesting hole in it.
I've not yet been out at nightfall to see if there's any kind of communal roost yet. In any case, numbers are still low.
Do you know whether they roost early, like pigeons, or late, like corvids? Do they like warm roosts, like conifers, or prefer large, more spacious trees?

 

[weblyish]

Thanks. I think these two were staking a claim to an ash tree with a potential nesting hole in it.
I've not yet been out at nightfall to see if there's any kind of communal roost yet. In any case, numbers are still low.
Do you know whether they roost early, like pigeons, or late, like corvids? Do they like warm roosts, like conifers, or prefer large, more spacious trees?

Absolutely rammed with them near me.
They roost anywhere but lots in hole in old dead oak often fairly exposed
No communal roosts but often a few nesting in the same tree

Absolute buggers for stripping buds off stuff, last thing the chestnut needs is all the bids nipped off

 

[bungycool]

Fruit is their go to, as bait especially orange fruits like mangoes, papaya banana etc.

 

[GN01]

I am in Birmingham and the local RSPB nature reserve, Sandwell Valley, proudly announced that they had nearly 10k of them a couple of years ago.

 

[jb1]

There in Staffordshire