Where to find Monk Parrot colonies in Dallas?

[arthur]

I know there are colonies of these birds in the White Rock area (usually telephone poles).....but I haven't run into any. By chance has anyone found any?

[Jim Victory]

There is several nest located in Duncanville by my house. They frequent my backyard for food. Their main nest was located at the corner of Danieldale and Santa Fe Trail. TXU tore it down so they moved across the street to another transformer. They also have several other nest nearby.

I thought at one point they may make a nest in the tree in my backyard because it is the biggest in the neighborhood and I have spotted them foraging in my yard and on my feeders.

Here is a few shots I took handheld with a 300 f/4L IS and a 2xTC so they didn't come out very good.

[CaptainTom]

I had one of these parrots fly up to my window which had our household parrot in its cage. I thought it was a parrot that had been released, etc.
I had no idea that there were nests of them in the area. I will look closer now that I know.
Thanks.

[Jezebel]

I had no idea there were wild parrots around here. :shock:

[bburton]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

There is several nest located in Duncanville by my house. They frequent my backyard for food. Their main nest was located at the corner of Danieldale and Santa Fe Trail. TXU tore it down so they moved across the street to another transformer. They also have several other nest nearby.

I thought at one point they may make a nest in the tree in my backyard because it is the biggest in the neighborhood and I have spotted them foraging in my yard and on my feeders.

Here is a few shots I took handheld with a 300 f/4L IS and a 2xTC so they didn't come out very good.

Thanks for posting these, Jim. Now, my eye is better educated to look for yet another photo op. :)

[arthur]

Thanks for the pics. I know they are around white rock, just not sure where.

[simsphoto]

There is a colony of these Monk Parakeets that live near the old powerhouse on the dam of White rock. There are about 120 of them there. Two of them were released many years ago by a woman that lived in a house near there and they managed to survive and grow up a colony. I spoke with a bird expert that knew of them and he gave me the lowdown. They also spend alot of time near Teepee Hill, where the boat houses are.

[arthur]

thanks, I'll look around there. (less for photos - no lens that can reach out and touch them, more for using my spotting scope).

[lewnworx]

They're technically known as "Quaker Parakeets" as well. We've got one at home (who sings the "My name is Dirby and I've got Little Green Chicken Legs" song).

They're extremely smart and hardy little guys.

I've also heard they're around white rock lake someplace and I'd LOVE to find their colony and get shots of it.

They're the only parrot in the wild that build communal nests (more like massive apartment buildings) which each "family" having it's own apartment with two separate rooms a front entry and a main "room" further in. Some of these nests in the wild are massive weighing in at several thousand pounds and housing literally hundreds of quakers.

The whiterock Quakers are NOT indigenous to the region (North America doesn't have any native hookbill parrots, actually) but were originally pets that got loose.

If anybody has specific details as to thier location I'd love to get it. Any chance to get get pics of these guys would be great!

[arthur]

I was cycling today and dropped by the dam area. There's an electrical substation that is chock full of them. You can see the stick nests next to the transformers. Must be 50 of them or so.

Go to this link. In the center (hopefully) are what look to be 4 tiny white houses next to each other. THat's the substation.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=dallas...;t=k&hl=en

[arthur]

when you click on the map link, you will need to enlarge it by pressing the + sign on the left, and you will see what I am talking about.

[Bats21]

Several pairs have made their homes in the light poles at Sprague Field (SE Dallas)

[Bill Huber]

Originally Posted by bburton

Thanks for posting these, Jim. Now, my eye is better educated to look for yet another photo op. :)

There are tons of them in Everman, just drive by the police station and look up on all the poles...

[TxKent]

One big colony lives at the UT Intramural fields off of Guadalupe and 51st street here in Austin. I worked in the state building across the street, and regularly saw these fellows foraging along with the grackles.