Wild Encounter with a Parrot

A wild parrot landed on my mom's shoulder last week. We were in Irmo, when suddenly, it just flew through the door of the ice rink and said "hello, hello." Then it jumped on her head. My mother asked people to get it off her, but they were too scared. It was on her for 45 minutes, until someone called a "bird guy", who owned 150 birds. He took it home.

It reminded me of a show I saw called The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, where wild parrots lived in the middle of a big city.

It also made me think of the Carolina Parakeet. Huge flocks of these colorful birds were once everywhere in South Carolina, until they were hunted into extinction in 1918. Here's what John Audubon wrote about the Carolina Parrot.

Wouldn't it be nice to look out your window and see wild colorful parakeets in the trees?

Would you be surprised if a parrot landed on your shoulder?

Flocks of Carolina Parakeets

The Carolina Parakeet used to be all over the South. But like the passenger pigeon, they were all shot down. Extinct! The last Carolina Parakeet died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918, the same spot the last passenger pigeon died in 1914! I wrote about the passenger pigeon a few weeks ago.

The Carolina Parakeet was the only North American Parrot. They filled the skies in South Carolina. There were more of them than Robins. I wish I could look up and see those colorful birds flying around today. Can you imagine flocks of wild parakeets in your yard?

There are so many birds today in danger of extinction. Click here for ways to help! You should stop using poisons and pesticides in your yard, and protect the water. Check out these important bird areas.
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