Around half a dozen parakeets have become regular visitors to a garden in Dublin.
The birds, which are native to Africa and the Indian Subcontinent were spotted in Fairview among other places around the capital.
Over the past 12 months, the flock of green ring-necked parakeets have been visiting Fairview man Cathal Mac an Bheatha.
They have been spending their time in his back garden. Cathal even has footage of them eating anything from berries, nuts and seeds to household scraps.
The species is present in large numbers in many European cities. There is a huge wild parakeet population in the UK, with most of the birds living in London.
According to a 2019 journal of zoology, the population grew from accidental and intentional pet releases.
Last year, the species was recorded for the first time in the Irish Garden Bird Survey, and they’re already kitted out for St. Patrick’s Day with their bright green feathers.
BirdWatch Ireland said that the ring-necked parakeets are better adapted to our cold temperatures than other parakeets.
The bird is considered an invasive species and the National Biodiversity Centre says anyone who spots a parakeet in the wild can record the sighting on the Biodiversity Ireland website.
Let’s hope the birds stay within their 5km radius!
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