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City may ban feeding of parrots
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The Board of Supervisors will consider legislation that would prohibit people from feeding the parrots of Telegraph Hill.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Feeding the famed wild parrots of Telegraph Hill could become illegal, because bird advocates are worried that the handouts jeopardize the flock’s health and safety while making them susceptible to bird-nappers.
During the last year and half, the popularity of feeding the colorful parrots at Ferry Park near the Embarcadero — where the birds roost in the trees — has increased. This surge in popularity worries Mark Bittner, who made the parrots world famous by writing “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” and co-starring in a documentary film of the same name.
After learning of the concerns of Bittner and other bird advocates, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, whose district includes Ferry Park, introduced legislation that would amend the police code to prohibit feeding the parrots, technically known as red-masked parakeets, at all city parks. The City’s police code prohibits feeding wild birds on any sidewalk, streets or highway.
The feeding of the parrots brings them in close contact with all sorts of people. “Who has explained to the parrots that you can’t trust all people?” Bittner said. “I think one bird has been captured. We don’t know for sure. The idea that nobody would try, to me, is ludicrous.”
Bittner is also concerned about what would happen if a bird injured one of the feeders. “They’re wild and parrots do bite and they bite hard and they will go for your eyes. If they damage some child’s eye ... the parents are going to sue The City,” he said.
Judy Irving, who directed and produced the popular documentary, said the feeding “could be harmful for them, because if they get too used to a huge supply of sunflower seeds once a day down at Ferry Park — which they are getting used to now — they may lose their adaptability to forage throughout The City.” It is estimated there are 200 parrots in the flock.
Some feeders of the birds said the ban was unwarranted. Alexander Bantov, who owns a nearby restaurant, said he does not think the feeding is a threat and that the joy it brings people far outweighs any reason to prohibit it.
The Board of Supervisors City Operations and Neighborhood Services approved the legislation on Thursday and the full board is expected to vote on it in two weeks.
Should The City ban the feeding of parrots?
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Comments from Examiner Readers
10:48 AM MST on Fri., Sep. 14, 2007 re: "Urban flight: Wild parrots move to suburbs"
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Examiner Reader said:
I work in Los Gatos and saw wild parrots exactly like these in the trees adjacent to the Community Hospital of Los Gatos one morning months ago. They were making a big racket and flying with the other birds. I'm not sure if these are the S.F. parrots having made an appearance all the way down in the South Bay or some other ones but they certainly seemed wild and free. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's noticed them down there.
106 agree | 144 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Kill 'em. Any other non-native species gets whacked.
135 agree | 115 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is inappropriate to feed these wild birds. They are perfectly capable of finding their own food.
150 agree | 133 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How many households in America have parrots in them and how many children have had their eyes eaten? These birds don't even peck like other birds do. I think the 'poking out the eye' stuff is not a valid concern.
162 agree | 157 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
First off, hasn't Mark Bittner himself proven through his movie that that the birds can consume mountains of sunflower seeds and still be healthy? Did anyone else see the same movie?
160 agree | 126 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The parrots aren't disease carriers first of all and I agree that feeding should be banned. Sunflower seeds aren't that healthy for them and they could be dependent on the feeding. For the sake of the flock feeding should be banned.
165 agree | 166 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
These are disease carriers just like pigeons
190 agree | 160 disagree
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Mark Bittner said:
If you just read a newspaper article without sufficient background, it doesn't make sense, no. But there are photos on the Internet of children down at the park with the parrots perched on their shoulders. Parrots, wild or tame, are extremely impulsive, emotional creatures, and when they attack they often go for the eyes. Their own eye rings are often swollen and scabby from attacks from other parrots. The bird in the film named Picasso was blind in one eye from an attack.
195 agree | 174 disagree
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SF RENTER said:
yeah the birds are going to attack kids and eat their eyes. give me a break. stupid
204 agree | 189 disagree
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