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Invasion of the lovebirds
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There's an intruder in Phoenix, Arizona - a creature who shouldn't be seen here. This intruder is noisy and eats the food of those who live here and takes over their homes. The suggestion of an intruder conjures up a dark, sinister image but this particular intruder is actually cute - although appearance aside, an intruder all the same. The intruder-at-large ? The peach-faced lovebird!
Peach-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) are native to the arid regions of SW Africa, in particular, the Namib Desert. These small parrots are social animals and congregate in small groups as they forage for seeds and berries. Living in dry, open country, peach-faced lovebirds rely on the presence of water for taking frequent baths as well as drinking. Lovebirds are renowned for their sleeping positions. The parrots sit side by side on their shared perch with their faces turned towards each other. Quite romantic and hence their common name!
So what are these small African parrots doing in Phoenix? Peach-faced lovebirds have been popular pets for many years not just in Phoenix but around the world. Whether accidental or deliberate, these birds escape their enclosures, end up outdoors, and free to fly where they may. They do quite well in the dry, arid climate of the Phoenix area and have access to permanent water sources. Peach-faced lovebirds are not uncommon visitors to backyard bird feeders where they can eat plenty of millet seed. The parrots have been seen nesting in palm trees and in the woodpecker holes of giant saguaros where not only woodpeckers nest but also tiny owls.
Currently, the full impact of the lovebirds intrusion upon the native birds of the Phoenix desert and their environment is unknown. The parrot's population growth requires monitoring. For those of you living in Phoenix, there's a link below to a site that monitors the location of lovebirds in addition to other important information. Although it may seem fun to watch these pretty parrots land in our yards, there's rarely a happy ending for native species when exotic animals escape. Let's be sure to maintain escape-proof enclosures for the exotic pets we enjoy.
Mitakuye Oyasin ..."We are all related"
For peach-faced lovebird sightings and information: mirror_pole.com/collpage/pf_loveb/pfl_1.htm
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