From the Wild to Miami: The Parrot Invasion Story | Wild to Know

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Parrots have become a regular sight across Miami - they’re unofficial mascots of the city’s vibrant culture. Red-masked, blue-crowned, and monk parakeets are just some of the species brightening the urban landscape.
But parrots aren’t native to Florida, and these feathered residents are actually exotic pets turned feral. What started Miami’s parrot invasion? And how does it impact the local ecosystem? Can birds like parakeets coexist alongside species native to South Florida? We check out this colorful story and meet some researchers trying to tackle the problem.
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Original Production:
„Miami Wild” a Terra Mater Studios production, written and directed by Neil Losin and Nathan Dappen.
Production:
Terra Mater Studios GmbH
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@terramater
#lovebirds #parrot #terramatters
🦜Check out how these hyacinth macaws run a unique seed-distribution service that keeps the rainforest flourishing: • Hyacinth Macaws Run a ...

[@terramater]

👋Hey friends! Have you ever spotted one of Miami's parrots? Or are there parrots living in your area? ↠ For more parrot and other incredible wildlife stories, check out our Wild to Know series: kzbin.info/aero/PLZ3CjNbCdQe-qL0vweacJkW6qvQpOtXYv

[@moonhunter9993]

We actually have native parrots and parakeets here in South Africa. But the ones that became "feral" from previously being pets are cockateels and budgies.

[@itsjeremiahjames]

Yes my aunt have one of It

[@birdielala444]

Yes I saw some today in Edgewater and got so excited!!!

[@petrameyer1121]

There are feral parrots living in swarms in several cities in Germany. In GERMANY!!

[@alexcontreras6103]

All animals that ever existed were once invaders prior to speciation.

[@efrainoctavio3506]

Also it's worth noting that some of these parrots are endangered in their native range

[@beaujac311]

I'm with you in disagreeing with that type of thinking. Those species could cause a native species to go extinct.

[@WizardClipAudio]

@13ased_AmericanWell, considering that we drove the Carolina parakeet to extinction, they’re filling the niche left in their absence too.

[@shaunmckenzie5509]

​@13ased_Americanyes

[@pilot_bruh576]

​@13ased_Americannot really since they are still dangerous but unless they can become like Eurasian tree sparrows in the Philippines

[@invincibleguy9591]

@@beaujac311well we can introduce a predator of parrots which can help their population to stay in control

[@SandyWalkerCoach]

Wild parrot flocks in Miami were not a thing until after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Many people lost their pets when their houses were destroyed. Miraculously many of the birds survived the storm and ever since then the parrots have multiplied. I'm surprised this fact was not mentioned in the video. I'm a Miami native. I love to hear them fly over or congregate in the palm trees of a parking lot. Today 2 green parakeets came to my bird feeder in the suburbs.

[@22espec]

Parrots were popular in Miami since the 50's, Monk Parakeets were already building colonies way bafore Andrew and yes the Huracan did allow more parrots (and pythons) in to the wild, but it was not the beginning of the problem.

[@shannonmcpherson9886]

The zoo lost a crap ton of birds thinking their outdoor Avery was hurricane proof

[@WILD__THINGS]

Respectfully, that's inaccurate. I remember wild parrots since I was born in the early 80s. I'm sure lots more escaped due to Andrew though.

[@sdean4816]

You’re mostly correct but also Miami was the major port for importation of tropical birds from South America and when hurricane Andrew hit it tore up many of the import facilities and thousands of birds escaped into the wild

[@michael85225]

Something similar happened in Phoenix when a bad monsoon storm hit an aviary which held hundreds of lovebirds (who are native to Africa) back In the 90s. Today these lovebirds are still multiplying and thriving to this day.

[@grantbradshaw7907]

Leave them in peace and let them live and breed. They add to the beauty of the green belts and zones

[@esselsid3727]

Unwanted ,but most beautiful invasion

[@terramater]

They are indeed gorgeous!

[@beaujac311]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You never miss what you have got until it is gone.

[@Deeznuggets592]

"Parrots are not native of north america" Last I checked, México was part of North America. There are a lot of parrots there

[@zebedeemadness2672]

Also Central America is a region within North America.

[@jonkiyosaki6600]

And in Texas they are a native and protected species

[@donaldlawrance2982]

We had parrots in the US as well

[@andrewbowlgarte4738]

This is a political propaganda video

[@jickles5078]

@@andrewbowlgarte4738 No. Some of the birds released into Miami were from Mexico for sure, but the majority were not. When a bird from a different ecosystem & adapted to another environment enters a new place, it could likely be invasive. That's inevitable. However, the video also acknowledged that biologists conserving the everglades believe the birds are "likely not invasive or bad for the environment." Adding a new species into an ecosystem *always* has lasting effects and changes, which are usually negative. A variety of new parrot species *is* going to change up creature relationships and the ecosystem, but in this case, it's probably not negative. Don't call something political propaganda as soon as you hear it mention any phrase used in conservation.

[@gabrielalamberti5860]

I live in South Florida and I love the parrots. I love watching them it's what makes Florida...Florida❤❤❤

[@Unlike230]

The Quaker parrots have made their homes in NY too. They escaped when their crate broke in JFK airport and has since adapted to life with the weather

[@chriswheeler6092]

Years ago there was a big group of them that nested in a tree in Pennsylvania and it collapsed because they had put so much weight on it. I used to have Quakers and at the time I wanted to see about taking some of the chicks.Somehow I always end up with Quakers. Ive had at least 3 different pairs and the last time I bought them from a breeder I got babies.

[@rvnmedic1968]

I suspect they haven't settled in upstate NY. I live NE of Syracuse and it would be great to see some of them. But, the weather is very cold in the winter and we get on average about 6-10 feet of snow each season.

[@stellaluuk2713]

Actually two species of parrot are native to the US, the extinct Carolina parrot and the endangered Thickbill parrot. North America includes Mexico as well and they also have 7 native parrot species.

[@jayAAlves]

If they were snakes, people wouldn't think twice about just "getting rid of" them

[@apocalypse487]

That's because humans, like monkeys and apes, are weary of snakes and can spot them slithering faster than any other animal.

[@glenncordova4027]

Parrots unlike invasive snakes won't eat the children. LOL

[@laurenthomas7074]

Agreed! Definitely, we are all too quick to accept invasive birds, but go rabid at the thought of invasive reptiles (Both invasives are bad obviously)

[@laurenthomas7074]

​@@apocalypse487Thats not true Some wariness is natural, but much of our fear is also learned, children growing up in pro-snake, or just snake neutral cultures often approach these reptiles with curiosity and respect rather than fear. We are more than the sum of our evolutionary instincts. Fear of the way snakes move is also as much learned as it is natural. And btw, snakes are not faster than any other animal, some move very fast and others very very slow, some are easy to spot others are nearly impossible to see even by experts. They are a wonderfully diverse group

[@draphotube4315]

Its the same with the hippos in Columbia

[@Cosmic_Hobo]

So instead of pigeons, in typical Miami fashion, they have a parrot problem. No dull grey birds, but bright and colourful. 😂

[@terramater]

When you put it like this 😅 but are pigeons even real? 👀 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpfHk4Cbjcemepo

[@laenvirolatina4763]

We have pigeons too

[@ReiseLukas]

​@13ased_American Nature will endure and eventually adapt to human presence and interference of the environment. Humanity is pushing the need for Nature to adapt rapidly to our progress as a species

[@stellaluuk2713]

Lol, you need to look up pigeons if you think they are all dull grey birds! Nothing beats the Nicobar pigeon for colour. The fruit doves are quite fancy too.

[@pilot_bruh576]

Actually pigeons have a wide array of colours too here we have brown spotted pigeons and red ones living alongside the grey and white ones

[@dens3096]

South Beach local here! We love those loud parrots! ❤

[@lordbmills]

Best invasion ever.

[@terramater]

*five parrots liked your comment 🦜

[@beaujac311]

That's not the feelings of the native birds.

[@jickles5078]

​@@terramater I notice how you only reply to comments approving of these birds. This, plus your bias in the video, proves this video is as much misinformation as it seems. These birds *are not* good for Miami no matter how much the residents enjoy them, because they outcompete native birds and kill off the native population. In your video, you manage to find the GALL to say "That's because the parrot invasion in Miami has gone way beyond just ecological matters," which couldn't be more Wrong. Nothing goes beyond ecological matters. Humans *aren't* more important than the earth. We're *not* so far above the ecosystem that we can just bend it to our will and add whatever we'd like to it - we can't, and that's a fact, your desires won't change nature. If we did, the earth would be in much worse shambles than it is now. We can fix it, but not if people like you act as if invasive species don't exist.

[@terramater]

Hi @@jickles5078, we appreciate your concerns and agree that invasive species are indeed an important issue. The purpose of our videos is not to glorify or encourage the introduction of invasive species, but to highlight their presence and the reasons behind it. The rise of parrots in Miami, in fact, is largely due to them being kept as pets and later set free, which contributes to a problematic and often unregulated pet trade. We've touched upon this in a different video too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGXcmWWGndZoZqc Balancing the love for these birds with the disrupt they cause to the indigenous ecosystem is indeed a delicate issue that needs careful consideration.

[@infini.tesimo]

Actually parrots are native to North America. We had one called the Carolina parakeet until it was hunted into extinction. These birds are just replacing the hole that these ones had all across the United States. African Greys and Love birds in Arizona also come to mind as the perfect environment for them since they originate from harsh African climates.

[@src3360]

Were. They were native but no longer

[@mikeycbaby]

@@src3360Mexico is part of North America and there are still native parrots there.

[@src3360]

@@mikeycbaby Does the Carolina parakeet live in Mexico?

[@liettet8850]

The thick-billed parrot is another that was native to the U.S. & Mexico but now is found just in Mexico.

[@randalllaue4042]

And Australia…

[@RD9_Designs]

It's interesting that we hear about the reduction in wild parrots in South America due to the pet trade, yet here in America, Florida in particular, they're abundant!

[@Funsoul8]

I remember when I was a child we went to Florida and visited the parrot farms. Today in Los Angeles, we have wild parrots I can always hear them squawking as they flyby my window. This started when a plane at LAX lost their cargo of parrots in the 80’s. Since then they have grown in numbers. But I love parrots. ❤❤

[@Loveofpets]

I never knew there were so many parrots that lived wild in Florida.

[@terramater]

Crazy, right?! But in Germany it happened the same: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6TWh3aLfdeYf6M

[@Thoralmir]

I had some idea. My childhood home is right by some electrical towers, where a colony of little green parrots had set up a nesting site. Damn, were they noisy!

[@theodoresmith5272]

Oh yes. The monk parrots are everywhere in south Florida. He is wrong. There was a Carolina parrot that went extinct in the early 1800s as I remember. They were said to fly in Huge flocks from the Carolinas to Florida to Texas.

[@KevinV36]

@@Thoralmirwhen I was smaller I used to live in a apartment complex near Westland mall there was also some electrical towers near . I would only see green parrots there 100’s and 100’s of parrots

[@MaryDeborah1]

Parrots aren't feral (domesticated animals which are now living in the wild), they are wild animals. Unlike many other animals we call pets, parrots do not fall into the definition of "domesticated". Beyond that, this video was very informative and very well put together. Thank you!

[@terramater]

Thank you for watching it!

[@selfishbeats]

tbh parrots dont really need to be domesticated

[@S0ulinth3machin3]

I dunno man, I have a parrot that seems to be quite domesticated (medium sulfur crested cockatoo). She's not really interested in other birds.

[@shannonspage9360]

At what point is an animal considered domesticated ? And who decides which species are wild and which are domesticated?

[@RD9_Designs]

Parrots can live 100 years, so it's highly likely that some of Florida's Parrots are indeed domesticated birds, as in, they were the ones who escaped from their owners.

[@asha8443]

I have to disagree about parrots not being native to North America..up until the beginning of the last century, the Carolina parakeet/conure inhabited the woodlands north of Florida until they were wiped out by hunters

[@trueHerpnerd]

That’s exactly what I was thinking, They are filling a gap, reminds me of the introduction of non native night herons to Bermuda to fill the gap of the extinct native night heron.

[@sergioandrade8735]

I once read that the Carolina parakeet was brought to excitation by the introduction of European Honey bee which likes the same kind of location for their nests.

[@TedH71]

We also have the red-crowned parrot which still exists. They're border birds...they fly over fences between Mexico and the USA.

[@TedH71]

@@sergioandrade8735 they were killed because they competed with the settlers over their crops.

[@bruceunderwood356]

They have the Quaker/ monk parakeets in New York City and Chicago. I think those were harsher climates to get used too.

[@franciscoposada1964]

I live in Miami and no animal bothers me. rather on the contrary I enjoy his presence.

[@natalyazakharova3464]

Why would they bother u!? They try to stay away from u😅

[@Jenvlogs404]

I remember going to Miami Beach and there were parrots on top of tall glass building screeching and could hear their echos, an awe experience, makes FL tropical and iconic, along with the iguanas.

[@fabiolimadasilva3398]

I am Brazilian and live in Rio. Every day I hear groups of parakeets over the building I live.

[@lnayler]

Well I went to Miami once. I liked the weather and decided to stay. Thankfully no one wanted to get rid of me. Let the poor parrots stay.

[@angelalmaguer311]

Don't let people from Miami know you're not an OG from there. We're starting to get pretty hostile to outsiders nowadays 😂

[@liminalghost]

I don’t know why people get aggressive at this topic. It’s important to preserve native species over introduced. Everything is so delicately balanced that one species overwhelming native ones is…not good.?? finding a balance between both is ideal. I hope that becomes the case. I love all the birds 🥲 Good job at coverage as always guys ❤

[@KateeAngel]

Well, human species is the worst invasive species anywhere and also does the most harm. 😂

[@terramater]

Hi Norja! Thanks for your insights and for watching our videos! ❤️

[@ReiseLukas]

​@13ased_American Humans are a byproduct of nature just as much as any creature. We are simply a species that has gone a step beyond the other species in nature. If Nature made us it will learn to adapt to us and we're already seeing the signs of that.

[@beaujac311]

The ideal is not to allow those other species to be allowed in in the first place.

[@ReiseLukas]

@@beaujac311 And yet we allow anyone to cross our borders. If invasive species shouldn't be allowed in why do we allow any foreign people to come in to our nations? Different cultures and beliefs without any conformity to the laws of the nation they move to only divide nations and make any coexistence impossible. Why are we not applying this logic to human beings?

[@JamesZaraza-wv3gt]

Adaptable is an understatement. There are monk parakeets living in the Skyway Bridge in Chicago year round. Definitely one of the best dressed invasive species we have.

[@dennisgardiner43]

Glad the parrots are in Miami and our city in Northern CA. Sorry if a few hundred parrots can't co-mingle in a city as big Miami or the vast Everglades. And,....how are we to say these parrots never were native to Florida? Perhaps 1000, 2000, 3000 years ago there were numerous varieties, but they died out of migrated south.

[@Skitborting]

The persistence of life is truly an amazing thing.

[@Thepateisgreat]

I have a green Quaker parrot named ollie; when I saw all the quakers I was like aaw… a bunch of little invasive Ollies. Lmao.

[@guero-gt]

I wouldn't call it an invasion, they're reclaiming their land. Happy to see animals adapt to the cities. 🎉

[@elizabethklein7073]

Yes. Parrots used to be native to southern USA before they were wiped out by farmers. Carolina parakeet.

[@MeghanBrowning-cy3tm]

Just let the parrots be. We had parrots forever 😭♾️

[@terramater]

They are such beautiful birds 🦜

[@beaujac311]

No, just let the native birds be and quit trying to replace them with a "cuter" bird.

[@MeghanBrowning-cy3tm]

@@beaujac311 Parrots were native to the Americas forever.

[@KannaDuelista]

Many of these animals went to the USA due to animal trafficking...

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

Parrot are not native of north america Carolina parakeet : so now you're spitting on my grave as if burying me wasn't enough.

[@unusualcat535]

Parrots are native to North America

[@MisterGrittle]

Wouldn't the Parrots eventually replace the role the Carolina Parakeet used to have before going extinct?

[@beaujac311]

They are not the same birds, just because they are both parakeets. The Carolina parakeets was a part of the native ecosystem it was naturally adaptive to this climate.

[@Darknimbus3]

More likely, the Monk Parakeet could take on thats role.

[@beaujac311]

@@Darknimbus3 They only survive in big cities because of bird feeders. Out from the bigger cities they do not thrive.

[@emmaleeaman1110]

It’s an interesting question, which would need to be evaluated & answered by professionals in this area, such as Ornithologists and Wildlife Ecologists who specialize in South Florida’s ecology.

[@unusualcat535]

No the answer is no Carolina parakeets played a very specific role in the ecosystem that these invasive parrots can’t replace

[@gaving.griffon2703]

To think that Miami was home to the only parrot endemic to North America, the Carolina Parakeet.

[@RUBPROMAL]

I am wondering how Florida's Ecosystems and wildlife will look like within 30 years

[@terramater]

Yes, it will be very interesting to see it

[@jyoster6447]

The hardiest of native species will have to coexist with adaptable invaders. And those invaders will eventually fill in the roles of some of the native species, which can have some negative effects if it goes badly. Hopefully there can be a balance between the species. The damage has already been done, so it's best to do the best we can with what we're given to support the ecosystem.

[@anthonymorris9061]

I imagine they'll be busy adapting to the encroaching ocean. Or moving north with the warmer weather.

[@terramater]

They are very adaptable little creatures so the chances are high they move up north 🦜

[@beaujac311]

I can only agree with this part "the damage has been done".

[@Beeontree]

You made it seem so scary, they aren’t skyrocketing in numbers or destroying native habitat. Since Miami and south east Florida is a huge urban area most of the natives that couldn’t handle it have already gone anyway.

[@DeathsGarden-oz9gg]

Soo your saying the invasive birds pushed out the native ones in the city and outer city limits. Seams like to me the invasive birds are winning and the native ones are dieing and you are to ignorant to understand that.

[@terramater]

We are definitely not ignoring the problem but we still need to highlight it here 🦜

[@beaujac311]

How can you make such an asinine statement? You act as if there is no native species that will be hurt negatively.

[@Darknimbus3]

@@beaujac311Because so far the parrots aren’t impacting the native wildlife much like the others (i.e. the DAMN IGUANAS, of which I hate with a passion, and the Burmese pythons).

[@Sandip6521]

Never ignore a problem . An outsider species is always harmful to a Natural habitat . Because in that habitat , that outsider species don't have to think much about predators because there is no natural one . So now they may not be a problem but who knows what will happen in the next 300 years

[@briankleinschmidt3664]

Don't imply that humans are at "fault" for bringing parrots to Florida. We are part of the environment, too. Animals migrate, situations change. We adapt. This has been going on since life began.

[@ForgedTony]

there used to be parrots in the usa before colonization. there were tons of birds that went extinct infact. so they are basically just being reintroduced into the north american environment. unfortunately not the orginal but still cool.

[@james4thedoctor482]

The Carolina Parakeet

[@terramater]

Hi Tony, the problem is the local species that are not used to them and now are having a hard time to live together with them :(

[@ForgedTony]

@@terramater so very true. unfortunately many people get pets thinking its easy and then give them away or release them.

[@davids7009]

While it may temporarily displace some species in the long term it may actually have a net positive as it has the function of replacing the lost Carolina Parakeet, in the same way that reintroduction of wolves did to Yellowstone.

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

The Carolina parakeet is an extinct specie. None of the actual specie have the same behaviour and ecological niche. Thats like reintroducing malaysian bear to replace grizzlies.

[@nazz2406]

There are small green parrots here in Austin too. Blew my mind when I first saw them.

[@thraciensis3589]

Scientific researches of ornithologists concluded that parrots do not threaten any other indigenous species at all.

[@beaujac311]

Where can I find that research?

[@unusualcat535]

Nope

[@jamesgibbs7933]

When I lived in Long Beach, California in the 1990's there were a few small flocks of cherry head conures and other wild types flying around. People started feeding them also.

[@AdinaShoshanaSturman-os6tk]

The FIRST I saw of flocks of parrots was after Hurricane Andrew. Initially the mid-sized green parrots. Wildlife escaped from the zoo into our neighboods in So Miami. I'm sure many pets lost their homes as well. Coconut Grove already had flocks of parakeets. LOUD!

[@QuanHG010]

We should re-title this video "US government drops supreme robots in Miami"💀💀💀💀💀

[@Automedon2]

Monk parakeets have acclimated and established themselves in the extreme cold winter climate of Connecticut.

[@ReiseLukas]

Adaptation at work in real time. Even when humanity disrupts the balance of Nature, Nature will find a way to adjust. Because of humans Nature can spread in ways they never could on their own. Whether it's good or bad is debatable, but I think it's simply something Nature has to adapt to, even if some species don't survive the changes.

[@Automedon2]

@@ReiseLukas I don't see it as a bad thing. They call them invasive species because they aren't what we know in our own experience. But, animals migrated all over the globe in different ways millennia ago without human aid. One 'invasive species' is the pythons in the Everglades. They say they are harmful to native species, but as eggs and young pythons, they are also a food source for raccoons, eagles, alligators and countless other animals. I also doubt the numbers they claim (400,000). When there are python hunting events, all they can find is a few hundred. I say if an animal can survive in an environment then, over time nature will adapt to accommodate them.

[@ReiseLukas]

@@Automedon2 exactly

[@terramater]

That's so interesting!

[@josephthibeault9919]

Arizona has the love birds of Pheonix ❤

[@jsantiago8979]

They’re so adorable

[@andreyd457]

Return of the Carolina Parokeet one day :)

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

Nope Bird are nearly impossible to clone infortunatly. So great auk, dodo, Carolina parakeet and passenger pigeon are not to be seen for at least several decade if not an entire century

[@chey7691]

​@@deinsilverdrac8695there is a program to bring the Dodo back. They have made some progress, slow as it is. We may have the Carolina parakeet back in a few decades yet.

[@deinsilverdrac8695]

@13ased_American as far as our technology can go, nope, never. We can't really clone birds, it's too complicated. maybe in some decade IF we improve our technology. So this is impossible for now, but there's a small theroical chance that we might one day be able to clone them. (that doesn't mean we will or that will save them, cloning is not great for gene pool diversity).

[@ronaldcole7415]

They’re REALLY loud. One of many things that took Miami from a once tropical nice area to a sea of concrete, steel, glass and pavement. We call it the artificial city now.

[@arthurzengeler8296]

Once a Quaker parrot landed on my shoulder, and I took it home, for a pet. It was great, and we got along, and bonded. I told that to a guy that worked in a pet shop. And he told me, that also happened to his friend, tho I'm not sure which variety of parrot. I also worked for "parrot Jungle", in the 970s. I noticed more and more feral parrots in Miami, now they are all over. And also, now there are wild, tame, Peacock, all around where I live!

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

I like to think that these feral parrots are filling the void that was left vacant by the extinct Carolina conure.

[@terramater]

Hi Jesus! Interesting thought 🦜

[@zebedeemadness2672]

Non native, not feral, the meaning of feral is a Domestic animal that reverted to a wild state, Parrots aren't domesticated animals.

[@drinny26]

I have a home in Florida. If the parrots decide to make one of your trees home for a few days they can drive you crazy. They are very noisy!

[@shannonspage9360]

Even though they are invasive it is good to see them thrive here as their natural habitates in their native ranges are shrinking. Even though the parrots compete for nesting sites they at least don't prey upon native animal species.

[@terramater]

That's true!

[@michaelrodriguez-spruill5578]

Not only pets but they did escape from the zoos from the bad weather in Miami.

[@deborahbaker4770]

I’ve been wanting a parrot like these from watching KZbin these bird’s are really expensive to buy and here there are ton’s of them FOR FREE ‼️👍🏻

[@terramater]

Then you can appreciate them out in the skies where they belong ❤️

[@jmo2885]

Parrot Jungle was a zoo back in the 80s -90s till Hurricane Andrew came in 92 and destroyed the zoo in Miami, that’s what caused this explosion of parrots today in South Florida

[@birddayparties]

Love the slow mo landimg🎉❤

[@chantalrochon3566]

Wow! I didn’t notice them…will look out for them.

[@gauriprabhu6769]

A magnificent sight.

[@kaylaflintstone6]

Up the coast from Miami, in West Palm Beach, there has been thriving parrot colonies way back from the 1800's. West Palm was actually called Parrot's Cove by pirates back in back in the day.

[@alberttillman8017]

I spent a lot of summers in Florida with family in the late sixties and early seventies. Nothing surprises me about the wildlife in Florida, the tarantulas scorpions large snakes alligators lions tigers and bears (oh my!!!). It was an open air free zoo for me. Leave the birds alone they fit in with everything else, even the crazy and wilder people.

[@irinaivanovic9792]

I have a Cherry head conure who is the love of my life! I raised her since she was a baby and she's now 19 years old. I love that her species was highlighted in here! I live in South Florida and I often see and hear flocks of Cherryheads in Hollywood boulevard on the way to the beach, also in Hallandale Beach as well as down south in Kendall, Miami near the mall.

[@WYLDXHORSE23]

im so jealous of Miami's biodiversity

[@staceyroberts3468]

We live above Sarasota in Manatee county and have lots of Parrots living here also! I can hear them coming and it’s been really cool to see them hanging out.

[@terramater]

Hi @staceyroberts3468! That is awesome to hear! by the way if you are interested our new movie "Yours in Freedom, Bill Baird" can be seen at the Sarasota Film Festival.

[@Mahbu]

Invasive species are a very controversial and very serious issue. With few exceptions (one even being featured in a Terra Mater video years ago - the rosy faced parrots of Arizona), they represent significant risks not just to the environment or native species but also to industry. To agriculture. They can also be threats to humans, depending on the invasive species. That's not even going into the potential biological threats they may introduce like parasites or diseases native species have no resistance to. That said, do these parrots represent a significant risk? I don't know. Potentially. The Rosy faced parrots I mentioned don't seem to be competing with native species and have even assimilated. But just be mindful that it's not a simple subject. Look no further than wild pigs and the destruction they cause. Or the common carp. We literally electrify rivers to keep them out of the great lakes because of what a threat they represent. Or the pythons in the everglades killing native species. Even cats are invasive. Cats, when let out of the house, kill A LOT of birds and other native wildlife.

[@HighMojo]

I welcome this adorable invasion.

[@shannonspage9360]

Florida with its sub tropical climate makes it viable for alot of animals from other areas. I wqs suprised to learn that florida allows for a wide range of pet spieces that other states don't allow. With their mild climate i would think they would be the opposite. Because they are subtropical, pet species that wouldn't servive in the wild anywhere else in the USA can quickly become an invasive species in florida.

[@mikewharton5001]

The thick-billed parrot would disagree that there are no parrots native to North America, including historically the US. There was also the now extinct Carolina parakeet.

[@Barakon]

There was once a parrot that did belong, but it was driven to extinction for shitty hats. The Carolina Parakeet’s void is just being filled with all of these invasive newcomers.

[@unusualcat535]

No these parrots are not the Carolina parakeet

[@Barakon]

@@unusualcat535 I didn’t think they were, they were just taking the niche they left behind.

[@ulical]

As a Miami native, I just want to make one point, South Florida, and here I'm talking about West Palm Beach and points further south, doesn't have a sub-tropical climate but an actual tropical climate according to the Köppen climate classification. Specifically, it has what's known as a tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet season in summer, and a warm, dry season in winter. It is in fact, the only region of the continental United States that has a tropical climate.

[@erikm8372]

People forget that the Carolina parakeet, or _Conurensis carolinensis_ (a conure?), went extinct rather recently. Like, 100 years ago, recently. They were one of the most northerly-distributed of the Psittaciformes (parrots), besides the thick-billed parrot of the Southwest-which is critically endangered now. So…having Psittaciforme birds living in Florida isn’t exactly a “new” thing, but having such a high NUMBER of diverse species I’d say is unprecedented, as far as Mother Nature is concerned 😃

[@SkoomaCat]

We call the Monk parakeets catitas 😮 they're EVERYWHERE here 😂

[@terramater]

are you located in Miami? 😮

[@SkoomaCat]

@@terramater Argentina 🇦🇷

[@tomasck2973]

en qué parte de argentina?

[@doctoribanez]

The huge iguanas on the sidewalks are pretty crazy also

[@razeru3386]

When he was describing the Latin birds I thought he was describing my self and my own Latinos 😂

[@terramater]

😂😂😂

[@calnative4904]

Where I live in Southern California we have hundreds of Mitred Parakeets, noisy, noisy birds.

[@hoihoipoipoi]

they're actually the descendants of parrots lost during hurricane andrew. which you'd know if you were a miami native.

[@diegoflores9237]

We have that in San Diego. I just heard a flock of them yesterday flying over where I work

[@brittnyvancamp785]

The Carolinas parakeet was native to North America until it went extinct. So sad that we lost that but maybe these can fill the niche left behind. :)

[@tarikmehmedika2754]

South Florida to a good part has a tropical climate.

[@RuataLungchuang]

4:23 that was so hilariously dramatic

[@RidwanSulis]

they were so badass!

[@terramater]

Totally!

[@sunshinecarnivores1919]

There was one native parrot species found in the Carolinas but sadly they are extinct now. They were hunted for their colorful plumage which the feathers were used in women's hats.

[@terramater]

That's extremely sad 😢

[@homertangler9529]

4:16 Nope! Owl was NOT having it! Elbow to the beak! 😋

[@adamtschmidt4303]

It's amazing the amount of non native species of animals being released in Florida and the management strategies thereafter.

[@aliimran5281]

Love it

[@habanacerroarti]

Carolina parakeet was in most of eastern United States. Parrots other than the noise are beatifull and harm nothing we love them here

[@sierralovat5498]

I always wondered why organizations dont relocate animals more often. some of those parrots are endangered but thrive here in miami. The native species also thrive up north where there is less competition. Miami is so very full of invasive species and variety.

[@michaelperezlogisticalfish9522]

This video ends with a slightly misleading affirmation. We used have parrots in North America (the Carolina Parakeet) until it was hunted to extinction

[@unusualcat535]

There’s also lots of native parrots in southern USA and Mexico

[@rhombifer566]

very happy we have parrots 🦜 there

[@IpolaniKuupuatua]

Well people ripped them from their families and homes in the rainforest...not to mention how people destroy their habitat for monetary reasons. It puts a smile on my face knowing they are trying tp make a come back somewhere. Parrots are so intelligent, they blow my mind!❤❤❤❤

[@Hardworkandrealestateprofits]

Very nice video 👍

[@rafaelnavarro5522]

Southern California also has multiple flocks of feral parrots some from mexico that are endangered are actually thriving in so cal

[@timothy7007]

The photography was excellent! A few mis spoken facts The new parrot species are filling the ecological niche vacated by the extinct CAROLINA PARAKEET The native parrot that ranged from New York to the Midwest and Florida Also it was stated that there are no parrots native to North America Mexico is part of North America There are many species of Amazon parrots, conures,parrolets A search of birds of Mexico will be enlightening

[@raphlvlogs271]

it is complicated to tell if an introduced species is invasive or not

[@unusualcat535]

Yeah sometimes it is but it’s very clear that the parrots in Florida are invasive

[@starboyphanha]

Their walk 😂😂

[@tonybezanson9625]

Not to mention, monks are a temperate species and have also established populations in new york and other northern cities

[@carymarshallfelton9188]

I'll lived in Tampa near a huge oak tree full of them. I notice in St. Pete they were bigger with a black spot.

[@zebedeemadness2672]

You're using the term feral wrong, feral applies to animals that are domesticated and reverted back to a wild state, Domestic dogs, Domestic cats, Domestic pigs, Domestic Chickens, Domestic ducks, Domestic pigeon etc are feral animals, parrots aren't domesticated animals, so they are just escaped/released captive parrots.

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

We've got medium sized green parrots in San Diego. They are the noisiest little buggers. They even squalk when they fly. I'm pretty sure every palm and tropical fruit tree here has at least 1 resident parrot in it.

[@misterchezballs]

imagine you are eating an hotdog, and 20 parrots jump you

[@animemusicluver1]

"and they're not messing around!" meanwhile shows two parakeets messing around

[@terramater]

🙈

[@johnathanschuman6505]

Sun conures are the closest living relatives to the extint carolina parrotkeet that used to fill most of south and central united states