Monk parrots, also known as macaws, are becoming a problem in several Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. With their distinctive green color, flocks of these parrots not only disrupt the peace of residential areas but also threaten the local ecosystem.
According to theneweuropean, their shrill cries can be heard everywhere, from parks, treetops to coastal roads. The origin of this parrot is believed to be South America, and they were brought to Spain in the 1970s.
Monk parrots were initially kept as pets by families, especially immigrants from Argentina. However, in 2013, the Spanish government banned the keeping of these parrots after their numbers increased dramatically and caused serious problems.
Spain is currently home to at least 20,000 of these parrots, with the number exceeding 6,500 in Barcelona and Madrid alone. Not only are these parrots a nuisance with their screeching, they also take over the nests of native birds such as pigeons and sparrows. They can also carry ornithosis, a dangerous disease that can cause pneumonia in humans.
Faced with this situation, the Madrid city government has come up with a plan to control the parrot population, including measures to capture and destroy them. However, this is not easy. According to Juan Carlos del Moral, an expert from SEO/Birdlife, this species of parrot is extremely adapted to urban environments, making the control process expensive and complicated.
Mr. del Moral also commented that the monk parrot is one of the fastest growing alien birds in Spain. They do not migrate but live in fixed areas, creating great challenges for the authorities.
Despite their attractive appearance, monk parrots are not welcomed by locals. Their loud calls and negative impacts have become a nuisance to many. Major cities in Spain now face the difficult task of balancing environmental protection with maintaining the peace of their residents.
