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Monk Parakeets


Monk Parakeets
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1357 W: 72 N: 2886] (9535)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D70, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/5.3, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Green Birds [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-11-30 11:26
Viewed: 1216
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Being very curious what you think of this photo with the focus in the left corner.

There was a farmer with a feeding trough for birds. Every morning came hundreds of birds to this place. Just like this Monk Parakeets.

The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as the Quaker Parrot, is a species of parrot that originated in the temperate areas of Argentina and Brazil in South America. It is the only member of the genus Myiopsitta.
There are four subspecies:
• M. m. monachus, southeastern Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina
• M. m. calita, western and southern Argentina
• M. m. cotorra, southeastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, and southern Brazil
• M. m. luchsi an isolated population in Bolivia which is smaller and may deserve species status.

This parrot is, on average, 29 cm long with a 48 cm wingspan, and weighs 100 g. Females tend to be 10-20% smaller. It has bright green upperparts. The forehead and breast are pale grey and the rest of the underparts are very-light green to yellow. The flight feathers are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering. The bill is orange. The call is a loud and throaty graaa or skveet. Domestic breeds have produced colors other than the natural plumage; these include white, blue, and yellow in place of green.

The Monk Parakeet is the only parrot that builds a stick nest, in a tree or on a man-made structure, rather than using a hole in a tree. This gregarious species often breeds colonially, building a single large nest with separate entrances for each pair. In the wild, the colonies can become quite large, with pairs occupying separate "apartments" in nests that can reach the size of a small automobile. These nests can attract many other tenants including birds of prey such as the Spot-winged Falconet, ducks such as the Speckled Teal and even mammals. Their 5-12 eggs hatch in about 24 days.

Unusually for a parrot, Monk Parakeet pairs occasionally have helper individuals, often a grown offspring, which assists with feeding the young.

Monk Parakeets are highly intelligent, social birds. Those kept as pets routinely develop large vocabularies. They have been described as one of the top ten "talking" bird species, able to learn scores of words and phrases. This species is considered especially adept at learning to "talk", only the African Grey Parrot having a better reputation for doing so.

The lifespan of Monk Parakeets has been quoted to be from 15-20 years, to 25-30 years.

As an introduced species:
Self-sustaining feral populations have been recorded in seven US states, also in Europe, Israel, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands and Japan. As it is an open woodlands species, it adapts readily to urban areas.
In Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, Monk Parakeets are regarded as major agricultural pests (as Charles Darwin noted). Their population explosion in South American rural areas seems to be associated with the expansion of eucalyptus forestry for paper pulp production, which offers the bird the opportunity to build protected nests in artificial forests where there is small ecological competition from other species. In areas where they have been introduced, some fear that they will harm crops and native species. Evidence of the harm of these birds in introduced areas is disputed, and many people oppose killing a charismatic bird, but there have been local bans and eradication programs in some areas of the USA. Due to its invasive species status, a number of states outlaw either importation, sale, release, or mere possession of a monk parakeet.
nglen, claudine, writerscrawlz, fiyo, Ena, Jamesp, eqshannon, tiobibi, mariki, peter_stoeckl, marhowie, kjpweb, FrankT, haraprasan, undoredo has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2007-11-30 12:35]

Hi peter. This is different with the focus on just the left But it works. The two main ones look as if they are talking to each other. good deatil and colours. it must have been a sight to see this lot. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Hello Peter,
This is a different and original capture. I think that effect is quite good. I would have been curious to see the same picture with smaller aperture but again, I think that it give an interesting result. Your notes are useful indeed; this must have been something to see :) Thanks,
Claudine

Wow, a true bird house! I like the effect this gives; it reminds me of repeating patterns that when looked at long enough can create a dizzy feeling. I like the way the first two seem to be talking, but also the details of them. The others gradually fade into the background, that, and the wonderful contrasts of color. It must be terrific to live in a place where things like this can be seen.

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 958 W: 5 N: 2373] (8876)
  • [2007-11-30 14:16]

Hello Peter,
Beautiful capture.I liked POV,lighting,DOF and composition a lot.TFS

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 570] (2343)
  • [2007-11-30 14:36]

Hello Peter,
Great shot! Very interesting! Nice colors and good composition!
Regards
Ena

  • Great 
  • bizsu Silver Star Critiquer [C: 40 W: 0 N: 5] (156)
  • [2007-11-30 14:50]

Hi Peter,
Fantastic bird haus. Very nice colours. Beautiful photo, good compo, good POV. TFS.
Regards, Zsú

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2007-11-30 15:14]

Hi Peter

Lovely group shot. I like the selective focus - it works very well. Good note too.

James

Hi Peter,
I saw this species's introduce group in Malaga of Spain. wonderful composition of very beautiful parrots. Focus, POV/DOF very nice. good notes. nice work. TFS, well done
Ahmet

hello peter,
very nice capture, i liked the pov and the limited focus, it creates nice effect, pleasing composition,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-30 19:21]

Hello Peter

I like the DOF you chose.The shot has a nice diagonal flow to it.
The plumage detail is super,and the colours are beautiful.
These birds are exotic to me,but must be commonplace there.That is something I like about TN,others around the world appreciate the species that sometimes the photographers take for granted as common in their own region.
I would love to see a flock of these birds in the wild.
TFS

Rob

  •      
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 515 W: 8 N: 1135] (4182)
  • [2007-11-30 22:23]

Hello Peter,
I don't have much time today, only to make a quick point
You got a fantastic shot, wonderful presentation.. Well
done my friend..

Everton

Hello Peter,

Very nice shot. Good sharpness for the bird in focus. Beautiful colours.
Well done,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2007-12-01 2:51]

Hello Peter,
I love the original composition and POV.
The shallow DOF also adds to the effect.
Great sharpness and detail.
Nice colours.
Well done,
Joe

Peter...
This is the third time I have passed by this photo today...and it catches my eye in thumbnail every time. There is a quality which draws attention. Perhaps it is the angle and unusual image that it is...and it sticks out..not sure..but would work in marketing I'll bet:-)
Bob

Hi Peter,
a congregation of parakeets in eye-catching density!
A truly nice document of behaviour, looking very lively. Looking at it makes me hear the screaming noise. And I like the very pleasant subtle colours of dusk. Thank you!
You've got a wonderful collection of exotic birds in your portfolio.
With best regards,
Peter

Well this is different Peter..You've just set a record on TN for the most parakeets in one frame ;} Excellent notes,
Well done.
Howard

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1427 W: 128 N: 5252] (23221)
  • [2007-12-02 7:52]

Hello Peter, I like the focus on the left it gives the feeling that there is more and more birds ! Well done ! Thanks !

Mario

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2007-12-02 19:01]

Hi Peter,
Just marking this wonderful post from you and will return with a proper critique later. Sorry, work pressure.
Regards.
Sumon

Works for me - and is not an unlogical decision! This perspective gives a good impression of the numbers. Well done! Cheers, Klaus

  • Great 
  • FrankT (24)
  • [2007-12-03 13:31]

Leuke foto, deze vogels lijken zo kleiner dan je beschrijft. Ziet er een beetje uit als een halsbandparkiet (qua form dan)
Over het geheel genomen heb je een mooie serie (vogel) foto's.

Hi Peter,
A very nice capture of these parakeets in group. Very nice composition. It would have looked much nice if all of them were in focus. Anyway nice try. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Peter,
What a wonderful shot of these green Parakeets you present here!!
You've captured very amazing scene, with beautiful POV here. I personally love this POV & composition very much. :-)
Also, excellent focusing with fine DOF here.
Well presented and TFS,
Best wishes,
Kevin

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