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ITV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Invasive parakeets now 'unstoppable' as population size doubles in ten years
New figures show a steep rise in the population of parakeets now living wild in the UK, with experts warning of a "green invasion." Figures given to ITV News by the British Trust for Ornithology show 'an astronomical rise,' which researchers have said is now 'unstoppable'. Originally from India and Pakistan, the ring-necked parakeets are officially 'an invasive species,' but the emerald, green parakeet has thrived in cities from Plymouth to Aberdeen - reaching much of Wales and even parts of Northern Ireland. This spring, tens of thousands of ring-necked parakeets are nesting in the UK - leading to concerns from some ecologists. Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology told ITV News: 'It's basically going up and up and up, it seems kind of unstoppable. 'Since 1995 we've seen an increase of more than 2000%." She added that the population has not only doubled in the last 10 years, but also went up by "almost a third in the last five years.' In Belfast, some conservationists want all the birds to be trapped and put into captivity. Parakeets compete with native birds such as starlings and sparrows for nesting holes and food. Conor McKinney, Chairman of Wild Belfast, told ITV News: 'We could be looking at exclosures for instance. We could also be looking at mist netting. 'These are nets that are put up, they are practically invisible to birds and then we could collect them by hand. 'The opportunity is here, the time is ripe, we need to do something about these birds before it gets out of control.' Many myths have grown surrounding how the parakeets got here. Some believe the species became established in 1950 after birds were released from the jungle set of 'The African Queen', built in the London area. Another theory is that the recording artist Jimi Hendrix released a pair in Carnaby Street in 1966. Professor Tim Blackburn, an expert in invasive species from University College London, told ITV News: 'There was a disease called Psittacosis, colloquially known as parrot flu. 'And it seems likely that this scare caused people who had parakeets as pets, or other parrots as pets, to let those parrots go.' There is little evidence of damage from the parakeets, but experts say they are being carefully monitored amid fears they will spread into farming areas. Meanwhile, there's no doubting their public popularity in gardens and parks across the UK.
STV News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Invasive parakeets now 'unstoppable' as population size doubles in ten years
New figures show a steep rise in the population of parakeets now living wild in the UK, with experts warning of a 'green invasion.' Figures given to ITV News by the British Trust for Ornithology show 'an astronomical rise,' which researchers have said is now 'unstoppable'. Originally from India and Pakistan, the ring-necked parakeets are officially 'an invasive species,' but the emerald, green parakeet has thrived in cities from Plymouth to Aberdeen – reaching much of Wales and even parts of Northern Ireland. This spring, tens of thousands of ring-necked parakeets are nesting in the UK – leading to concerns from some ecologists. Multiple myths exist over how the parakeets first came to the UK. / Credit: ITV News Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology told ITV News: 'It's basically going up and up and up, it seems kind of unstoppable. 'Since 1995 we've seen an increase of more than 2000%.' She added that the population has not only doubled in the last 10 years, but also went up by 'almost a third in the last five years.' In Belfast, some conservationists want all the birds to be trapped and put into captivity. Parakeets compete with native birds such as starlings and sparrows for nesting holes and food. Conor McKinney, Chairman of Wild Belfast, told ITV News: 'We could be looking at exclosures for instance. We could also be looking at mist netting. 'These are nets that are put up, they are practically invisible to birds and then we could collect them by hand. 'The opportunity is here, the time is ripe, we need to do something about these birds before it gets out of control.' Many myths have grown surrounding how the parakeets got here. Some believe the species became established in 1950 after birds were released from the jungle set of 'The African Queen', built in the London area. Another theory is that the recording artist Jimi Hendrix released a pair in Carnaby Street in 1966. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. Professor Tim Blackburn, an expert in invasive species from University College London, told ITV News: 'There was a disease called Psittacosis, colloquially known as parrot flu. 'And it seems likely that this scare caused people who had parakeets as pets, or other parrots as pets, to let those parrots go.' There is little evidence of damage from the parakeets, but experts say they are being carefully monitored amid fears they will spread into farming areas. Meanwhile, there's no doubting their public popularity in gardens and parks across the UK. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know… Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Tropical parakeets ruffle feathers at Belfast park
Amateur wildlife photographers have been flocking to a north Belfast park to spot a tropical new arrival. Bedecked with emerald green feathers and a rose-red beak, the ring-neck parakeets have become the star attraction at the Waterworks Park. Originally from the Himalayas, the Indian sub-continent, and parts of Africa, ring-necked parakeets are regularly spotted across the UK, with large populations in London and the south-east of England. It's estimated that about 15 of these parrots have found a new home in the foothills of Cavehill. The RSPB describes ring-necked parakeets, sometimes known as rose-ringed parakeets, as the UK's only naturalised parrot. Dot Blakely, a bird expert who teaches bird-watching courses at Belfast Metropolitan College and Queen's University Belfast (QUB), said she brings students to the park to study the new residents. "The parakeets are likely to have come over from London," she said. "It's likely they moved across to the Republic of Ireland before moving up." "We're seeing more birds come across because of climate change, so many birds that we wouldn't have seen here before. "People still think of it as a tropical bird but it has adapted." Ms Blakely told BBC News NI she thinks there are about 13 to15 parakeets living in the park, which indicates they are getting enough food to sustain a small colony and are likely to be breeding. "There are lots of berries around the area, but lots of locals are leaving seed out for them," she added. "Sometimes you'll see the birds right up at people's windows waiting to get fed." The brightly coloured birds have been attracting amateur photographers to the park. Sharon Gregg, who took up photography after being diagnosed with a rare illness, told BBC News NI spending time in nature and watching the birds has had a positive effect on her wellbeing. "When I first heard about the birds last month I would say: 'I'm away to look for the parrots.' "People would think I was mad," she said. Ms Gregg has photographed eight parakeets in one sitting before. "I think the parakeets are such wonderful, special little birds and a lot of people don't even realise they are in the trees up above them," she said. "They are really comical, cheeky wee things, and they are just a pleasure to watch." Michael Latham, from Bangor, is a keen twitcher, someone who goes to extraordinary lengths to see new bird species. He has travelled to the area to see the birds a number of times over the past few years. "The number has grown a bit over the last while," he said. "There have been reports of breeding, but we think there is only one male." There has been a longstanding rumour that rock legend Jimi Hendrix is responsible for the parakeets coming to the UK. The guitarist supposedly released a pair of the birds into the wild while living in Carnaby Street in London in the1960s. There have also been rumours that the birds escaped across the country during the wrap party for the 1951 film The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. However, a study published in the Journal of Zoology quashed these rumours. It suggests that the birds establishment is more likely to be a consequence of repeated releases and introductions. As for why they have moved from London across the UK, Ornithologist Professor Emily Shepherd said: "Urban and suburban parks are their typical environment, so as soon as one area becomes too over-populated or competitive they seem to fly around in search of somewhere else which looks quite similar. "They thrive in urban and suburban environments. They need people nearby who will either discard or deliberately leave out food for them," she said. "They are big, tough birds, who are quite capable of bullying even jackdaws and crows out of the way of feeders, and in areas with plentiful food supplies they can survive sub-zero temperatures if they can put on enough winter fat." Parakeets are a non-native bird so they are classed as an invasive species. Conor McKinney, the chair of Wild Belfast said: "Parakeets may seem like a novel addition to our wildlife, but really they are pose a great risk to birds, bats, and to agriculture. "Parakeets have the ability to out-compete native cavity nesting species, such as starlings, and have even been known to evict bats from their roosts," he said. "Preventing the further dispersal of this species is possible, but it needs to happen soon. "We call on Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to return the birds to captivity and negate any potential risks of further spread." Hendrix in the clear over parakeet fever 'Most northerly' parrots cause flap in park Parakeets: nature's great invaders
Boston Globe
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘Paddington in Peru': The beloved bear brings marmalade and mishaps back to his homeland
From left: Samuel Joslin, Madeleine Harris, Paddington, Emily Mortimer, Hugh Bonneville, and Julie Walters in "Paddington in Peru." Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. So, when I heard about 'Paddington in Peru,' I was a little worried. Hawkins, the gentle human heart of the prior two installments, wasn't reprising her role as the family matriarch, Mary Brown. She's replaced by Emily Mortimer, who's fine opposite the returning Hugh Bonneville as patriarch Henry Brown. But I missed the twinkle in Hawkins's eye. And King, who helmed the prior two installments, exited the franchise to bring his world-building magic to Timothée Chalamet's better-than-expected 2023 film, 'Wonka.' Though director Dougal Wilson keeps the proceedings lively and colorful, King's deft touch is missed here as well. Don't get me wrong; any film that makes references to 'The Sound of Music' and 'The African Queen' deserves an A for effort. But this film felt less like a Paddington movie and more like an adventure for the globetrotting Belgian comic character TinTin. The screenplay by Mark Burton, Jon Foster, and James Lamont focuses more on the quest than it does on the family dynamic that anchored the first two films. Advertisement Despite my quibbles, I can't deny that 'Paddington in Peru' still has enough charm and humor to recommend it. Additionally, wrapped inside all the action sequences is a story about an immigrant finding an equal balance between his birth and adopted homelands. Making it all work is the sweet, lovely voiceover work by Ben Whishaw, who brings Paddington to life in a way that warms the heart. Advertisement Paddington in "Paddington in Peru." Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. The film opens with Paddington's clumsy attempt to use a photo machine at Paddington Station. We discover that it's for his new British passport. Now a citizen, he can travel anywhere he wants (apparently, there's no Brexit in Paddington's universe). That newfound freedom comes at a most opportune time: The Browns receive a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman), the nun who runs the Home for Retired Bears in Peru. Paddington's beloved, 100-year-old Aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) resides there. 'Something's not right with Lucy,' the letter informs us. Apparently, she's been feeling down and disoriented. Perhaps she misses her nephew, Reverend Mother implies. The impromptu family trip to Peru is exactly what the risk-averse Henry needs to impress his new American boss, a woman so tapped into thrill-seeking that she has her coffee delivered through her high-rise office window by a parachuting intern. 'Something's not right with that Reverend Mother,' I wrote in my notebook. She is perky and smiles more than any nun I've ever met — cinematic or otherwise. And of course, someone hands her a guitar so she can perform a spectacular musical number featuring the film's title song. Colman not only nails the number, it's the highlight of the movie. (Wait until you see that aforementioned homage to 'The Sound of Music.') Olivia Colman in "Paddington in Peru." Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Mrs. Bird (Julie Walters), the feisty neighbor in this series, agrees with my suspicions about that sister. When Reverend Mother tells the Browns that Aunt Lucy has wandered off into the Amazon without her glasses, they embark on a search-and-rescue mission. Mrs. Bird stays behind to keep an eye on Reverend Mother. A strategically placed map leads Paddington to believe that Aunt Lucy is on her way to a place called Ruby Rock. So he hires a tour boat run by Henry Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and Cabot's daughter Gina (Carla Tous) to take the Browns up the Amazon River. They seem rational, but something is amiss. Advertisement Imagine if Humphrey Bogart's Mr. Allnut from 'The African Queen' got crossed with his Fred C. Dobbs character from 'The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,' and you have an idea of Cabot's character. He's looking for gold, specifically the lost city of El Dorado. And he's haunted by ghosts (also played by Banderas) of the family members who failed at this mythical quest. Paddington's map may hold the key to finding El Dorado. Antonio Banderas in "Paddington in Peru." Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. All the treasure stuff feels tacked on, and it reduces the Browns to supporting characters in their own story. Colman and Banderas have a great time hamming it up, and their fun is quite infectious. Walters is also at her spiky best. They help make this a worthwhile afternoon at the cinema. And just like Reverend Mother's song, 'Paddington in Peru' ends on a high note. Whatever you do, do not leave before the mid-credits sequence. No, it's not that music video of Paddington singing 'Lady Marmalade' that the bad boy in me wants so badly. However, it's something that will put an even bigger smile on the faces of my fellow 'Paddington 2″ stans. ★★★ PADDINGTON IN PERU Directed by Dougal Wilson. Written by Mark Burton, Jon Foster, James Lamont. Starring Ben Whishaw, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Imelda Staunton, Carla Tous. At AMC Boston Common, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, suburbs. 106 min. PG (safe for kids; no gitchy-gitchy-ya-yas here) Advertisement Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
