A recent post from the blog The Cat on My Head related to birds reminded me of the Nanday Parakeets we attracted to our bird feeders back in 2004. This photo is from September, 2004.
These birds are also known as Black Hooded Parakeets and Nanday Conures. They are from South America. Wikipedia says they are escaped pets but I read a different story years ago. It seems there are several theories but one stands out. A mass escape from an importer during a hurricane or other event released dozens, or even hundreds of birds.
They look similar to Quaker Parots but they sound much different. They have sharp, piercing squawks. When I hear them, I know instantly what they are before I see them. I recently started seeing them near our house where we are living now. it turns out my neighbor across the alley, and two houses down has a bird feeder that attracts them. I removed food that attracts rats from our feeder, so they don’t come to our house, unfortunately.
Bad Cat Chris 
Now that all the once outdoor cats are indoors, I put up birdfeeders in my backyard. Mistake. Not only did they attract squirrels, but a rat living inside a retaining wall, has taken to snacking from the feeder. I do get some birds but I’m weighing the trade-off with the squirrels and that darn rat.
Those birds you have are beautiful!
I’ve changed my feed so that the rats don’t like it although I did add a few sunflower seeds to the mix, which I think a rat will eat but doesn’t love. I also have safflower seeds and Nijer seeds which rats don’t eat but the Cardinals like the safflower seeds and finches will eat the other seeds. I also have a feeder on a pole rather than hanging from a tree which makes it more difficult for the rat except for the seeds that fall to the ground. Finally my next door neighbor has an indoor-outdoor cat that I’m sure is not ideal for the rat.
Wow. Those birds are really cool. We’d like to see them on our feeder.
They are pretty birds but the loud squawk would probably be irritating. Not as irritating as seeing rats around though!
Hugs, Pam
Cool. I would never see that in Mass.