Further views of Ring-necked Parakeet in a Southampton City park.
The urban myth claims that Jimi Hendrix released the first pair of parakeets, called Adam and Eve, as a symbol of peace when he was stoned in London’s Carnaby Street in 1968. Another rival theory maintains that the birds escaped from the UK set of The African Queen in 1951. However, birds were reported in Britain as far back as 1855 when one was seen in Norfolk.
Classed as an invasive species with a growing population especially in London the Government is considering a cull of Ring-necked Parakeets however The RSPB is not in favour of a cull at this time they believe it is important that the spread of the ring-necked parakeet is monitored and it’s potential for negative impacts on our native bird species assessed.
The birds are a pair.
The RSPB state the UK population is now 8,600 pairs. I had seen them in the past in London but to see them close to home was a great treat.
Continued Reflections from my World. 
Beautiful birds for sure. I like the colorful ring on the male’s neck. Laughed at the stories of how these parakeets arrived in the UK. Enjoyed your abundance of pictures. I bet it was a joy to see them close to home. There are several types of birds in the U.S. that the goverment is trying to control. One is the Red Wing Black Bird.
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I have really enjoyed seeing these “local” birds.
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There is a thriving colony of wild parrots that live across the Mission Bay channel (Jetty) in Ocean Beach. On the first day of Spring, they flock across the channel to Pacific Beach to feast on non-native berry trees that were introduced here from Peru decades ago. Like the Swallows that return every year to Capistrano, the parrots ear-splitting squawk precisely announce the arrival of Spring.
It is thought that the colony began with a few escapees from the San Diego Zoo, or from smugglers who were attempting to transport them across the border illegally.
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That would be a sight to see David. Ours have an ear-splitting squawk too but being only two it is nice to hear!
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Beautiful birds – so large too. Interesting theories on how they have ended up in the U.K.
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Yes Linda – I wonder what the reality is on how they established here in the UK was.
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