Three pairs of Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) constructing a colony nest on Eucalyptus trees in Melilla on 13 August 2012 were reported by Diego Jerez in his blog Aves y Natura Norteafricanas. He added that this is the first observation of the species in Melilla and the birds were originated without a doubt from escaped pet birds. I think also that this is probably the first observation of this invasive species in the whole Northwest Africa.
It’s also the second parrot species (Psittacidae) that started to breed in the region after the Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri). The latter species is well established in Algeria at the capital and its surroundings (Bendjoudi et al. 2005, Fellous et al. 2005). In Morocco, the species is seen in many places but apparently only at Casablanca where there is a small feral population (Thévenot et al. 2003, + recent observations published in the reports of the Moroccan Rare Birds Committee). To my knowledge, there is no feral population in Tunisia (Tunisian colleagues can confirm this).
References:
- Bendjoudi, D., Voisin, J.F., Doumandji, S. & Baziz, B. 2005. Installation de la Perruche à collier Psittacula krameri (Aves, Psittacidae) dans l’Algérois et premières données sur son écologie trophique dans cette région. Alauda 73: 329-334.
- Fellous, A., Moulai R., Jacob J.-P. 2005. Introduction et nidification de la Perruche à collier Psittacula krameri en Algérie. Aves 42: 272-277.
- Thévenot, M., Vernon, R. & Bergier, P. (2003). The Birds of Morocco. BOU Checklist No. 20. BOU, Tring.
Dear friends,
But, is breeding confirmed in Melilla? Or only nest building?
With the best wishes,
JC
Hi Juan Carlos,
They are just started to build their nests “3 parejas construyendo un nido comunitario en Eucaliptus sp.” But these birds are expanding very fast if not controlled earlier.
Regards,
Mohamed
Apparently this species native to my country is expanding worldwide, including in the area where I live, the Pampas ecoregion where it’s not native. Although today it is very common in exotic afforestation, primarily the Eucalyptus tree very common in agricultural and livestock fields, used for its large size and rapid growth to shade the animals and for timber. This species make their nests high up and they feed on the crops located near, this combination makes this species becoming a pest.
Unfortunately has been introduced in some places in the northern hemisphere where it has become a pest. In Morocco, it appears to be in time to prevent this from happening, hopefully it won’t pass Melilla. Here in Buenos Aires, the European Starling introduced 25 years ago, because not controlled today lives up to around 400 km. Where I live, some 100 miles from where it was released I saw flocks of hundreds this year, only 2 years ago it was almost impossible to see one of them.
Regards,
En español:
Al parecer esta especie oriunda de mi país se está expandiendo en todo el mundo, incluso en la zona donde vivo, la ecoregión de las pampas, no sería nativa, aunque hoy es muy común por las forestaciones exóticas, fundamentalmente los Eucalyptus, árbol muy frecuente en campos agrícolas y ganaderos, utilizado por su gran tamaño y crecimiento rápido para dar sombra a los animales y para obtener madera. En esta especie hacen sus nidos a gran altura y los cultivos que hay cerca de los nidos las alimentan, esta combinación hace que se conviertan en plaga.
Desafortunadamente en algunos lugares del hemisferio norte ha sido introducida y se ha transformado en plaga. En Marruecos al parecer están a tiempo de evitar que esto suceda, ojalá no pase de Melilla. Aquí se ha introducido en Buenos Aires hace 25 años el estornino pinto, no se controló y hoy ya habita hasta 400 km a sus alrededores, donde vivo estoy a 100 km de donde se liberó y he visto bandadas de cientos este año, hace solo 2 años era casi imposible ver uno solo de ellos.
Saludos,
Hola Hernán,
Thank you very much for your input. It’s very good to hear the advice from someone who knows the species very well and its negative effects in places where it is not native.
I hope that something can be done to control this species before even can establish itself in Melilla and expand elsewhere in Northwest Africa.
Saludos,
Mohamed