Posted by Larry Manfredi on October 31, 2003 at 09:27:12:
In Reply to: Psittacid status posted by Dan Scheiman on October 31, 2003 at 00:56:30:
: I am a birder from Indiana who was in the Miami area earlier this week. Around Miller Dr. (SW 56 St) I saw a flock of about a dozen Red-crowned Parrots, plus two Blue-and-yellow Macaws. Near SW 96th St. I saw a flock of about two dozen Yellow-chevroned Parakeets, and 5 Mitred Parakeets. [My missed target was White-winged]
: My question is about the status/countability of certain psittacids in the ABA area. I know that ABA recently added Yellow-chevroned to the list
of countable (i.e. established) species. Red-crowned Parrot is also on the list. Do these species maintain self-sustaining breeding populations in South Florida? All these birds actually find enough cavities to nest in??? Are they countable by ABA standards? Does the FL Records Committee consider them established? What do you do when the national and state lists conflict? Count or not?
: On a related note, is Muscovy Duck considered established and countable in FL? I've seen many chicks, both this week and in years past. They must be established by now. (I wish Bill Pranty's ABA/Lane guide was updated so I would know these things.)
: You've probably discussed these issues numerous times on this listserve. Please reply to me privately if you are all tired of the subject. Thanks for your help.
: Dan Scheiman
: Lafayette, IN
: dms@fnr.purdue.edu
Yellow-cheveroned Parakeet is established in South Florida as far as I am concerned. There are fair numbers of Red-crowned Parrots in the Ft. Lauderdale area and lesser amounts in the Miami-Dade county area. These breed here as well many other species.
Muscovy Duck is on the Florida list but the A.B.A. does not count it!
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet is on the A.B.A. list but who knows which states list it is on!!
Mitred Parakeets are becoming more common in both the Ft. Lauderdale area as well as the Miami-Dade area. I know of a condo complex that has several dozen next holes in the underside of the roof overhang. I have seen roost flocks of about 100 birds here in South Miami, I am sure there are many other flocks with similiar amounts of birds all over South Florida.
There are many other Psittacids that seem to be much more common and perhaps are thriving welll in the wild.
It all boils down to who wants to put the time in to approximate numbers, nesting, photos of nest young etc, etc. then the Florida Records Committee will decide to add them to the state list. If the state adds species to the list then the A.B.A. may follow but they don't have to. The Muscovy Duck is a good example of that!!!
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL.
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com