City to start ‘humane slaughter’ of thousands of parakeets

Birds damage wildlife and compete with native species for food

Council says it is looking ‘to reduce and control the population’ of green monk parakeets (pictured) by sterilising their eggs (Getty/iStock)

Madrid will start the “humane slaughter” of its noisy population of green monk parakeets after a survey showed numbers had grown from 9,000 to 12,000 in the space of three years.

Although some might be charmed by their bright plumage and exotic screeching, parakeets damage wildlife and compete with native species for food.

The council says it is working with the Spanish Ornithological Society “to reduce and control the population” by sterilising its eggs.

Green monk parakeets were imported as pets before it was outlawed eight years ago, but many escaped or were released into the wild and have been successfully breeding since.

Between January and August of this year there were 197 complaints about the birds in Madrid, according to city authorities.

Borja Carabante, municipal officer for environmental affairs said the birds “have become a concern for a number of citizens”.

Not only can they pass on illnesses such as avian flu and salmonella to humans, they also build large nests.

A council spokesperson said: “As time goes on and they get bigger, these nests can become dangerous and weigh up to 200kg. That represents a threat to the branches that support them and also to the people on whom they could fall.”

Under Spanish law the birds are regarded as an invasive species.

It is not currently clear by how much authorities would like to reduce the population.

Over the past 40 to 50 years, green monk parakeets have invaded cities in Europe and North America and have become notorious for devouring crops and citrus fruits.