The curse of the ring-necked parakeets so vividly described in your report certainly struck a chord with me and, no doubt, with many more Londoners (Rapid expansion of ring-necked parakeets in UK sparks concern, 2 January). Whether the green beasts escaped from the set of the African Queen or from Jimi Hendrix’s garden matters not to me but I did object most strongly to the flashmobs that descended on my bird tables and whose rapacious greed drove away many of the native species.
However, all was not lost when I calculated that the parakeets were of tropical origin and held within their DNA an atavistic fear of snakes. Draping my feeders with realistic rubber serpents achieved an almost instant absence of the greedy greens and allowed my long established west London avian neighbours to regroup and enjoy their new year feast of suet and seeds without suffering the egregious emerald assaults.
Stephen Pound
London
• Watching a flock of parakeets attack a flowering tree is remarkable. Unlike native birds, they rapidly devour its flowers, leaving a sea of confetti below. Not great news for fruit farmers or gardeners. Or for what little is left of nature on the British Isles. The full effect of their continued spread may not yet be known, but perhaps doesn’t need to be. The general picture of invasive species is well understood, as is the cliche “a stitch in time saves nine”.
Dr Andrew Bodey
Oxford
• I’ve seen these birds about near where we live. I can offer a solution from a Mrs Beeton’s book I have that includes a recipe for parrot pie: “Ingredients: 1 dozen paraqueets …”
Nigel Walker
Hutton Roof, Cumbria
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