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Scientific Name: Myiopsitta monachus - Quaker Parrots, or as some call them, "Monk Parakeets", are very playful , engaging, and intelligent pets.
ORIGIN OF SPECIES - Native to the rainforest / mountain regions of South America, these remarkable parrots were caught and traded with people in the U.S.A. in the early 20th century.
SPEECH - Quakers are very good talkers! They can pretty much learn as many words and phrases as you have time to teach them In 1995 Bird Talk magazine placed the Quaker Parakeet on its top ten list of the best talking birds.They are also alot of fun and can be very affectionate companions. They are smart, playful, and very satisfying pets.
CAREFULL! - Quaker parrots are extremely mechanically inclined and can open just about ANY stock cage door. Always fasten lift doors with a screw on chain link or what we use are those quick connect keychain links that are spring loaded. We have had several escape into the house while we were away, only to come home and catch them watching tv and eating all the chips, bread, crackers.... No wait, that was me, but anyway, you get the idea.
LIFESPAN - These birds can live to be 25 to 30 years old as long as great care is taken to provide plenty of exercise, lots of interaction, and proper diet.
DIET - Monk Parakeets seem to fair best on a seed/pellet mixed diet combined with a great deal of fresh fruit and veggies. They are especially keen on meaty green veggies like celery, cucumbers, and zuchinni, as well as fresh peaches.
One of the most amazing things about quaker parrots is that they are the only parrot species that build nests, and they do so with great architectural ability. Their nests usually consists of three rooms, or areas. A front porch leading into what looks like a livingroom, and then a bedroom, where they lay their eggs. Most quaker parrots prefer to build their nests onto other quakers existing nests creating what can only be called a condo arrangement. Community nests can weigh hundreds of pounds!
With that and mind and the fact that they have adapted to live almost anywhere in the US, their resourcefulness led many states to ban ownership of them. Agriculturists seem to get pretty stirred up when an invasive species finds its way into farmlands, fearing the damage that can be done to the crops as well as the eco-system in general. Many were released either by accident or by discontent owners. One should never release a pet of any kind into the wild, and for birds there is no exception. People search the internet and local newspapers constantly for rescue birds, and many, like ourselves, will travel great distances just to get one.
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