Post #3912342

2026-07-18 14:15 UTC

@staringatclouds@mstdn.social So far as I’m aware, there is currently no evidence that they damage crops and compete with native species. For a start their numbers are pretty low, maybe in the tens of thousands and in urban areas, mostly, away from crops of any note. This is what was indicated on the recent Chris Packham programme on Channel 4 “Invasion Of The Parakeets”. Watch it here on Channel 4: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/invasion-of-the-parakeets?cntsrc=social_share_ios_invasion_of_the_parakeets And let’s just consider for a moment what would happen if these parakeets are indeed competing with the native wildlife. Presumably, there would be more of it. To damage crops and compete with the native wildlife: just like all those millions - yes millions - of non-native pheasants the shooting brigade release into the countryside every single year. Hunting lobby justs like killing stuff.

Replies (2)

@vfrmedia@social.tchncs.de 2026-07-18 16:10

@robtherunt@cupoftea.social @staringatclouds@mstdn.social I would also hope the constabulary do *not* permit hooray henrys to venture into the suburbs shooting at things - also I'm often driving at odd hours and have to slow down for birds (especially pigeons and the odd magpie) wandering into the live lanes around 05:00-06:00 - if there were parakeets around in any significant number where I live I'd surely have seen at least one by now..

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@amenonsen@flipping.rocks 2026-07-18 16:18

@robtherunt@cupoftea.social @staringatclouds@mstdn.social I posted about parakeets destroying (our own) crops earlier today without having seen this petition or knowing about this proposal to shoot them. It was just an unfortunate coincidence. Anyway, the parakeets here (Plum-headed Parakeets, Psittacula cyanocephala) are a native species, and although I call them assholes once in a while, I don't want to shoot them. Indeed, «Hunting lobby just like killing stuff». (P.S. They can get fucked.)

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