Parakeets Are Taking Over Italy's Bari Region, And Climate Change Is To Blame | Weather.com - The Weather Channel
Parakeets Are Taking Over Italy’s Bari Region, And Climate Change Is To Blame | Weather.com
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Climate change is sending green monk parakeets to the Italian countryside, leading them to take over in droves and wreak havoc on the environment.
The South American birds are not native to Italy, but were released by pet owners and escaped from aviaries decades ago. The birds have thrived in the Italian climate, becoming a marvel of Rome as well as the city of Molfetta.
But now, as the climate tropicalizes, the birds are on the move, causing issues in cities and countrysides such as Bari, Bisceglie, Giovinazzo, Palese, Santo Spirito and beyond, Italy 24 News reported.
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The damage is most evident at Puglia almond groves, where the parakeets feast on the nuts, which are already facing historically low production due to climate change. Fruit farmers have felt the impact of the birds as well.
In cities, one of the biggest threats are the large, multi-family nests monk parakeets build in trees not robust enough to withstand their weight. Tree branches can collapse under the weight of the nests, which can weigh hundreds of pounds, or the nests themselves can fall. The birds often build their nests on utility poles, which can cause power outages and fires, Scientific American reported.
The birds also pose a health threat to livestock and humans, with the potential to transmit diseases such as psittacosis (known as “parrot fever”), Newcastle’s Disease and avian influenza, ParrotNet, a University of Kent project dedicated to the study of invasive parrots in Europe, reports.
Italy isn’t the only country to play host to these unwelcome invaders. Hoards of monk parakeets have caused issues in Brooklyn, Chicago, New Orleans, Madrid, Barcelona and parts of Mexico, as well as other locales. And monk parakeets aren’t the only parrot species taking over, though a 2021 study found monk parakeets to be the most destructive invasive parrot species to crops. They are also one of the most successful invasive bird species.
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Europe’s parakeet invasions are expected to worsen as climate change creates a warmer climate. A warmer climate facilitates the spread of invasive parakeet species, and agricultural adaptations to climate change will mean a focus on producing more crops that the birds happen to thrive on, such as corn, nuts and sunflowers.
In recent years, Madrid has made an effort to cull the monk parakeet population, facing an outcry from activists. ParrotNet’s research pays special attention to the monk parakeet, and notes that culling is an unpopular solution because of the public’s affinity for the green birds.
The parakeet population in Italy’s countryside has only recently gained traction with organizations that support farm workers and agriculture, such as Coldiretti Puglia. The problem has become a major talking point in the region within the last month, with government officials speaking out in hopes of a solution to the growing problem.
Senior editor Nicole Bonaccorso works as weather.com's photo editor and writes about breaking news, travel, climate and more.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”