Monk Parakeets

 

They roost in communal nests.  Like this, in the town of Hidalgo, 22 miles from our house.  Check out the big lump on the power pole on the right of the road.

 

The nest is made out of sticks they’ve gathered.

 

If you stop to look, with any luck, there will be parakeets standing around.

 

…that look like this.

Charming little guys.

 

Monk parakeets aren’t originally from here.  They’re exotics from South America.

 

They’re established mostly in Florida, but we’ve got several colonies in Texas too, even though they don’t even show up on the map.