Argentina: Monk Parakeets
Another omnipresent bird species in Argentina and endemic to the country’s vast expanse is the monk parakeet. They are small, brightly green and wide, very social and very loud. It’s the only parrot species that build nests out of sticks. And these nests are massive, usually occupied every electricity pole along the road. The nests are like a multistory apartment building with separate entrances for each family and often housing dozens if not hundreds of them. Some of these hanging nests can reach the size of a small car! Monk parakeets lay 5-12 eggs, jointly care for the young, and live up to 30 years in the wild. Many monk parakeets were brought as pets to Europe and North America and it’s estimated that the feral population is now over 100,000.
