A year-long spree of destruction by an escaped parrot has left residents in a Scottish neighborhood desperate for a solution. The vibrant green bird, typically found in the tropical regions of Africa, has developed a notorious reputation in Inverness for its persistent attacks on vehicles.
A Trail of Damage
For at least twelve months, locals have reported the parakeet causing significant damage to their cars. The bird has been observed ripping pieces of rubber from window seals, chewing through wiper blades, and scratching metalwork. The financial toll is mounting, with one resident estimating hundreds of pounds worth of damage to each targeted vehicle.
Angus Chisholm, whose car has been a frequent target, stated that the bird has attacked “most of the cars in the street and beyond.” He added that there is “no point repairing the car” until the bird is apprehended.
Desperate Measures
Residents are resorting to increasingly unusual methods to deter the persistent avian vandal. Chrisanne Robertson, 70, has ordered plastic snakes to place on her car’s dashboard in an attempt to scare the bird away. Pest control experts have also suggested placing cardboard cutouts of faces in car windows to give the impression of occupancy.
“It’s got to the stage where we will try anything,” Mrs. Robertson commented. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. He seems to do the damage early in the morning. It’s mainly to the rubber seals and the windows, but last night he had a peck at the frame. If it wasn’t so serious, it would be funny, but it’s no laughing matter.””
Other residents are resorting to covering their vehicles with tarpaulins to protect them from the parakeet’s attention.
Possible Explanations and Official Responses
The bird, identified as a ring-necked parakeet due to the distinctive red marking around its neck, is believed to be an escaped pet. It was first spotted in the Lochardil area of Inverness last September. However, some question its survival if it is indeed a pet, with Mrs. Robertson noting, “If he’s a pet, what’s he surviving on – he can’t survive on rubber, though he is certainly fond of it.””
The Scottish SPCA suggested the behavior might be natural for some parakeets, which strip bark and leaves for nesting during breeding season. Alternatively, they proposed the bird could be experiencing stress or frustration.
Highland Council indicated that as parakeets are considered wild birds, the matter does not fall under their Environmental Health department’s purview.
NatureScot stated that since the bird is “almost certain to be an escaped pet,” its retrieval is the owner’s responsibility. They offered assistance with advice or by lending traps but emphasized they would only intervene if the bird posed a threat as an invasive non-native species establishing itself in Scotland. Ring-necked parakeets have been confirmed breeding in Glasgow since 2017.
