Just like imported plants, something imported animal escape or are released to the wild and flourish. Quaker Parrots are a perfect example.

Gordon,

Those birds look exactly like the ones DH and I see when we go to FL on vacation! Beautiful birds!

Horntoad said:Just like imported plants, something imported animal escape or are released to the wild and flourish. Quaker Parrots are a perfect example.

Who would think something that seems so tropical would flourish in New York like that, though? It just seems kind of crazy cool to methinking of parrots living in the wild there... (I don't believe they have thought of moving the Mich. Upper Peninsula, though; maybe after a few more years into global warming!)

Gordon -- wow! i thought sure you were going to say the structures for them were like nesting boxes or something built FOR them, not by them! That just seems so incredible to me... any idea where they originally came from, like maybe a couple got away from their owner or something? Almost makes me want to come to NY just to see that!

Occording to this article they have been spotted in at least 15 states. Some are escapees others have been deliberately released.
http://www.wildparrotsny.com/i...

1967: The Great Escape
The theory that is most widely accepted is that a large shipment of birds destined for sale at New York area pet shops was accidentally released at Kennedy Airport around 1967 or 1968. { rumor has it in other references this airport release was the result of someone opening the container to steal something of more value which wasn't found and they escaped in that effort } Although the parrots were not officially spotted until the early 1970's, it is believed the parrots survived in the parklands surrounding the airport, and over time made their way to Brooklyn and surrounding areas where we find them today.
More than 60,000 wild parrots of this type (more facts about wild parrots) were shipped from South America to the U.S.A. in this period. Why so many? Considering the birds agricultural pests, the Argentinean's had just spent 10 years trying to wipe these parrots out. In fact, a government-sponsored program managed to kill more than 400,000 of these birds in the late 1950's and early 1960's. In the mid 1960's a decision was made to sell the parrots to the United States rather than kill them. This was when a major effort to export these birds to the U.S. began.

I can't believe i don't remember ever hearing about this before - very interesting, and sad to hear that these beautiful birds are the target of eradication efforts, although I guess lots of things appear "cute" when you aren't dealing with the effects they have on the infrastructure. I'm sure I've seen "Quaker parrots" advertised for sale at times in my area, for pretty high prices if I remember correctly. After googling I see it is actually illegal in a number of states to keep them, but Michigan is okay -- and they live for 20-30 years in captivity! I guess I wouldn't be a very good candidate for having one, with 2 cats that would no doubt look on it as a meal...

I forgot to mention this little lady. We try to protect these bats
that come every spring and have for many years. The mama
comes already impregnated. This is their birthing colony.

It is a small colony, about 7-9. She is about 2 inches long, and
the babies when I see them are about 1 inch, with hair, just like mama.
They are born blind and hairless, but have not seen this stage.

We take very few pictures; don't want to wake them up, which
can be a danger to them.

They are under the second story deck, always in the same corner.

More mamas join in succession. They have 1 to 2 babes.
Eastern Pipistrelle

Hey, that is very interesting about the moma bats.

Shirlee: I agree ... very interesting information about the bats, and great photo of the mama! Bats are good critters to attract to the garden because they eat lots and lots of bugs!

Shirlee, I keep looking for bats here too but think I've only ever seen one (maybe). I wonder if it would help if I put up a bat house? Do they use those?

I don't know about bat houses. These bats chose this location.
They have been here for around 20 years or so. Females live 10 years,
so it must be their offspring that returns, after a few years anyway.

These bats have been reclassified as Perimyotis subflavus, which I
certainly agree with based on their behavior and size. It is not often
the maternity colonies are even seen.

Unfortunately for the bats and for us, a fungal disease commonly called
white nose syndrome is causing bats to die, and it is spreading. It was
first noted in New York, I think in 2006.

When they arrive in the spring, I will check, and if any evidence of the
disease is present, I will report it. So far, they have been fat, with shiny
healthy looking fur.

Most of the time, they have twins. Other bats have only one babe.

They are used to us, and the noise from the lawn tractor, something that
concerned me years ago when they first arrived. I didn't want to disturb them.
They have a good sleep, and leave around eight o'clock to feed.

They stay for several weeks. Once the babies mature, they leave.

Most of the wildlife in the garden are the land animals..I wonder how it feels if you live by the shoreline and your garden backs out to a shoreline view and see this kind of wildlife: Seals!

Photo taken at the La Jolla shoreline in San Diego, CA -02Jan2003 - California grey seals lounging by the cove It was fun seeing them lounge and just roll into the sand with nary a care in the world
Sorry, I maybe a bit far off from the garden now...just imagining

I hadn't even thought of that, Tarev.
You've just expanded my horizons.

You are not too far off for me, tarev. We lived in LaJolla for awhile and that scene you posted is a familiar one. Other places along the coast too. Nice shot.

Shirlee, they have been checking Dunbar Cave and other caves around here for bats with the white nose fungus. I have not heard a report recently, but I believe they have found some but don't know how many.

Okay speaking of bats...15 ++years ago, we went to Subic Bay (Philippines) and I remember seeing people busily taking photos/vidoes of this particular tree. At first I wondered, what is so special with this tree, just big dangling leaves..then I realized, uh-oh....not leaves at all but lots and lots of bats hanging on the trees. I do not have a photo, but I saw this youtube video, and this is how they looked like:

http://youtu.be/94CuI6dJTlk

I miss my bats.. when I was first on the roof.. there were quite a few.. then they renovated... and turned the church across the street into co-op apartments.. I haven't seen them about.. I did see a flock of bats in the village last summer.. they were devouring a teeming mass of mosquitoes that were under a light in a front yard.. the village has mostly old houses.. pre 1850.. and a couple have retained a yard... I'd thought of the bat houses also.. but I'd guesss you had to have them about first. not like pputting up a purple martin house.. where the scouts would notice them ..
Tarev.. well seals seem the perfect gardening friendly wildlife.. with no interest at all in what you're growing.. but presenting a great scene to observe while lounging in the hammock.. just before falling fast asleep on a warm afternoon.. a friend has such a back yard.. as she's right on the WA coast.. adjacent to a bit of beach they call seal bay.. she's on the water side of the coastal road.. where you're not allowed to buy any longer.. it always was a great location for the studio..

I remember as a kid always seeing bats in the summertime, swirling and diving through the air but I can't recall the last time I saw a bat! I should probably buy a bat house and place it high in a tree to see if it will attract those wonderful bug eaters!

tarev: Great picture of the Seals. I spent two weeks in the La Jolla area of Southern California in July 2010 and it was so cool seeing all the seals on the beach!

Folks who live on the coast here get to see Dolphins, Manatees and Sharks as well as many different shore birds.

I live on a man made waterway and see Heron's, Egret's, Cormorants, Aningha's and Ducks from my deck. I've heard there are Otter's in the water but I've only been here a few months and haven't spotted otters yet. I've also heard there are Alligator's here in this community but I hope I never see one of them ... I will probably have a heart attack if I'm out in the yard weeding or planting and look up to see a gator staring at me!!

Great Blue Heron across the water from my house and a Great Egret in a neighbor's yard:


Aningha drying it's feather's behind a neighbor's deck and a Cormorant swimming along behind my deck:


I live on White Ibis Ct. & see the White Ibis occasionally. Seagulls fly over every day (my neighbor throws bread out but gulls are messy):


We also have Wood Storks .... and Sandhill Cranes (although they aren't usually seen here, they are abundant in the next county south):


The Brown Pelican is abundant here ... and the Roseate Spoonbill I don't see very often in my city, but I see them a lot when I visit friends just to the south:


Green Heron's .... and Tricolored Heron's are seen occasionally:


Great Blue Heron & Great Egret ... and an Immature Little Blue Heron:

Tarev, really great photo of the seals. Yes, would love to see
coastal critters. Imagine trying to garden with alligators, pythons,
etc., oh my!

Tee, you are so right. They have found it in this state. Can you
imagine all the insects we would have to contend with if not
eaten by bats. Two locations in this county as of last year, if I remember
correctly.

Gordon, not sure a bat house would work easily either. Possibly
humidity levels, degree of light, and heat would affect bat's decision
of where to reside.

Other wildlife in my area:

Bottlenose Dolphin's ................. and the Manatee (Mama & Baby):