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As
a child I visited my grandmother’s land in East
Texas where I observed chickens roosting. They slept in a persimmon tree near
the house. Without much commotion the chickens would fly up into the tree as soon
as daylight began to fade. By dark the tree would be full.
The chickens
slept all night but began leaving the tree at the first light of day. This is
the source of the sayings “Getting up with the chickens” and “Going to bed with
the chickens”. These Rio Grande Valley parrots roost much like chickens except
they are very noisy and occupy many trees. |
Parrots
Arriving To Roost
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, November 2009 |
Over
the last several years we have enjoyed finding roosting areas. We have found them
from Brownsville to McAllen.
We usually stay in Weslaco
where our motel has a caged pair of parrots in the lobby. These parrots are generally
quiet in the lobby, but when their cage is rolled outside their calls are loud
and raucous, which reminds us of how parrots sound in the wild.
Mercedes
is where we see the most parrots. Groups often roost there in or near the same
place. By asking various people you can find those current locations. Most of
the commotion is caused by the parrots trying to pair up with their preferred
roosting partner. Noisy brawls break out when they are not happy. Wing flapping,
chattering and flying about is the way the birds show their frustration. Some
residents of the houses come out to watch the goings on. We have talked to many
folks as we photographed parrots. Their story is always the same. “Lately this
happens everyday”. |
 |
Looking
For A Perch
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, November 2009 |
We have also seen
this event enough to know what is happening. At roosting time the ~200 or so birds,
want to sleep on the same limb next to a certain bird. Many species of birds have
lifetime mates, but we don’t know if these parrots are in this group. There are
many disagreements over perches and it is all must be settled within 15 minutes.
By dark all becomes eerily quiet, with only an occasional squawk.
Parrots
have many choices but the photographer has only a few minutes to shoot photos.
From the time the parrots arrive to last available light is usually only about
15 minutes. They circle the area and land and then fly again wasting precious
remaining light. But on the day of the included photos the parrots were already
there. |
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They have picked a
few blocks to try to roost in and we located them by their tremendous noise. They
like bare trees, densely leafed trees and the tallest palm trees. All this calamity
is occurring while the sun is setting. We were able to park within fifty feet
or less of them in a tree with no foliage. Luckily we were positioned with the
sun at our back, the only way to see any color on the bird photos.
Still
photography of these birds can be difficult. For sure you must know your camera
and its abilities in order to even come close to capturing a snapshot, much less
a PHOTO. When you are fortunate enough to be parked in the midst of the
roosting trees, you are shooting straight up. Besides keeping from tumbling over,
you need to calmly take a picture. You might consider lying on the ground. |
Paired
Parrots Settling On A Perch
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, November 2009 |
Activity
Difference Between The Sexes
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, November 2009 |
Female
Still Talking And Male Asleep
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, November 2009 |
If you are observant
you may find two birds to concentrate on for a couple of minutes like those shown
here. Apparently a mated pair, the female is talkative and animated while the
male is stoic or already asleep. Not an uncommon human condition. The interaction
between these two birds is possibly representative of the whole group.
Many
years ago commentator Paul Harvey reported that birds communicate about only three
things: Food, Sex and Danger. Since hearing that report everything I have seen
confirms that observation.
January
20, 2010
Copyright Ken
Rudine
More
Traveling Team Rudine | Texas
Birds | Texas
Animals |
Forum:
Subjects: Parrot Pictures I
happen to come across your website with the pictures of the parrots and was very
excited to see it. The parrots are Red Headed Mexican Amazons, sometimes called
Green Cheeked Amazons. They are native to the northeastern coast of Mexico and
are very endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. I have one as a pet and
am totally smitten with the breed. Everything you described about their behavior
is totally true. They are raucous, happy birds. I had no idea they were living
in the wild in that area but would like to visit Mercedes
and Weslaco to observe them.
Do you remember specific sites that I can visit to find them? I'm a teacher and
would like to visit during Spring Break for a couple of days. Do you remember
the hotel you mentioned in Weslaco?
Thank you so much. - Shannah Perry, Cable ElementaryAuthor's
reply:
We are pleased to help you. We like to stay in the Bestwestern
Palm Aire Motel, 415 S. International Blvd (also known as 1015). (Book
here) They have 2 of these parrots in a cage in the lobby. They will speak
to you and their cage is rolled outside most mornings and they yell and call just
like in the wild. We do not know where they spend the daytime. They usually fly
in to a roost area maybe 10 minutes before they go quiet and asleep. As you know
they are loud and jockey for position next to their favorite partner for that
10 minutes or so. Usually after they are paired off one will go to sleep while
the other is still busy moving and squawking some. At dark all goes quiet.
We
have pursued these parrots for years and have most often found them at sundown
in Mercedes at or near S.
Ohio & 14th St. We usually check the internet for the time of sundown for that
day and go to the area about 1/2 hour ahead of time. However they usually arrive
just as the sun drops below the horizon. If you can maneuver your position to
have the sundown at your back it is the best light to capture any color in the
birds. The reason we go early is so we can get use to the ambient noises so we
won't miss the parrots arriving with their raucous noises.
In Weslaco
you should also try S. Illinois & 11th st. That is adjacent to the Cemetery which
may have some Great Kiskadees or parrots. We have been told to check 1204 Fair
Park Blvd, Harlingen; 10th
& Dove, McAllen but never made
contact there. There are many in the old cemetery in Brownsville
but we don't go there anymore - too risky. The first pictures we made of these
parrots was in Brownsville
as they flew over. But most of the pictures in Mercedes
are made at 15X magnification so they are usually in high trees. But one time
they landed in a tree over our car only 15 feet away. Pictures no good - I wasn't
prepared for that close an encounter. Good luck. - Ken
Rudine, March 03, 2012
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