Invasive Species Research Paper

They chirp and they fly so easily on the wing. Their plumage is the subject of both envy and admiration. These birds are highly intelligent, capable of mimicking human speech with minimal effort required. Avians are gratuitous creatures by nature. And their sociable personalities make certain types of birds desirable as family pets for adults, young children, and adolescents alike. The general public, however, is not made “aware” of the immense responsibility on their hands. A bird or more specifically, a parrot of any type, is not a pet to be taken “lightly”. We call these once “free” birds our “pets”, and yet we do not realize where these magnificent creatures come from. Many of these colorful birds are either captive bred or captured in …show more content…
But at what point in our lives do our “beloved” feathered friends because a nuisance? According to the NISIC or National Invasive Species Information Center, an “invasive species is defined as a species that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration,” and “whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (“What is an Invasive Species?”). The term “exotic” has many individuals thinking of white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. However, that is far outcry from the truth. An “exotic” bird is clearly defined by its geographical location. To most of us, an “exotic” bird can quickly become “invasive” when a singular individual escapes, finds a flock of other escapees, and establishes a breeding colony. In the Sun Sentinel, author David Fleshler writes that “monk parakeets have colonized South Florida over the past 40 years.” (“Monk Parakeets”). Though monk parrots are gregarious birds that possess brightly colored plumage, their place of origin being South America. And although many people have explicitly expressed their love of these colorful and spunky birds, others have not shared in the exact same sentiment. According to the Sun Sentinel and Fleshler, monk parakeets “puts the Florida population at 100,000 [individuals]” (“Monk …show more content…
But their populations as well as that of other invasive parrots will only continue to grow with the passage of time. Urban and suburban neighborhoods have become an oasis for many of these tropically imported birds. Furthermore, opinions on what to do with them are divided. What kind of impacts are these birds having on the ecosystem? How much money would it cost to maintain their populations down? These questions are not so easily answered. The Sun Sentinel and Fleshler, the Florida Power and Light Co., “blames the birds for significant power outages in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties” (“Monk Parakeets”). This is indeed significant for damaged powerlines creates service interruptions, and renders regular power grids null. Perhaps the most important part of Fleshler’s article is the snippet written in Sun Sentinel’s newspaper article titled“Monk Parakeets: Delightful Import or Pest?” on the cost of repairing damaged equipment which states

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