There are about 398 species of parrots known to man. While they are mostly found in tropical and subtropical areas, many of them are raised in captivity in colder regions. But did you know that the biggest group of parrots in Europe can be found in Stuttgart, Germany?
A single yellow-headed Amazone escaped from captivity in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1984, followed a year later by a male. These two parrots have established a population of 60 birds, making them Europe’s largest wild parrot population.
The Parrots in Stuttgart
You will almost certainly hear yelling and screaming if you go for a walk in Stuttgart’s Schlossgarten or Cannstatt Kurpark shortly after sunrise. A flock of colorful exotic birds that have become as much a part of Stuttgart as Maultaschen, the VFB, or a large car company is to blame for the morning commotion.
The Swabian metropolis is currently home to sixty yellow-headed amazons. It’s unclear how the pigeon-sized animals with green plumage and yellow heads got to Germany. The first Stuttgart parrot is said to have escaped from its owner in 1984, and a second animal is said to have been abandoned shortly after.
After ten years, the population had grown to thirty birds. About sixty yellow-headed amazons have lived in Stuttgart for several years, forming the most significant population outside of their native Mexico, where the bird species is increasingly threatened with extinction.
Stuttgart and the surrounding area are incredibly proud of their successful integration project. For example, photographer Bianca Hahn maintains a Facebook page called Stuttgarter Amazonen or Stuttgart Amazons, where she lovingly and accurately reports current events in the Swabian parrot world.
The relatively warm summer climate is ideal for the bird species. Still, yellow-headed amazons can also be found in Stuttgart in winter, as the species is extremely close to its location and also very faithful in partnership. Yellow-headed amazons are monogamous, meaning they only have one partner in life. The bird species has become a tourist attraction. Bird enthusiasts from all over the world visit Stuttgart to marvel at these extraordinary green creatures. (Source: Relaxound)
The Loud Scene-Catchers
The parrots of Cologne are also popular with foreign visitors and should be included in any holiday photo series. The animals are frequently a nuisance to the city’s residents. Since 1967, the collared parakeet, the world’s most common parrot species, has been discovered in the cathedral city.
The first birds are thought to have escaped from a pet shop, while private owners most likely abandoned others. Meanwhile, the city is home to approximately 2,500 specimens of the species. They fly in swarms through the narrow alleys, parks, and shopping streets during the day. For several months, the population gathers in the same roosting trees in the evening for a communal night’s rest. And this is where the issue arises.
Because the forty-centimeter-tall creatures with green plumage and a red beak have a lot to say after a long day and make a loud noise; furthermore, the large amounts of excrement they defecate make the owners of outdoor restaurants despair. Some have already resorted to using firecrackers to protect themselves and their customers from the nuisance of the birds. For a time, the city even hired an ornithologist to devise methods to drive birds away from particularly bothersome areas. (Source: Relaxound)
Image from Petguide