00:00It might not be the first place you'd expect to find a parrot, but Shard End Park has quietly
00:05become home to one of the largest parakeet populations in the Midlands.
00:10Originally escapees from the pet trade, these non-native birds have multiplied quickly in
00:15the wild.
00:16While some welcome the splash of colour, others are raising concerns about the impact on local
00:21species.
00:22I met up with the man who spent years tracking the shift, wildlife photographer Kevin Whiston.
00:29We first got reports in 2015 that there were several birds feeding in the garden, but we
00:39didn't actually catch up with them until 2016 when we seen two on the field at Babs Mill.
00:48That was 2016, yeah, 2017 was when we found them here, roosting, and there was 24 birds.
00:57The following year there was 44.
01:00While the birds have certainly brought a burst of colour to the area, there's a serious side
01:05to their arrival.
01:06These ringanet parakeets compete with native species for food and nesting space.
01:12Some conservationists worry they could tip the balance of fragile ecosystems already under
01:17pressure.
01:18But others argue they're just one example of how wildlife adapts to urbanisation, and
01:23that it's humans, not birds, driving the change.
01:27There's no real evidence, but people say they do impact on other species.
01:36Parakeets will typically breed early in the year, they start going down in January, February.
01:46I've seen them in November, checking out nest sites, so they do pick their nest sites early.
01:59They would impact on species like starlings, they'd compete for the same nest holes.
02:05I don't think there's any real evidence of it at the moment.
02:09Kevin's not just an observer, he's part of a small network of local nature lovers keeping
02:15track of the birds across Birmingham.
02:18In a city where many people feel disconnected from the natural world, the parakeets have
02:22sparked fresh curiosity.
02:25From bat walks to bird spotting events, new communities have formed around watching what
02:29the council can't always monitor.
02:32A lot of people like them, it's a bit of colour.
02:37But then again, a lot of people don't notice them.
02:43We still get reports of people saying, I've found a parrot, has anybody lost one in my garden?
02:51But they're here, as I say, they've been here since 2015, and people still don't realise
02:58that they're here.
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