Monk Parakeets
The Beak Easy
In the heart of New Orleans, amid the moss-draped oaks, tall palm trees and jazz-filled air, a surprising splash of tropical color has taken up residence: monk parakeets. These bright green, highly social parrots—native to South America—escaped captivity decades ago and found the city's warm climate and abundance of palm trees to their liking. Known for their loud squawking and elaborate stick nests (often built on power poles or tall trees), monk parakeets have become an unexpected but beloved part of the urban wildlife scene. Their raucous flocks and playful energy add a quirky twist to the city’s already vibrant character—proof that in New Orleans, even the birds know how to make an entrance. |
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Cedar Waxwings
Masked Bandits
These sociable, talkative birds are a rare sighting in my neighborhood. Because waxwings have the ability to metabolize ethanol, they can sometimes become intoxicated by too much fermented fruit! I have been wanting to witness the drunken behavior of them lying motionless on the ground under a crabapple tree after a sugar high, typically recovering after a few hours of inebriation. They have also been known to gorge themselves so much on sugary fruit that they are unable to fly. |
Barn Swallows
Aerial Acrobats
Barn swallows are dazzling aerial acrobats, dressed in deep blue and rusty orange with long, elegant forked tails that seem made for flight. Watching them dart and glide through the air with jaw-dropping precision is like witnessing a perfectly choreographed dance in the sky. Agile and swift, they chase insects mid-flight with effortless grace. But their talents don’t end there, these swallows are also skilled architects, crafting cup-shaped nests out of mud and straw, often tucked under eaves, bridges, or barns. Their presence brings both beauty and balance to the landscape, turning even the simplest spaces into stages for their sky bound performances. |
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