Anyone who happens to Molfetta in any area of the city one cannot fail to notice the "chatter" of the gods parrots who live there and brighten the atmosphere. There have been sightings of various species (including the colorful parakeets at the first cala and conuri del sole but mainly in Bisceglie) but in reality the most widespread and stable colonies are undoubtedly those of the monk parakeets.
Il monk parakeet it is the only parrot to create nests that it also uses as a home for its entire life: their day begins early in the morning, with the first light of the sun and they spend it constantly looking for branches with which to make their nests, when the sun begins to set instead they return to their homes and then resume their activities the next day, they are in fact very habitual parrots. Normally i nests they become quite large in size, being the set of smaller nests, and therefore are easily identifiable.
The species was introduced from South America in the city during the second half of the twentieth century as pets, but with the escape of some specimens it spread widely throughout the city, even settling in the neighboring cities (Giovinazzo station), and it is also very easy to find them in the countryside areas of Terlizzi and Ruvo di Puglia. Even now many specimens are domestic, it is not difficult to find some pullets that have fallen from the nest or, in general, some parrots in difficulty that are unable to climb up the trees. Unfortunately, this has also led to an increase in the black sale of these parrots, stolen from nests to be resold as pets at lower prices than the normal cost proposed by honest breeders.
Monk parakeets are highly sought after due to their great adaptability, sensitivity, intelligence and known sympathy which makes them one of the pet parrot species most popular all over the world.
Returning to the "stray" specimens it is really very easy to see them fluttering around the city in search of twigs with which to enrich their nests, with their typical nervous and snappy flight, however there are some points known to Molfetta where it is even easier to see them, just look up (notoriously, parrots prefer to settle at the top rather than below): the episcopal seminary in front of the municipal villa, the Corrado Giaquinto middle school, the commercial school, the first cove, the sports hall in area 167, the square of the Madonna delle Rose, the latter is undoubtedly the most famous as well as one of the first to be colonized.
The number of parrots present in the city has never been officially counted, but it is certainly one very high number. Also in the rest of Italy we find colonies of these parrots, especially in Rome (Villa Doria Pamphili), Genoa where there is also a colony of collared parakeets and blue-fronted Amazons and Naples, but it is not only Italy to be inhabited by these nice friends: they are present in many European and non-European states, famous for example is the colony of Central Park monk parakeets.
