Homeowners warned about destructive power of parakeets

DESTRUCTIVE: The roof damage at Shooters Hill

Staggering how much damage one bird can do
April 2010: A pest control company is warning people living in areas where there are large colonies of parakeets to check their loft spaces and buildings for damage.

The advice comes after pest controllers responded to a call for help from a homeowner in Shooters Hill, South-East London who had seen a parakeet entering her roof space. When they checked the loft they found that the bird had caused serious damage to the rafters, as well as shredding a large amount of plastic piping. 

Cleankill managing director Paul Bates said: "We were staggered at the amount of damage caused by just one parakeet. There is no doubt that if the bird had been allowed to continue, the structure of the roof would have been affected. The parakeet was extremely clever because it had worked out how to go in and out of a one-way louvre door covering an air-vent." 

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GROWING PROBLEM: Parakeet numbers are thought to be increasing by 30 per cent. Photo credit Wildlife Extra.

Now classed as pests

Cleankill has had calls in the past from property owners plagued by the exotic-looking birds but, because parakeets weren't on the list of licensed pests so the company wasn't able to respond. Since January, however, the birds have been classified as agricultural and horticultural pests by Natural England. Pest controllers still require a special licence to be issued by Natural England where public health and property damage issues occur.

Paul added: "We are told that these tropical birds are thriving here because of global warming and we are expecting lots more calls as people discover the damage parakeets are causing as the numbers increase. Our preferred method is to proof buildings so the birds cannot re-enter or land - in the same way that we deter pigeons. They may only about 16 inches in height, but their beaks are very large and extremely powerful which means they can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time."

Aggressive to other birds

There has been a reported 30 per cent increase in parakeet numbers in Bushy Park, London, and the RSPB has said that the numbers are reaching worrying levels. Parakeets are known to be aggressive towards other birds and, according to Cleankill, all of the native species in Richmond Park, where there is a large colony, have left. Esher Rugby Club is another safe haven for the birds which leave the poplar trees where they roost at night and return after feasting on berries, nuts and seeds in the surrounding area.

The company's specialist bird team, which has mainly dealt with pigeon problems in the past, is now being trained to look out for parakeet damage. 

"Our philosophy with any pest control work we do is to be as eco-friendly as possible and prevent problems happening in the first place," says Paul. "We are used to working with pigeons but, with parakeets, we are learning as we go while working under guidance from Natural England and the RSPB. We are also fortunate that our Service Manager Chris Davis is the conservation Oficer for the Sussex Ornithological Society."

New breed of ‘super-ant'
Paul says global warming could be contributing to the dramatic increase in parakeet numbers, as well as other unfamiliar pests which mean pest controllers are having to stay at the top of their game.

Subterranean Termites are now established in Devon and experts say it is only a matter of time before they spread to other parts of the UK. The other pest that is worrying Cleankill staff is the new breed of 'super ant' or 'electric ant'. The Asian super ant differs from common ants because they breed in huge colonies, 100 times larger than other species, and are attracted to electric currents.

"These ants can be very disruptive as they will gather around cables or junction boxes and cause them to short out. This can result in blackouts and, in the worst cases, fires," says Paul, who has 20 years' experience in pest control.

"Our main worry is more will come into the UK in imported potted plants this spring and summer and that we will have difficulty getting rid of them as they are resistant to the treatments we would normally use for ants," he added.

Another unwelcome new visitor is the European wasp, which although only half the size of our native variety, is much more aggressive. Populations are already established in parts of Surrey, including Epsom and Esher.