Growing flocks of parakeets forcing out native birds

Parakeets are breeding in such numbers in London that there could be 50,000 by 2010, threatening native species, experts warned today.

Some 30,000 of the exotic invaders are already roosting in our trees.

Noisy flocks of roseringed parakeets - native to India and central Africa - have been living wild in Britain in small numbers since 1969. It is believed the original ones were pets who escaped or were freed.

By 1988 there were 2,000, mainly in Surrey and south-west London. Now flocks are established across the capital and neighbouring counties.

The aggressive birds fight other species for nesting holes, and are increasingly driving them out. There have been reports of them taking on sparrowhawks, crows and even squirrels.

Professor Christopher Butler at Oxford University predicted parakeet numbers in Greater London would rise by 30 per cent a year.

John Tayleur, of the British Trust for Ornithology, warned as parakeets nest early, they may take the best sites, putting native species like nuthatches, kestrels, starlings and tawny and little owls at risk.

The Department for the Environment and Natural England are compiling a report on parakeets and other invasive species.

Fergus Collins of BBC Wildlife magazine said: "A lot of people see them as colourful visitors but they can cause a problem."