All:

I checked our records, which are extensive, and the last date on 
which we saw Monk Parakeets in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (near Silver 
Lake, as earlier reported here) was July 3, 2003, on which date we 
saw three birds.  These birds had an extremely large nest built 
around an electrical transformer.  Delmarva Power Company several 
times destroyed the nest.  They (the parakeets, not DPC) probably had 
other nests in the vicinity, too.

In the ten years prior to 2003 we saw birds every time we went to 
Rehoboth Beach, at all times of year.  The largest number we ever saw 
was about 30.  We have checked this colony at regular intervals for 
15 years. In 2006, as in the previous 2 years, we have seen none at 
all.  We  know of no good reason why this colony, which reportedly at 
one time consisted of nearly 100 birds, disappeared.  Certainly there 
were some very turbulent winter storms in that time period, but that 
may or may not be the reason.

Sounds like we should be looking out for Monk Parakeets at home in 
Bethesda. That would be a very pleasant prospect.  We have never seen 
this species in Maryland, but hope springs eternal in the birder's breast!

Mike and Joy Bowen
Bethesda, MD, and Dewey Beach, DE




At 02:42 PM 8/17/2006, Norm Saunders wrote:
>I got some very good photographs of the Red Clay Road bird (which 
>now languish in the archives of the MD/DC Records Committee awaiting 
>further long-delayed action...grin).  Shortly after we visited this 
>bird and his/her rapidly growing nest, it caught fire and burned out 
>the telephone/transformer pole in which it was built.  The fire 
>department tore out the pole and nest in the process of putting the 
>fire out and the bird disappeared from this location.  If you need a 
>date, let me know and I can check my records.
>
>Norm Saunders

D.H.Michael Bowen
8609 Ewing Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817-3845
Telephone: (301) 530-5764
e-mail:  dhmbowenATyahooDOTcom