'Feral' Mexican parrots on brink of extinction take over LA after fleeing 'hostile' homeland for California - now they face a grave threat

Flocks of endangered parrots native to Mexico have migrated to Los Angeles, California, and established local breeding grounds - but an onset of local poachers threatens their existence.

Brenda Ramirez, 27, leads a team of investigators at the Free Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project based in Occidental College’s Moore Laboratory of Zoology to understand this unusual migration of red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots - both of which are almost completely extinct in Mexico due to loss of their habitats and trapping.

The reason for their relocation? According to a study published by Ramirez's team, Southern California cities have an abundance of fruits and flowers from exotic trees - a resource that has not been taken advantage of by native birds, the Los Angeles Times reported.

As Los Angeles and its neighboring cities has become more industrial, developers and parrots alike preferred non-native trees like sweet gums, camphor, carrotwood, fig and ficus over native oaks and sycamores for landscaping.

The study also suggests that the influx of parrots may be the offspring of the illegal pet trade that occurred during the 1970s and '80s from their home range in Mexico.

Red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots native to Mexico have migrated in droves to Southern California

Residents of Temple City have had to watch out for poachers

Pictured: Ken Haber, age 67, of Altadena, photographs parrots in Temple City as part of an Audubon Society gathering

At night, the parrots have been setting up shop on the branches of fig and London plane trees lining Rosemead Boulevard in Temple City, making the locale one of the most popular roosting sites for the parrots.

However, by making their hangout spot widely known, residents have had to look out for poachers.

The Los Angeles County sheriff's station, City Hall, and other government agencies became inundated with angry complaints on October 26 as a video showing a male poacher swatting nets in the trees and slamming captured parrots against a concrete wall between Rosemead Boulevard and East Las Tunas Drive.

The intentions of the man in the video remain unclear. It is believed he was killing some of the parrots while trapping other live ones to sell illegally.

The red-crowned and lilac-crowned parrots are considered endangered in their native home range of Mexico - a direct result of habitat loss and being captured for the pet trade.

Their status as endangered species only motivates poachers, as local flocks have become prized possessions. 

The two species are similar in size and color, so much so that even specialists struggle to tell them apart

Southern California cities have an abundance of fruits and flowers from exotic trees - a resource that has not been taken advantage of by native birds

Pictured: Luke Tiller, age 48, of Pasadena, looks through binoculars as he guides visitors on a visit to Temple City to see a roost of parrots that settled there

The two species are similar in size and color, so much so that even specialists struggle to tell them apart. They both form lifelong pair connections and typically give birth to one brood every breeding season.

The two types of parrots have been seen flying together in the same flocks. In the event they hybridize, this will jeopardize plans to restore these urban parrots back to Mexico. 

The research done by the Free Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project only validates pre existing research that certain introduced species, like feral parrots, can quickly adapt to new ecological niches, even surpassing the adaptations observed in their original forested habitats in northern Mexico.

For instance, the study noted that in Southern California, the driest month experiences significantly less rainfall compared to any part of the parrots' native habitats along the western and eastern coastal regions of Mexico. 

Additionally, the precipitation pattern differs, with winter rainfall instead of summer rains.

'Artificial irrigation may close the gap between native and introduced climates, allowing more year-round vegetation in Southern California cities than expected given its natural precipitation levels,' suggested the study.

Per the study, parrots have not ventured outside urban areas as they are drawn to the 'urban oasis effect' created by man-made sprinkler systems.