ely ogee Ae NUON abe Oe oe IN 45 
indicate that the bird may be even more common and widespread. This 
report documents the birds’ presence in Illinois. 
On August 21, 1972, we learned of two parrots inhabiting a silo on a 
farm three miles southwest of Carlock, McLean County. The birds first 
appeared on July 30, entering the silo through a crack in the roof. They 
began building a nest almost immediately. The pair, or at least one bird, 
remained until early October. During this time we made observations at 
least twice weekly on the birds’ behavior. 
The parrots occupied an extensive home range. Especially in early 
morning and late evening we observed them approaching from localities 
out of sight. They were quite active but could be approached to within 10 
meters while they fed. The birds usually flew and fed as a pair, but occa- 
sionally a single bird carried twigs to the next. They usually tolerated 
house sparrows in the vicinity of the nest, and two sparrow nests were 
built at the top of the silo wall, within 12 feet of the parrot nest. The par- 
rots, however, drove starlings from the area. The birds were quite vocal, 
giving raucous, shrill squawks upon leaving and returning to the silo and 
periodically during flight. On August 30, Shoger observed intensive billing 
while they fed in a soft maple tree. The pair also groomed each other on 
the neck, along the primaries, and in the rump area. 
The parrots fed mostly in an apple and pear orchard 60 meters north 
of the silo and on one occasion they fed for 45 minutes in a mulberry tree 
300 meters northeast of the silo. They also fed in an apple tree on an 
adjoining farm, and they did considerable damage by clipping terminal 
buds and leaves from both silver and sugar maples on the farmstead. 
The nest, used both for roosting and nesting in this species, was begun 
almost immediately after the birds took up residence. As it was built at 
the apex of supporting structures under the roof, it was inaccessible and 
could be examined closely only by using a mirror mounted on the end of 
a pole. On August 21 the nest measured 12 by 16 inches and was 10 inches 
deep. The twigs, 6 to 15 inches in length, were from wild cherry, the 
maples, black willow and multiflora rose. These twigs were gathered from 
a distance no greater than a pasture 100-300 meters away from the silo. 
Subsequently the birds periodically added twigs to the nest but it did not 
increase appreciably in size. 
The monk parrot is about 12 inches in length, mostly green, with soft 
gray breast, face, and forehead, and a deep blue tinge in the primaries. 
The bird has aroused interest, first because it is similar in size and con- 
formation to the extinct Carolina parakeet, and represents the first parrot 
since that species to become established in the northern states. Secondly, 
the bird is a potential pest—already classed as such in South America, 
where it is native, and where it has become established in England 
(Bump, 1971). 
The bird appears to be hardy, adapting to cold winters as long as ade- 
quate food is available. According to the published literature, however, 
the bird is presently established only in numerous localities in New York 
and New Jersey. Here, they nest in both trees and buildings. They ap- 
parently survive the winters primarily by utilizing bird feeding stations. 
The circumstances surrounding the birds’ presence in other states have not 
been reported upon as yet. 
Such an introduction is viewed with mixed feelings. Damage to fruits 
and crops might well result if the species increases; yet, the birds’ presence 
