LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names: Monk Parakeet, Myopsitta monachus

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

5 birds

3. Locality: LOUISIANA: (parish) Orleans

Specific Locality: West End portion of Lakeview, Entergy power substation NE of the corner of Fleur De Lis Dr and Portland St

4. Date(s) when observed:

April 9 and 10, 2011

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

About 10:30 AM on the 9th and about 9:00 AM on the 10th

6. Reporting observer and address:

John P. Sevenair 325 Stafford Place, New Orleans LA 70124

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

None

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

None that I know of

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Bird was well lit by the sun, which was behind me. (See the photo.)

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

Canon EOS 50D with a 100-400 mm zoom lens, excellent condition

11. Distance to bird(s):

About 150 feet

12. Duration of observation:

About 5-10 minutes each time

13. Habitat:

Suburbs.

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

One bird carried a twig to the large nest complex seen in the photo. Others flew away from it. One sat on the power substation structure next to the nest complex, and that's the one shown in the photo

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):

See the photo.

16. Voice:

Typical Monk Parakeet calls

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

See the photo. Also, no other parrot species builds nests like this.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

Yes--attached. Note that a photo of this same nest, taken on Jan 11 2009, was published in the 2009 Newsletter of the LBRC. The reason I'm submitting this report is the difference in nest size. The nest has added a number of chambers in a little over two years.

19. Previous experience with this species:

I see and/or hear them almost every day that I step outside my door. I've also seen them in Buenos Aires in Argentina.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

None. Do I have to consult a book to identify a starling or a House Sparrow?

a. at time of observation:

None.

b. after observation:

None

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);_____notes made after the observation (date:_____); ___X__memory (and the photo).

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain:

Yes

23. Date: 12 April 2011 Time: 11:20 AM