Peckish Perpetrator

Peckish Perpetrator
Jimbo,
Local Resident Cadriah Feeds Parakeets In St James's Park, London
Local resident Cadriah feeds the parakeets in St James's Park, London, Britain, April 10, 2023. She lives near the park and comes to feed the birds on most days. REUTERS/Anna Gordon

Parakeets are pretty uncommon in Scotland. Even more uncommon are criminal parakeets.

A rogue parakeet in a Scottish neighborhood is causing big problems — and expensive ones. Residents in a suburb of Inverness say the small green bird has been pecking at cars, chewing through rubber window seals and windshield wipers, and racking up thousands of dollars in damage.

The bird’s crime wave has been going on since February. People say it comes and goes — sometimes disappearing for weeks before reappearing and striking again. Some locals have started covering their cars to protect them. Experts say the behavior isn’t fully understood. Theories include the bird reacting to its reflection, searching for nutrients in the rubber, or simply playing out of boredom. The parakeet is believed to be someone’s lost or abandoned pet. (BBC)

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