The Rose-ringed (or Ringed-necked) Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, is a native of Africa and the Asian sub-continent and is not indigenous to Britain. Escaped birds have gradually established a feral population here. Currently the most populous spot is Esher Rugby Club where the winter roosts now numbers over 3,000 birds (from LNHS Ornithological Bulletin). There have been records in Croydon since at least 1970 when several birds were around the Bethlem Hospital area. Although the original population there suffered a crash during a cold winter, they were still breeding in that area in 1988. During the early 1990s the population was essentially centred around two sites - at Bethlem Hospital and in Lloyd Park. This short paper looks at their expansion since our surveys began in 1995. The records relate to any sightings ranging from a single bird flying over, to large gatherings and nesting attempts. Some of the earlier records may have been missed due to incomplete coverage, but the map shows how they have spread out from these areas during the ensuing five years or so. At each stage the map shows the location of records up to that year, with new locations added as an open symbol.

The 1995 situation shows the two main population centres with apparently isolated records from South Norwood Country Park. In fact, these records could relate to birds ranging either from the two centres or from one of the parks in nearby Beckenham where there was also an established population at that time. The following year, new records were mainly confined to the core areas, but there was also an isolated sighting at Riddlesdown.

By 1997 birds were being reported from areas just to the south of the Lloyd Park centre, but they were also found on the edge of New Addington.

In 1998 the main expansion was to the south of the core areas, including additional locations in New Addington and around Selsdon Wood. There was also a slight expansion northwards, with sightings from South Norwood Lake.

1999 was relatively quiet as far as expansion was concerned, with mainly gaps in the then current distribution being filled in, around South Norwood and New Addington.

From 2000 onwards, there was further consolidation plus expansion in the far north (up to Norwood Grove and Biggin Wood) and in the south.

As the map (below) shows, the range of Rose-ringed Parakeets has expanded greatly in Croydon over a ten year period. Although breeding has not been shown on the maps, the parakeets bred for the first time at BigginWood in 2000 and were potentially looking for a nest site at Norwood Grove. The record of them being seen on the beech trees marked for felling on Gravel Hill could also have been related to nesting activity. Admittedly, their expansion in the north may be limited more by available woodland areas, but there is still suitable habitat in the south west of Croydon. Keep your eyes and ears open, you too could soon have Rose-ringed Parakeets on your bird feeders.
 

We would also be interested if you see any bright yellow (instead of green) parakeets. One has previously been seen in both Sanderstead and New Addington.

Report compiled by - John Birkett


The following Parakeet related link may also be of interest: -

1. The semi official Norwood Grove website which has a couple of pages on Rose Ringed Parakeet sightings at this Croydon Park -
   
   http://www.vino.demon.co.uk/fong/index.html

John Birkett
24 Briton Hill Road,
Sanderstead,
South Croydon
CR2 0JL

or by emailing the Group at -