Why are Quaker Parrots banned in some states?
Myopsittia monachus, the Quaker or monk parakeet, is such a successful organism that that the family (genius) evolved no other members; it is the lone species in it’s group. It is among the hardiest and most prolific of all parrots, being an opportunistic species whose range has, according to Forshaw, grown with the expansion of agriculture. In their native Argentina, Quaker parakeets reportedly eat 30% of the corn crop. Because of concern that these birds might become established agricultural pests and that they represent a threat to native species in the local environments, they are illegal to own or to sell in California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Hawaii, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wyoming. They are legal to own, but illegal to sell or breed in Connecticut. They are legal to own with registration and banding in New York, and legal to own with breeder or seller registration in Virginia. This list was assembled from information provided with great difficulty by Jeff Sof
