Are there still parrots (conures) around Palo Alto? Around Town, posted by Looking for Parrots, a member of the Ohlone School community, on Feb 17, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I've seen news articles in years past about a Palo Alto flock of small green parrots (conures, like the famed wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. They would fly over Rinconada park and others in the area, and I think they roosted in a church in old Palo Alto. Has anyone seen them around recently?
Posted by Stefan Youngs, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Mar 14, 2007 at 11:31 am
I saw them two weeks ago flying over Keys School on Middlefield Road. I know it was them because I live in San Francisco and see and hear the flocks of parrots in North Beach all the time.
Posted by Midtown Resident since 1988, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Dec 23, 2007 at 10:53 am
I have tracked the Midtown flock since I moved here with my Greenwing Macaw in 1988. They fid us and fly overheard wherever i have lived here. Originally off Colorado Street, now further South off Loma Verde.
My brother called yesterday to let me know that 20 conures were in the trees at Palo Alto Roasting Company on Middlefied Road yesterday morning! That is a huge growth since the 3 I have seen almost daily for the past 10 years, including this!
Posted by Corinne DeBra, a resident of the South of Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I heard parrots/conures fly over two days ago. I hadn't heard any for a very long time. (There used to be a flock of up to 12 birds that used to fly over on almost a daily basis - going to and from old church in midtown Palo Alto.) Then number seemed to dwindle down to 9, then 7, then 5 and 3...Then I hadn't seen or heard them for a few years. This week it seems some may have returned, for at least one fly-by. -- ccd
Posted by Andrew L. Freedman, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I knew them well, as they lived next door to my old elementary school (original Herbert Hoover on Middlefield Road). They used to live in the Redwood trees in the parking lot of St. Marks Church. I forget exactly when, sometime in the 80's - the church sold some of their property, which eventually became around a dozen single family homes. While most of their nests were destroyed when they removed the trees, some remained at St Marks Church.
Posted by Nanette Stringer, a resident of the Community Center neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I was in my backyard a couple of days ago and heard them too and was amazed as I know the sound from "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill", but hadn't heard it in Palo Alto before. (I have heard and seen them in the late afternoon while at Telegraph Hill). It was mid-morning, and I saw 6 of 7 fly past my yard and (I think) land in my neighbors' trees, and stay for a while and then I heard them take off. We are near the main library. I was quite thrilled as I didn't know they were in Palo Alto at all!
Posted by John, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jun 5, 2009 at 4:38 pm
There used to be a very large flock in the Midtown area. However, the extreme increase in the local crow population has probably led to a rapid decline, because the crows attack the nests of many birds. There are many fewer songbirds in this area, due to the pedatory habits of the crows.
Posted by ninadora, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 5, 2009 at 9:42 am
yesterday they were in my yard on southcourt just north of meadow. this morning i saw them on east meadot near JLS. they are alive and well! last time i saw them before this week was 3 years ago on middlefield near baskin-robbins.
Posted by Garth Harwood, a resident of another community, on Sep 28, 2010 at 9:12 am
I have made 2 work-related visits to Keys School on Middlefield this month (most recently on 9/20) and on both occasions, a noisy pair of good-sized parrots flew rapidly over, headed roughly eastward. Has anyone had a good enough look to identify these birds to species?
Posted by John, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Jul 13, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I saw a flock of five of them about two weeks ago in the Midtown areas. They usually announce their flyovers!
Somehow, they survived the predation of the crows or, possibly, the seagulls, having moved inland, with the diminishing dump site, are chasing the crows off (seagulls are much too aggressive for crows to deal with).
Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Mountain View, on Mar 23, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I was at the Palo Alto Cafe in midtown today and saw them-they swooped into the trees, stayed for about 15 minutes, and took off again! There were probably about 20 of them.
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