African 🦜 Rosy-Faced Lovebird
Ended Up in a Cactus 🌵 in Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona is home to an unusual kind of resident: the Rosy-faced lovebird. The small, brightly colored parrots are popular cage birds, but here in Phoenix they’ve escaped captivity. Over 25 years, they’ve colonized the desert, with a few useful tricks up their sleeves . . . 🌵
Miles away from their natural African habitat, lovebirds have learned to survive with the aid of cacti, water sprinklers, and a couple of helping hands (and beaks).
Take a look at the incredible success story of this plucky little escapee.
👇 🌵 🖥️ 🦜 👇
Rosy-faced Lovebirds are a non-native species of African Parrot that have adapted really well to living the deserts of Phoenix, Arizona. They only really stay within the city, making them non-invasive. However, it's super cool to watch them sitting on cholla cacti, going into the saguaro cacti holes, and just flying around in the desert southwest.
These ones above were eating out of a feeder, like most of them do.
These ones above were eating out of a feeder, like most of them do.
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Lovebirds are native to the African continent, but a group of them, estimated to be over 2,000 individuals, have taken up residence in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States. They tend to nest in local palm trees and cacti that have had holes made in them by local birds such as woodpeckers. Surveys have shown that most of the birds live within the city and neighborhoods and there’s not much evidence that they have established themselves in the surrounding deserts or habitats. This is likely because humans have played a huge role in helping them to survive the harsh climate in Arizona.
Bird feeders are one of the most common ways the Lovebirds find food, but they have also been noted to feed on the fruit and seeds of native plants like cactus and palm fruit as well as seed pods. In a Facebook group dedicated to sharing images and stories about the Phoenix Lovebirds, you can find photos and videos of them eating from bird feeders and local fruit trees and enjoying a bath in sprinklers and the bird baths in people’s backyards. Many locals seem to be delighted by the bird’s presence. These birds are likely pet trade escapees. That means that they were bought as pets and many escaped and formed a group locally.
Arizona is known for its sweltering summer heat and dry climate. Lovebirds adapted to their native habitat where it rarely gets over 100 degrees fahrenheit. However, the summers in Arizona can average temperatures well above that. The birds deal with that heat in some interesting ways. Many of them have found refuge in their human neighbor’s air conditioning vents and other cooled areas. One of those locations is Arizona State University’s science building where they can commonly be seen. They also take advantage of sprinkler systems and bird baths. Staying cool and hydrated in this heat can be a challenge since birds stay cool by panting. This process can be dangerous in high heat because it uses up a lot of the bird's energy and can dehydrate them further.
Lovebirds in the area are producing 2-3 broods per year. That coupled with their ability to adapt in their new home means their numbers are likely to remain stable or increase. Long-term it is hard to predict the fate of the birds in the area, but those that have surveyed and studied them are optimistic about their future because of how capable and intelligent they have been shown to be.
Bird feeders are one of the most common ways the Lovebirds find food, but they have also been noted to feed on the fruit and seeds of native plants like cactus and palm fruit as well as seed pods. In a Facebook group dedicated to sharing images and stories about the Phoenix Lovebirds, you can find photos and videos of them eating from bird feeders and local fruit trees and enjoying a bath in sprinklers and the bird baths in people’s backyards. Many locals seem to be delighted by the bird’s presence. These birds are likely pet trade escapees. That means that they were bought as pets and many escaped and formed a group locally.
Arizona is known for its sweltering summer heat and dry climate. Lovebirds adapted to their native habitat where it rarely gets over 100 degrees fahrenheit. However, the summers in Arizona can average temperatures well above that. The birds deal with that heat in some interesting ways. Many of them have found refuge in their human neighbor’s air conditioning vents and other cooled areas. One of those locations is Arizona State University’s science building where they can commonly be seen. They also take advantage of sprinkler systems and bird baths. Staying cool and hydrated in this heat can be a challenge since birds stay cool by panting. This process can be dangerous in high heat because it uses up a lot of the bird's energy and can dehydrate them further.
Lovebirds in the area are producing 2-3 broods per year. That coupled with their ability to adapt in their new home means their numbers are likely to remain stable or increase. Long-term it is hard to predict the fate of the birds in the area, but those that have surveyed and studied them are optimistic about their future because of how capable and intelligent they have been shown to be.
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