Management of parakeets

PARAKEETS, PSITTACULA krameri and Psittacula eupatria commonly known as ring rosed tota and rai tota respectively, are among the most destructive birds attacking field crops.

P.krameri is grass green and possesses a typical short massive and hooked red bill. The male has a black and rose pink collar, where as, the female is plain. P.eupatria is larger and has more powerful voice. In addition the male has conspicuous maroon patch on each shoulder and rose pink and black collar. Both species are found on the top of leafy trees, near orchards or cultivated areas. They form large flocks and roost near food source which is primarily the fruits and other grains. Their nest consist of natural or hollows in trees.

Parakeets gnaw and cut in to bits all sorts of fruits. They are equally destructive to ripening heads of sunflower, cobs of maize and sorghum ears.

They can be managed by:

- throwing stones with slingshot or with crackers or making noise with beating empty tins during morning and evening hours,

- fumigation of nests with aluminium phospide @ 0.5 g tablet/ hole so as to kill young ones.

- covering the cropped area or orchard with nylon net.

- above all methods, most effective, economical and eco-friendly method is use of bird scaring tape (Agni tape) - tying of tape above and around crop canopy repells the parakeets due to its appearance produced after reflection of sunlight, once installed in the field, it remains as a permanent scarer till the harvest of the crop.

A.P.Biradar, N.D.Sunitha & S.B.Jagginavar

Regional Research Station, Bijapur-586 101

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