A former MP has suggested using rubber snakes to deter ring-necked parakeets from garden bird feeders, after the invasive species was reported to be rapidly expanding across the UK. Stephen Pound wrote to the Guardian describing how the tropical birds, which he called “greedy greens”, were driving away native species from his west London garden.
Pound said he calculated that the parakeets held an “atavistic fear of snakes” due to their tropical origins. By draping his feeders with realistic rubber serpents, he achieved an “almost instant absence” of the birds, allowing native species to return and feed without disruption.
Dr Andrew Bodey of Oxford warned that the parakeets’ continued spread could harm fruit farmers and gardeners, as they rapidly devour flowers from trees. He called for early action, invoking the cliche “a stitch in time saves nine”.
Nigel Walker of Cumbria offered a historical solution from a Mrs Beeton’s cookbook, which includes a recipe for “parrot pie” using a dozen parakeets as ingredients.
