Comments on: Election Cryptid: #3 – South Carolina Parakeet

By: tampasteve

tampasteve — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:37:11 +0000

I live in the Tampa Bay area and see parakeets all the time, nearly daily. They of course are monk parakeets and nanday parakeets rather than this cryptid. Could there be remnant Carolina parakeets? Sure, but as mentioned above it would be really difficult for someone that is not trained in telling the difference by sound or sight if they were Carolina parakeets or another species. Plus, they would have to fight for food and space with the non-native species. Then there is the chance they would interbreed with the non-natives and then wipe out the remnant population that way.

By: DWA

DWA — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:59:49 +0000

With several species of exotic parrot establishing US populations in suitable areas, it would be kind of difficult to credit any report of a Carolina Parakeet, although an experienced ornithologist might be able to sort it out.

By: Parandr0id

Parandr0id — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:03:18 +0000

I live in South Carolina but I have never seen a Carolina parakeet. I find it odd that a healthy population disappeared at Lake Okeechobee. Perhaps there was some kind of illness that wiped them out? Or maybe a major hurricane? I have a soft spot for this cryptid. Back when I was really young a had a poster of the fourth photo down in the article. Its a shame the Carolina parakeet is extinct (or near extinction). I would have loved to see this beautiful bird stick out like a soar thumb amongst sea gulls, laughing gulls, pidgeons, pelicans, and cranes.