Council in a flap after tropical birds flock to roost in north Belfast park

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A tropical parakeet at the Waterworks Park in north Belfast. Pic: PA

Advice is being sought from a Stormont department about the future of a flock of tropical parakeets which have taken up residence in a park in north Belfast.

Around 15 of the birds with bright green feathers and red beaks have been attracting amateur wildlife photographers to the Waterworks Park.

While the birds are proving popular with visitors, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on native animals from the invasive species.

Conor McKinney, the chairman of Wild Belfast, told the BBC that the council and Northern Ireland Environment Agency should return the birds to captivity and negate any potential risks of further spread.

A tropical parakeet at the Waterworks Park in north Belfast. Pic: PA

A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: “Council are currently seeking advice from the relevant government department, DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs), in regard to the parakeets.”

A DAERA spokesperson said: “The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is in contact with Belfast City Council about the parakeets and is assessing options for further action.

“The NIEA highlights the Be Pet Wise campaign to encourage pet owners to look after their pets and ‘don’t let them loose’.”

Meanwhile, police have urged people not to disturb breeding or nesting birds over the Easter weekend amid a sharp decline in breeding waders over recent years. The fall in the number of curlews, lapwings, redshanks and snipes has become a conservation concern.

The public has been reminded of the legal protection around nests.

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PSNI lead for Rural and Wildlife Crime Superintendent Johnston McDowell blamed disturbances in Co Fermanagh — particularly in the Upper Lough Erne area — on individuals and dogs on private land nests have been damaged.

“Any reported wildlife crime will be taken seriously and appropriately dealt with and investigated accordingly,” he warned. “We urge everyone to respect the habitats of our rare bird species when out and about in the countryside or on the coast.”