I have recently begun to assemble volunteers for a project to survey and map as many Monk Parakeet nests as can be found in 1999, and possibly into 2000 if work is still needed. I have initiated this project to determine the range and estimated population size of what is now the most abundant and widespread psittacid in Florida.

For reasons unknown, the Florida population of the Budgerigar, which probably numbered in excess of 20,000 birds by 1980, has been reduced to perhaps 100 birds at present. Populations of the Canary-winged (now White-winged) Parakeet also seemed to have declined significantly in the past 15 years.

Recent studies of a small population of Monk Parakeets at Chicago, Illinois constitute the only studies that have been conducted in the US. Florida has the largest population of Monk Parakeets in North America, but research on the species has only recently begun. This statewide survey will complement, and be complemented by, other studies of the Monk Parakeet in Florida.

A recent publication (Van Bael and Pruett-Jones, 1996. Wilson Bulletin 108[3]:584-588, "Exponential population growth of Monk Parakeets in the United States"), based on data from Christmas Bird Counts, noted the nationwide population of Monk Parakeets was doubling in size every 5 years. Van Bael and Pruett-Jones attempted to estimate the nationwide population by extrapolating CBC results.

To do this, they needed to know two parameters: the overall percentage of Monk Parakeets that exist within CBC circles, and the percentage of birds that DO occur within CBC circles that are actually COUNTED during CBCs. Because both of these parameters are unknown, Van Bael's and Pruett-Jones's population estimates for North America vary greatly, but they predicted the population numbered somewhere between 5600 and 28,000 birds in 1996.

Observations from Florida birders who live in areas with the densest populations of Monk Parakeets (metropolitan areas of St. Petersburg, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami) have revealed much higher population estimates in Florida. The Florida population alone may exceed 50,000 birds at present, and some estimates by Florida birders are more than two or three times this number.

Therefore, a statewide survey currently seems in order. Indeed, previous surveys would have been preferable 10 and 20 years ago. It now seems that the population of Monk Parakeets in Florida already is too large to survey and map completely. Nonetheless, we should still be able to get a good idea of the overall population size in the state.

The survey will also document the various substrates in which Monk Parakeets are nesting in Florida. When feasible, we will also count the number of chambers within each individual nest to improve our estimate of the overall population - most Monk Parakeet nests are occupied by two or more breeding pairs of birds.

Many potential volunteers are concerned that the data gathered from this project will fall into "the wrong hands" (e.g., could be used as part of a Monk Parakeet eradication program by Federal, State, or local agencies). While I think such a control program is extremely unlikely, I am becoming increasingly cautious about who has access to the data.

I have set up a free Listbot devoted to the survey at:   http://monkparakeet.listbot.com

Interested parties may join the Listbot and share information with other members, but I have removed all previous messages from the publicly-viewable archives. If you do not wish your information to be sent to the Listbot members, please email me directly at billpranty@hotmail.com

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the survey, and thank you for your interest. Needless to say, all assistance will be acknowledged at the end of the project.