Monk Parakeet Nests in Harold Washington Park

Harold Washington, one of Chicago's most outstanding and beloved mayors, was also a posthumous hero to the Hyde Park parakeets. From a penthouse overlooking the small neighborhood, he watched the birds from his balcony as they nested and fed in what is now called Harold Washington Park. He was the inspiration for the Harold Washington Memorial Parakeet Defense Trust Fund that thwarted the city's plans to remove the birds in 1988. It was often joked that the body guards outside his penthouse were their to protect the parakeets and not him. Too bad we can't say that today.

Harold Washington Park is located at the corner of S. Shore Dr. and 53rd Streets. On a nice day expect lots of people to be around, especially children playing on the nearby playground equipment. In one tree on the southern perimeter of the park there are three nests, one of them being much larger than the other two. Expect a couple of birds to be in the tree near the nests, and others to be scattered around the park or the surrounding neighborhood.

This nest is the smallest and seems to get the least use. I would guess that there is currently only one mating pair in this nest. Notice the hole in the middle where the birds enter. If viewed in person, one can often see a parakeet peering out of the hole.

The second largest of the group, this tree shelter seems to hold at least two parakeet pairs. Notice the almost perfectly circular entrance at the bottom of the nest. One can see that these birds have a special architectural talent; one might call them winged beavers, but that would be cheesy. There are usually a couple of birds flying in and out of this nest on a frequent basis.

The proximity of these two large nests portrays the social nature of Myiopsitta monachus. Never alone, one sees the birds either flying or grazing in at least pairs, but usually in groups of four or five. Occasionally the parakeets are seen in huge flocks of thirty or more birds. Also note how the nests seem to just hang off of the trees. These huge conglomerations of intertwined twigs are remarkably sturdy and provide great shelter for the birds, which is perhaps partly responsible for their success in such a harsh urban environment. To the left and down in the tree in regards to this picture is the largest nest in Hyde Park, after the gigantic one on 54th st. was torn down by ComED on Oct. 31, 1997.

The largest of the Harold Washington Park triumverate of nests is shown here. At least twice as long as the other two, it contains at least three entrance holes underneath it, where parakeets are constantly seen arriving and departing. This nest has remained in this tree for years, perhaps as long as a decade.

To see photos of the nest at the Dusable museum, click HERE!!

Hyde Park Parakeets / Jason M. South / Updated April 11, 1997