Parakeets cause havoc at flats in Greenwich

Pest controllers are stepping up their fight against what they are describing as ‘the new pest on the block’.

A team from pest control company Cleankill has just finished dealing with their largest ever infestation of parakeets after being called to a block of flats in Greenwich where the birds were causing damage to the building.

Managing Director Paul Bates said: “This is the worst case we’ve seen since legislation was introduced allowing us to ‘proof’ against parakeets. The birds were entering the building though air ducts and, once inside, were chewing on everything in their reach including joists and ducting.”

Now Cleankill staff are warning other people living in the Greenwich area, where there are large colonies of parakeets, to check their loft spaces and buildings for damage.

Paul added: “We were absolutely staggered at the amount of damage caused by the parakeets and it’s fortunate that the owners of the building called us when they did. These birds are extremely clever at finding their way into buildings through air-vents.”

Since January 2010, parakeets have been classified as pests by Natural England which means pest controllers can now legally respond in certain circumstances.

Paul went on to explain: “We are told that these tropical birds are thriving here because of global warming and we are expecting lots more calls as people discover the damage parakeets are causing and the numbers increase. Our preferred method is to proof buildings so the birds cannot re-enter or land – in the same way that we deter pigeons. They may only about 16 inches in height, but parakeets’ beaks are very large and extremely powerful which means they can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.”

There has been a reported 30 per cent increase in parakeet numbers in Bushy Park, London, and the RSBP has said that the numbers are reaching worrying levels. Parakeets are known to be aggressive towards other birds and, according to Cleankill, all of the native species in Richmond Park, where there is a large colony, have left. Esher Rugby Club is another safehaven for the birds which leave the trees where they roost at night and return after feasting on crops and vegetation in the surrounding area.

Cleankill says that because most people only go into their roofspaces once a year to retrieve their Christmas decorations, a large amount of damage can be done before the problem is discovered. Or, as with rats or squirrels, homeowners only discover there is something wrong when a bird chews through their satellite dish cable!

The company’s specialist bird team, which has mainly dealt with pigeon problems in the past, has now being trained to deal with parakeets.

“Our philosophy with any pest control work we do is to be as eco-friendly as possible and prevent problems happening in the first place. We are used to working with pigeons but, with parakeets, we are learning as we go while working under guidance from Natural England and the RSBP. We are also fortunate that our Service Manager Chris Davis is the Conservation Officer for the Sussex Ornithological Society,” explained Paul.

Cleankill, which was started in 1995, is a specialist provider of pest control services to retail, commercial and industrial properties throughout the UK. The company deals with ‘distress’ pests such as wasps and fleas, as well as preventative maintenance against public health pests such as mice and rats. It can also clear and proof buildings against pest birds. The company prides itself on fast and efficient service delivery and aims to be recognised as a market leader for innovation and new pest control techniques.

ENDS

Please call Suzi Christie of Blueberry PR for interview requests on 01435 830031 or Cleankill Managing Director Paul Bates on 020 8668 5477. Photos are available of the damage caused by the parakeets.

Notes to editors

Parakeets
There are around 44,000 Ring necked parakeets living in the UK with 90 percent living in London. There are also pockets in East Kent. It is estimated that the UK population of parakeets is growing at a rate of 30 percent every year.

The birds originate from the Himalayas and there is a legend that a number who were brought to the UK for the filming of The African Queen in 1951 escaped.

In January this year, Natural England changed the law in relation to licences for dealing with parakeets. Ring-necked and Monk parakeets were added to the licence for preventing serious damage to crops. Monk parakeets were added to the licence for preserving public health or public safety.

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This release was published on openPR.