Stuff I Saw Yesterday
My lovely city of San Francisco is home to a wild flock of parrots who delight in nibbling the blossoms off flowering trees each Spring. Every day around 4:30pm, a flock of approximately 400 parrots descend onto a lush green park located near the waterfront and begin stuffing their beaks with flowers.
This little guy took this blossom right out of my hand. If you give them apples (and you aren't supposed to, but I sneak them in) they'll fly over and sit on your shoulders and atop your head.
These noisy birds have nearly stripped this tree of its blossoms. There's a nice Flickr set of much better Wild Parrots of San Francisco photos here and there's even been a documentary film made about them.
I was able to get some close up shots of them too.




How lucky you are!!! Parrots are very social critters, and really love humans. I have had parrots as pets and loved them dearly. I cannot even began to tell you how wonderful these little guys are. If you let them, a parrot will be your best friend.
Posted by: Susan | April 10, 2008 at 04:23 PM
wow!
Posted by: | April 10, 2008 at 06:45 PM
great shots!
Posted by: east bremerton florist | April 10, 2008 at 07:03 PM
These are absolutely gorgeous, thank you
Posted by: hmmmm | April 10, 2008 at 11:03 PM
I usually would have sh*t my pants when I encounter a picture of a bird; I have ornithophobia. But these pics are, I wouldn't go as far as "cute," um... mild. I mean they didn't give me a heart attack or something.
But then again, the image of 400 parrots descending onto a park is not something I want to think about right now.
Posted by: Salmonella | April 11, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Salmonella - I hear you. I have that same fear of large crowds of humans. The day I was trotting around snapping photos of parrots, there were crowds of protesters all over San Francisco and I needed to stay as far away from them as possible.
Angry mobs of shouting humans vs. 400 parrots nibbling flowers...I'll take the parrots please.
xoxo 14
Posted by: 14 | April 11, 2008 at 08:35 AM
The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill is an amazing film. Myself and my chidlren were totally taken in by it. (My daughter actually thought the title included 'pirates' and not 'parrots' :-D She figured it out.)
Posted by: Jenn | April 11, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Absolutely gorgeous birds, 14. What resolution is your camera? I'll call on my next visit to SF, whenever that is.
Posted by: Dr.L. | April 11, 2008 at 01:45 PM
14 that is sooo cute! I love animals. I like how you take random photos and post them! :)
Posted by: Demon Kitty | April 12, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I must say, these pics are amazing! I'm going to send this link to my sister-in-law who has a pet parrot. I think she would love to see this.
Thanks for posting again in the GOTA, 14!
Ophelia :)
Posted by: Ophelia | April 12, 2008 at 01:28 PM
LOVE LOVE That movie. Cried like a baby. Thanks for posting photos of he parrots.
Posted by: Miss Fifi | April 12, 2008 at 08:58 PM
Those birds are kewl. We don't have that here.
Posted by: seabiscuit | April 14, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Wow! Awesome shots 14! Amazing how close you could get to those feathers. Looks like the Lumix is still treating you well. way cute.
Posted by: Kamala | April 15, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Parrots rule. I'd take the parrots over the humans too - but then I'm a weirdo 'bird' person.
Posted by: Webmaster Pete | April 22, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Beautiful. I would think it would too cold for parrots there.
Posted by: finickycritic.com | April 27, 2008 at 08:32 AM
They are so adorable!
be careful with the apples tho. apple seeds are poisonous and possibly lethal when digested by small chirpy parroty birds.
Posted by: karrot | April 28, 2008 at 12:27 PM
here's what i don't understand, will the birds deflowering prevent the trees from "fruiting"? hope not; they're beautiful (they've been cackling at volume lately over by liverpool lil's) ...
Posted by: scungilli | April 28, 2008 at 01:37 PM
14, please keep doing this. this blog reflects part of you and your life and thats what make it interesting and alive.
I am glad you abondoned CH and came back here!!!!
Posted by: tiffy | May 15, 2008 at 12:31 AM