BARI – Damage amounting to thousands of euros, with almond and fig trees targeted. Parrots are the ones who wreak havoc on the sprouts and first fruits in formation and in the most delicate phase of development. In Bitonto, Molfetta, Ruvo, Terlizzi and Binetto, in the metropolitan area of Bari, birds are targeting orchards, damaging and in some cases completely compromising the harvests expected in the coming weeks. The problem, especially in the metropolitan area of Bari, has existed for some years.
«We ask that the Puglia Region adopt and immediately start the containment plan announced at the time – raises the alarm Giuseppe De Noia, president of CIA Agricoltori Italiani Levante (Bari-Bat) -. Starlings and parakeets, when they target a field, can cause serious damage to production. In particular, farmers who grow almonds are in crisis, fruits particularly loved by these parrots who are able to peck and break the shell, extracting the internal part and in fact irreparably damaging the crops”.
The invasion of these birds began in Molfetta over 20 years ago, but then the green parrots multiplied, colonizing the entire metropolitan area.
These are specimens originating from Latin America (monk parakeet), which have created populous colonies here. Usually, these birds search for fresh or soft fruit in season to eat, but farmers’ concerns also concern agricultural equipment, such as irrigation systems which are damaged by birds to drink.
