>Monk parakeets have established perches in Miami, New York and other cities. But the colony underneath the Skyway, where the birds build their nests among the concrete and steel supports several stories off the ground, is one of the more improbable spots they scratch out a living.

Somehow the image of escaped tropical birds surviving and even thriving in the sub-zero conditions of Chicago in winter gives me hope. Hope they continue to thrive!

On the Northside, there are a bunch in Cell Towers. The last group I saw was along the North Branch. There were a few starting south of Devon (West Rodgers Park), and going north up through Lincolnwood.

Not sure how they do it. Their nests are kinda big.

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Not only in New York, we have em in New Jersey along the river. You can see their giant nests on telephone poles in edgewater

We had a huge colony in Rhode Island too but I think they were "moved along" elsewhere -- a loss imo

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There are loads in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn. I believe they're from higher altitudes where it does actually get cold.

Do the towers emit some warmth from the machinery?

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LA has parrots. They're fkn loud! And argue, lined up on phone lines. Once in a while one will whack another, and it will spin on the wire, gripped with two feet, like in a cartoon.

Probably (really have no idea). I'm guessing dozens of birds in a nest huddled is a big part.

Those goddamned things. My mom had two or three for a while. Shutters

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I keep seeing them in Austin when I run at lunch from work, two months ago there were 2 and two weeks ago there were 4 of them, on the northern 290 frontage road right near the 290 maintenance center between Laramie and Central.

They are not living there beat as I can tell, but they squawk loudly when I approach and fly the heck away before I can really get near them, they seem happy to not be around people even more than most of the local bird residents…

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"Somehow, life...uh...finds a way." - Mark Twain

Only parrot that builds nests out of sticks like that. The rest are cavity dwellers.

Parrots aren't purely tropical. The Kea in New Zealand regularly stay above the tree line in the mountains and deal with snow every winter. And they can also be very adaptable.