The town of Hilario Ascasubi, located near Argentina's eastern Atlantic coast, is grappling with an unusual problem: an invasion of parrots. Thousands of these green-yellow-red birds have taken over the town, driven by the deforestation of the surrounding hills, according to biologists. The parrots are causing significant disruptions by biting into the town's electric cables, leading to frequent power outages. Their incessant screeching and widespread droppings are also frustrating the residents.
"The hillsides are disappearing, and this is forcing them to come closer to the cities to find food, shelter, and water," explained biologist Daiana Lera. She noted that much of Argentina's forest land has been gradually lost over the years. In recent years, the parrots have begun to arrive in Hilario Ascasubi during autumn and winter, seeking refuge. At times, there can be up to 10 parrots for each of the town's 5,000 human inhabitants. During the summer, the birds migrate south to the cliffs of Patagonia for the breeding season.
Images depict hundreds of birds perched along electric cables and pylons, or swarming over buildings and a church at dusk, reminiscent of scenes from Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 thriller "The Birds." "They bite and damage the cables, and when it rains, water can get into the wires, cutting off transmission. These parrots create daily costs and problems for us," said Ramón Alvarez, a local journalist for Radio Taxi Fm. "It's obvious that when the power goes out, there is no radio."
Residents have attempted various methods to scare the parrots away, such as using noise and laser lights, but so far, nothing has been effective. "We need to start restoring our natural environments," Lera said. "But until that happens, we have to think of strategies that allow us to coexist in the most harmonious way possible in our towns."
