Hilario Ascasubi, a town near Argentina's eastern Atlantic coast, has been overrun by thousands of parrots, causing havoc for its 5,000 residents. The colorful birds, driven by deforestation in the surrounding hills, have invaded the area in search of food, shelter, and water, leaving the town in disarray.
The invasion has resulted in power outages as the parrots damage electric cables by biting through them. "They bite and damage the cables, water can then get into the wires when it rains, and transmission is cut off," said Ramón Alvarez, a local journalist. The damage has disrupted daily life, cutting off essential services such as radio broadcasts when the power goes down.
Argentina suffers from a parrot invasionhttps://t.co/FN8t6BxYEm
p.s.: First these idiots cut down the forests, then they are surprised that the poor forest animals have nowhere to go. pic.twitter.com/vgghb3xA18
— Andrew Orlov (@developer_1c) September 30, 2024
The birds, described as green-yellow-red in color, have been arriving annually for the past few years, usually in autumn and winter. At times, the population of parrots outnumbers the human residents, with reports of up to ten birds per person in the town.
During the summer months, the birds migrate south to the cliffs of Patagonia for their breeding season, offering brief respite to the beleaguered town.
The small Argentine town of Hilario Ascasubi is currently being overrun by thousands of parrots as a result of deforestation in the surrounding hills.
See what this looks like. pic.twitter.com/fyJ2pyPk6t
— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) October 1, 2024
Residents have employed various methods to repel the parrots, including loud noises and laser lights, but nothing has been successful so far. The birds' screeching, combined with their droppings, has left locals frustrated. "These parrots create daily costs and problems for us," Alvarez added.
Biologists suggest the birds are relocating due to the destruction of their natural habitat. "The hillsides are disappearing, and this is causing them to come closer to the cities," said biologist Daiana Lera. Argentina has seen significant deforestation in recent years, leading to habitat loss for various species. The parrots now depend on urban areas like Hilario Ascasubi for survival, further exacerbating the situation.
While the town grapples with the bird invasion, experts like Lera advocate for environmental restoration efforts. Until such measures are implemented, residents will have to find ways to coexist with the parrots. "We need to start to restore our natural environments," Lera stated, but acknowledged that this would take time.
The current situation has prompted comparisons to the famous 1963 thriller The Birds, with flocks of parrots eerily silhouetted against the sky as they swarm over buildings and power lines. Despite the nuisance, authorities have yet to find an effective solution. For now, the parrots remain an uninvited guest in Hilario Ascasubi, wreaking havoc on the town's infrastructure.
