Compromised crops
Damage amounting to thousands of euros, with almond and fig trees targeted. Parrots are the ones who wreak havoc on the shoots 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, the birds - a species of South American origin - are targeting the orchards, damaging and in some cases completely compromising the harvests expected in the coming weeks. In addition to almonds, Domenico Tauro fioroni were also targeted. The problem, especially in the metropolitan area of Bari, has existed for some years. Climate change may have favored the rapid adaptation of a species accustomed to warmer and wetter climates.
Alien species: a growing list
“We ask that the Puglia Region adopt and immediately start the containment plan announced at the time”, declares Giuseppe De Noia, president of Cia-Agricoltori Italiani Levante (Bari-Bat). With parrots, the list of species, alien and otherwise, that create enormous inconvenience and enormous damage to farmers is growing. “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".
A problem that has lasted for years
The invasion of these birds began in Molfetta over 20 years ago, but then the green parrots multiplied, reaching the point of making their presence felt also in the territories of Bisceglie, Giovinazzo, Palese, Bitonto, Palo del Colle and other localities up to to arrive on the Alta Murgia, threatening the rural landscape and damaging tree and fruit crops. The presence of these birds is now a problem that has persisted for some years in the Apulian range, and climate change has done nothing but increase the parrot population in an uncontrolled way and favor their adaptation. These are specimens originating from Latin America (monk parakeet), accustomed to hot and humid climates, which are creating populous colonies and damaging crops. 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. Parrots can also be a serious threat to other crops such as cherries, peaches, apricots, but also table grapes.
Not a simple resolution
“It is necessary to restore a situation of environmental balance that has no longer existed for many years,” declares Gennaro Sicolo, president of Cia Puglia and national vice-president of Cia-Italian Farmers. “Starlings, green parrots, wolves, wild boars: various wildlife species have grown dramatically in number. They are voracious, they devour entire fields of legumes, ruin wheat fields, and attack orchards. The problem is huge. There are many wild species that have altered the pre-existing equilibrium situation. Solving the problem is not simple, but we need to start tackling it seriously, with determination, because the damage is truly enormous" (source: CIA).