Huge nest. Small bird. How parakeets are wreaking havoc on Long Island

A colony of parakeets is making a stir in a Long Island community over concerns that their giant nests — which can weigh hundreds of pounds and grow to 10 feet in diameter — pose an ongoing power outage threat.

The nests, visible on utility poles high above Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst, are home to monk parakeets: birds with bright green plumage. Also called Quaker parrots, they’re about 11 to 13 inches from head to tail tip.

The monk parrots are native to South America but settled in New York in the 60s, when it is believed they escaped a damaged shipping crate at JFK Airport. Since then, they’ve adapted and expanded.

Their nests — populating utility pole tops all along Montauk Highway — can interfere with electrical equipment, creating a fire risk as well as a power outage threat, according to PSEG Long Island.

For the community, it’s a love-hate relationship.

“To be honest, I love them all the time, I take pictures of them,” said Andre Dola, manager of Luigi’s Best Pizza, right on Montauk Highway. “But sometimes, they come and knock the power out.”

Businesses like Dola’s can’t afford the unpredictability.

Experts say managing the birds requires a careful balance between safety and conservation.

Alison Evans Fragale, who has studied monk parakeets for years, works with PSEG on how to remove nests in a way that protects the safety of both parrots and people.

Even so, some residents and business owners wonder if there’s a more permanent solution.

“Maybe put up a fake pole with fake transformers, and they’ll be attracted to that,” said Steve Zendzian, owner of M-Spec Performance. “But it’s going to be difficult to train them to go to a different pole.”

For now, PSEG says it takes a proactive approach—removing nests before breeding season begins. If eggs or young birds are found, they are brought to a sanctuary.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.