An explosion of green parakeets causing big problems on Kauai

Kauai, HAWAII — Thousands of wild rose-ringed parakeets with bright green feathers and brilliant red beaks obliterate hotel parking lots and vehicles daily with their poop.

And they are a bane to farmers and backyard growers, decimating corn crops and fruit trees to satisfy a taste for citrus, papaya, mango, lychee, rambutan, longan and more.

Now scientists want the public’s help as they near the end of a two-year study aimed at identifying best strategies to reduce the parakeet population before it’s too far gone.

Kauai residents and visitors can call 855-Kauai-RRP (855-528-2477) to report sightings of rose-ringed parakeet roosts — the place where the birds congregate at night to sleep.

Read more at Honolulu Civil Beat