The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. And Me!

Yesterday we went to The City to meet with Chiara and Stefano for some food and sun. It was a beautiful day, and it wasn't too crowded, and life was beautiful.

Is that my favorite bridge behind me? Why yes, it is! Remind me to tell you about Emperor Norton Bridge some time.


Every time we visit The City, we discover something new.


I just love San Francisco.


But that's not the point of today's story. On our way back from Little Italy, we saw the real, the original, the wild, the lovable, the incredible parrots hanging out in a park. You know, The Parrots! You've read the book, you've seen the movie, now check this out!

As I'm sure everyone knows, there's a flock of parrots living in Telegraph Hill (that's in San Francisco). These are wild-born parrots, not escaped pets. It isn't clear how they got to SF and how they all found each other, but who cares? They're here and they're amazing. There were at least 30 parrots there, maybe even all 50 of them.

They were sitting in the trees


on the lamp post


in the other trees


and on me!!!


There was some bird food, probably left there by locals, and we tourists held some of it and tried to get the parrots to eat out of our hands. The parrots already know it's easier to collect food out of people's hands than out of feeders, and they were all over us in a second.

They're amazing. They can hang upside down from a leaf they're holding with only one foot, while picking a single seed out of your hand with their beak. And they manage to look smart doing it.


They will let you come close even if you don't have food, but if all you have to offer is a finger, they will try to eat it. It hurts.



If you do have some tasty seeds in your hand, they will honor you with a personal visit. The underside of their toes is smooth and softish, but they're very strong - my hands we covered with deep claw marks. They're not domesticated - if you try to touch them, you get bitten. Unless you have food, that is. As long as they're chewing food, these flying green sluts will let you pet them gently, or even sneak a belly rub. I expected them to be soft and fluffy, but feathers are very smooth and firm, in a wow soft of way. Makes sense when you think about aerodynamics, I guess. And they're just as light as David Attenborough says. (Oh how I love David. But that's also for another day.)


But as soon as their mouth is empty, play time is over. The speed of their their wings at take off, and force of they wind they generate, are awe-inspiring. Powerful little fuckers.


Grimace: contort the face to indicate a certain mental or emotional state.
In this case, my mental state is "ohmigod ohmigod this is so awesome I can't believe I'm really here, but goddamn that sumbitch is cutting my finger off!"

I like the way we're both cocking our heads in the same direction.


And I loves me a daytime moon.


What a great day to be alive.


Go watch the whole slideshow.