Presentation of Evonne Hopkins' CTG-SF Certificate, December 9th, 2024 - Courtesy of Ed Franklin
By Peter Hartlaub, Culture Critic Dec 9, 2024 - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco’s colorful flock of wild parrots have only become more iconic, starring in a movie and last year being named the official animal of San Francisco.
Now they’ve chosen an iconic new home. Recently, the birds moved from the Embarcadero and began roosting in the park adjacent to the Transamerica Pyramid — just as the skyscraper completed a major renovation and is being framed as a symbol of rebirth for the beleaguered post-pandemic downtown.
It’s a cinematic move by the city’s most cinematic creatures. (Apologies to the Pier 39 sea lions.) But experts who follow the wild parrots — officially cherry-headed conures — say it’s less about publicity and more likely about predators. Transamerica Redwood Park, it turns out, is good cover from hawks.
“I was genuinely very shocked because they are creatures of habit,” said Sarah Lemarié, CEO of the parrot rescue nonprofit Mickaboo. “They love routine. They’re usually very predictable. So it’s kind of a big deal that they did something new and different.”
San Francisco’s wild parrots have found a new home — next to a major city landmark
Greg