Featured Feathered Friend - Monk Parakeets

So now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to business, so to speak. =) Here is a slightly heftier version of our Featured Feathered Friend to make up for our slim amount of postings recently. This week's featured feathered friend is the Monk Parakeet, well, actually there are two of them featured in these photos. These lovely birds are seen just about everywhere in South Florida (and many other areas)... And if not seen, then definitely heard! Monk Parakeets started out as some released pets, but their populations have grown exponentially, and they are breeding like crazy! You may notice their large communal nests on electrical poles every once in a while. 

These photos were taken one of the first times we saw monk parakeets up close and personal, back in May 2009. We were taking a break from the rain at a strip mall in Boynton Beach after an attempted outing at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. We saw a large flock of Monk Parakeets fly into some nearby trees - flashes of bright green moving across the grey clouds, squawking away. And with camera in hand, I went snapping away. 

I especially like these pictures because they capture an intimate moment between two of the parakeets. The first pic they're just side by side, enjoying each other's company. The second photo, they're snuggling a little closer and nuzzling. And lastly, they go in for the smooch! It was like watching an old couple enjoying a hazy day in the park.