Monk Parakeets Cause Repeated Power Outages in New York Town

Amityville residents grapple with the architectural marvels and electrical hazards of these invasive South American birds

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:43pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft, earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, depicting the intricate, geometric structure of a monk parakeet nest, with sweeping arcs and precise botanical spirals conveying the complex engineering of these avian 'apartment buildings'.The architectural marvels of monk parakeet nests pose a growing challenge for urban power infrastructure.Amityville Today

Residents of Amityville, New York, have experienced repeated power outages caused by the nests of monk parakeets, also known as Quaker parrots. These non-native birds, originally from South America, have established thriving populations in the US and are known for building large, complex nests on utility poles and other infrastructure. While impressive from an architectural standpoint, these nests pose a significant risk, as their weight and materials can short-circuit power lines, leading to outages and even fires. Utility companies are working to find non-lethal solutions to mitigate the conflict between the parakeets and the power grid.

Why it matters

The monk parakeet situation in Amityville highlights a growing trend of increasing interaction between wildlife and urban infrastructure as human populations expand and encroach upon natural habitats. This necessitates innovative approaches to wildlife management that prioritize both human safety and animal welfare.

The details

Monk parakeets, originally from South America, have established populations in the US after escaping the pet trade in the 1960s. These birds are known for their communal nesting behavior, constructing large, complex 'apartment' nests made of sticks that can house hundreds of birds across more than 200 individual compartments. A single nest can grow to be as large as a Ford Fiesta and weigh as much as a polar bear. While impressive from an architectural standpoint, these nests pose a significant risk to electrical infrastructure, as their weight and materials can short-circuit power lines, causing outages and even fires. In Amityville, PSEG Long Island has reported five outages at the Snug Harbour Condominiums since 2023 due to monk parakeet nests, with one incident on July 14, 2025, affecting over 800 customers.

  • On July 9, 2025, the Snug Harbour retirement community in Amityville experienced a power outage traced back to a large nest built by monk parakeets atop a utility pole.
  • On July 14, 2025, a monk parakeet nest caused an outage affecting over 800 customers in Amityville.

The players

PSEG Long Island

The utility company responsible for providing electricity to Amityville and the surrounding region, which has reported multiple power outages caused by monk parakeet nests.

Kevin Burgio

A researcher from the University of Connecticut who has studied the nesting behavior of monk parakeets and discovered that they don't fly directly to the nesting site, but rather land on the power line and walk along it to the pole.

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What they’re saying

“They look like a guy walking a gangplank with a stick in his mouth.”

— Kevin Burgio, Researcher, University of Connecticut

What’s next

PSEG Long Island is actively working to address the issue, patrolling overhead circuits and planning projects to replace underground cables. They are also investigating 'sustainable deterrent options' to encourage the birds to choose safer nesting sites.

The takeaway

The monk parakeet situation in Amityville highlights the growing challenges of managing the interaction between wildlife and urban infrastructure. As human populations expand, innovative approaches to wildlife management that prioritize both human safety and animal welfare will be crucial in addressing these types of issues.