{"id":45595,"date":"2025-10-15T14:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/?p=45595"},"modified":"2025-10-15T14:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T19:02:27","slug":"can-wayward-parakeet-survive-central-parks-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/can-wayward-parakeet-survive-central-parks-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Wayward Parakeet Survive Central Park’s Winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"parakeet
Photo courtesy of Sean Mintz<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the years, Central Park, located in the heart of Manhattan, has been a newsworthy home to a variety of birds that made the 843 acres their home. The story of Flaco is one of the more celebrated stories to arise from the famous park, but Flaco is not the only interesting and remarkable bird that has lived within the expanse of the city landmark. For some, it\u2019s a \u201cwalk in the park\u201d. But for others, the park can be a dangerous place. As the seasons change and the predatory possibilities expand, some birds need attention before nature takes its course.<\/p>\n

\"Parakeet
Wayward pet parakeet, Mei Mei, has found camaraderie and safety with a flock of sparrows in NYC’s Central Park.
Photo courtesy of Sean Mintz<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meet Mei Mei, a wayward pet parakeet, who, for now, has found camaraderie and safety with a flock of sparrows within the park. However, the cold of the NYC environment is inhospitable for Mei Mei. This has encouraged birders who roam the park for sightings and are fully aware of her existence to attempt to capture her for her protection from the upcoming brutal winter. Mei Mei, on the other hand, isn\u2019t interested in capture. She has adapted to the wilds of the park and her newfound freedom.<\/p>\n

Mei Mei has become a focal point of birders and is monitored frequently. There are Instagram and X posts that reveal her paths as she is heard or sighted. The reports are that she is flying and avoiding danger well. She has been spotted foraging spectacularly and appears to be in the best of health. In fact, she has been noted as being the dominant member of the sparrow flock she hangs with. She has been reported to be afflicted with bumblefoot, which is a bacterial infection on her feet. It hasn\u2019t seemed to bother her much as she can still perch and walk without effort.<\/p>\n

\"parakeet
Photo courtesy of Sean Mintz<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For now, she is predominantly in the Seneca Village area of Central Park, which is near the upper west side of the city. It isn\u2019t certain how she came to be a resident of the park. She may have escaped from a home environment or may even have been let loose deliberately. Her first sighting was in the latter part of August, when she attempted to fit in with a group of cowbirds before her adoption by the flock of sparrows she currently nests with.<\/p>\n

Mei Mei is easily spotted in the flock as they take to the air. Her bright green feathers mixed in with a blend of brown feathers reveals her easily enough. The avid birders of the park recognize Mei Mei as female from her brown cere coloring.<\/p>\n

What makes winters dangerous for Mei Mei or other parakeets is the fact that all parakeets do not have enough body fat to insulate them properly. This makes it important that she be captured before the full onset of winter. Typically, parakeets require 70 degrees to be comfortable. But as birders attempt to woo her to their fingers, she flees with the flock.<\/p>\n

For now, the birding community is divided on her existence. Some like her freedom and do not want her captured, while others want her safe from the onset of cold weather. Temperatures below 50 will be detrimental to her ongoing livelihood. You can follow this birder, who is interested in her capture, on their Instagram<\/a> page. You can also follow Bagels & Walks<\/a> (Sean Mintz) on his X page, where they provide constant sightings and commentary on Mei Mei.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mei Mei, Central Park\u2019s wayward parakeet who has been spotted living among sparrows, faces her biggest challenge yet: the NYC’s winter chill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8046,"featured_media":45599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[171],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-everyday","bird-type-parakeet"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan Wayward Parakeet Survive Central Park's Winter? – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mei Mei, Central Park\u2019s wayward parakeet who has been spotted living among sparrows, faces her biggest challenge yet: the NYC's winter chill.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/pet-birds\/can-wayward-parakeet-survive-central-parks-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can Wayward Parakeet Survive Central Park's Winter? 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