Squawk. Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the Quaker Parrots. These vibrant birds have made their home right here at Quaker Parrot Park at the Dust Bowl.
Quaker Parrot Park at the Dust Bowl got its unusual name from a combination of local history and avian residents. Once known simply as “The Dust Bowl,” the field was renovated. Locals decided a new name was in order for the park at Eighth Avenue and 66th Street inside Leif Ericson Park.
The community chose to honor the parrots that had settled here. So, Quaker Parrot Park at the Dust Bowl was born. But how did these tropical birds end up in Brooklyn? Rumor has it that a cargo plane accident at John F. Kennedy Airport in the 1960s set them free.
Since their arrival, the parrots have thrived. They’ve become a beloved part of the neighborhood. You can often see them perched on cell phone towers. Sometimes you can find them in backyards. They are screeching and yelling all night long.
Listen closely. When it rains they line up on telephone and electrical wires. They serenade the neighborhood with their loud squawks. Residents say the parrots come screeching back to their nests about an hour before sunset.
The birds faced a threat in 2007. People stole them with nets to sell them on the black market. Each parrot was sold for $150 to $200.
The park itself has seen changes too. It recently underwent a $2.8-million renovation. The field now boasts a carpet of artificial turf.
Some locals still call it “The Dust Bowl”. They remember its earlier, less luxurious condition. But whatever you call it, this park is special. It is a place where baseball and nature meet. It is a place where a piece of local history lives on.
So next time you are at Quaker Parrot Park at the Dust Bowl, look up. Listen for the squawks and screeches. Remember the story of the parrots. Remember the story of the Dust Bowl. Think about how a community embraced both its past and its present.