Pesky parrots pooing on Argentinian town

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Parrots have been causing mischief in the Argentinian town of Hilario Ascasubi

Thousands of parrots are causing havoc in a town in Argentina, South America.

Hilario Ascasubi, near Argentina鈥檚 eastern Atlantic coast, is a place where the colourful birds apparently outnumber local residents there by ten to one.

The parrots are pooing all over the place, nibbling electrical wires, causing power outages and screaming non-stop.

Biologists say it's happening because their natural habitats are being destroyed by humans, in what's known as deforestation.

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Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Parrots have been chewing on electrical equipment and causing power outages

Parrot problem

Experts say the parrots arrive in residential areas during autumn and winter because there is no longer enough forest to house them.

鈥淭he hillsides are disappearing, and this is causing them to come closer to the cities to find food, shelter and water,鈥 biologist Daiana Lera said.

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, How would you deal with the parrot problem?

Residents have tried lots of things to try to scare the birds off, including loud noises and lasers, but nothing seems to have worked.

During the summer, the parrots migrate south to the cliffs of Patagonia for the breeding season.

What is deforestation?

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, More than 100 world leaders agreed to end deforestation at the climate conference COP26

Deforestation is when trees are cut down for materials, or to make space for farming or houses.

Amongst many other benefits trees provide food and shelter for wildlife and help remove carbon dioxide from the air, reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that heating up the planet.

The UK government, along with several other countries, made a promise to end deforestation by 2030.

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