About ParrotNet

Background

1. Whilst substantial investment has been made in development of web-based multi-species IAS databases (see above), these types of general information-gathering systems are poorly positioned to deliver bespoke solutions for specific IAS. Furthermore, data are not always standardised across such resources (for example, at one point, information on the parakeet’s IAS status featured differently in NOBANIS compared to DAISIE). The most problematic IAS, such as the parakeet, requires an approach that circumvents these limitations by ensuring data are comparable, to support the integration of information across various spatio-temporal scales. In general, a more species-specific approach is required to prompt changes in policy to minimise the impacts of IAS. For example, understanding the complex interactions between people and parakeets is essential to promote sustainable policy and these relationships could vary within and between countries and among different stakeholders. The Action is therefore essential to develop this approach for the parakeet which can then be applied to other invasive parrots and ecologically similar avian IAS.
2. Substantial research is being conducted on parakeets, but there is a surprising lack of cohesion between national research groups which is stalling progress towards tackling this, and other, IAS. For instance, understanding which factors limit distribution, abundance and population growth rate of parakeets is being pursued very differently between groups, including understanding the evolutionary origins and genetic diversity, population monitoring, landscape/habitat structure, and seasonal/climatic variation. The Action will facilitate crucial flow of information between different researchers to help systematically harmonise methods and identify/fill knowledge gaps.
3. A crucial priority is to harmonise research methodologies and data collection protocols between countries. For example, the task of understanding whether or not invasive parakeets have adapted their ecology is being tackled very differently amongst researchers, including studies on niche adaptation, breeding biology and morphology. The Action will facilitate harmonisation of methods and protocols, to enable research groups to synthesize these data.
4. There is an urgent need to up-scale and coordinate research efforts focused on measuring the impacts of parakeets on European wildlife, agriculture, economies and society. To date, much of this research has utilised small-scale study systems. For example, impacts on native birds have been assessed only in some parts of one EU country. Although important individually, these studies are inherently difficult to generalise, particularly for the parakeet which is so widely distributed. Crucially therefore, the Action will facilitate a much-needed landscape-scale approach.