Parrot Poachers . . . I Hate Those Guys

Brooklyn-based parrot proponents worried about the borough’s growing poaching problem find an ally in Borough President Marty Markowitz:

The poaching of Brooklyn’s wild monk parrots from their perches on neighborhood streets has been ruffling the feathers of bird-lovers for months, and now, the borough’s parrot-owner-in-chief is taking matters into his own . . . er . . . talons.

“It’s just reprehensible to me that anyone would try to poach the parrots,” Borough President Markowitz told The Brooklyn Papers. “They’re abusing these beautiful little creatures.”

His sympathy for the green-feathered birds is not surprising — he’s the proud owner of a talking five-year-old African gray parrot named Beep, whose vocabulary includes “words” like “fughedaboutit.”

“I have some feelings about parrots,” acknowledged Markowitz.

Local environmentalists are cautiously optimistic that, with Markowitz on board, something can be done to quell the poaching.