Kingston's parakeets are perched in a precarious position as Government chiefs ponder a cull, but London's leading nature expert, the Comet's very own Tony Drakeford, says it is already too late to stem their numbers.

As the exotic bird has multiplied, native favourites such as the robin, nuthatch and the starling - whose numbers have dropped more than 60 per cent in the past 25 years - have come under threat.

Last week the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned a laboratory to undertake a study of the birds. Defra also says it is working with bird societies to understand the true nature of the problem, with culling as a possible option.

The birds' colourful feathers have been spotted along the banks of the Thames since the 1950s and have been a regular feature in the Royal borough, Richmond Park and Esher Rugby Club.

There are nearly 30,000 nesting in the south-east and this is set to rise to 50,000 in three years.

Tony Drakeford warns that, though they appear elegant and attractive, urgent action is needed to curb the bird's numbers.

He said: "There is not an ecological niche for parakeets in Britain and they are upsetting a fragile ecological balance that has taken thousands of years to form. It may be too late already."

He said action was needed before the birds migrated further north and west. But added a cull would not be easy.

The birds prefer to roost in tall trees so access to pricking or injecting eggs is limited, and gassing or netting could kill other species.

Shooting the birds seems to be the only viable option, but will inevitably cause anger among animal groups, and, as the birds disperse rapidly, holds no guarantee of success.

Para-facts

  • Parakeets, Psittacula Krameri, can live up to 34 years and make a distinctive, kee-ak kee-ak, noise.
  • The birds have a red beak and pointed wings and get their ring-necked name from the rose-coloured ring around their throats.
  • Parakeets have been living in the wild in Britain since 1855 and are believed to have been in India for more than 3,000 years.
  • Tough beaked, the birds are renowned for being able to peel through garden feeders.
  • It is thought some escaped into the wild during filming of The African Queen, which was filmed in Surrey.
  • To have a chance of winning a digital camera all you have to do is count the parakeets that appear in Wednesday's editions of the Surrey Comet or the Wandsworth Borough News and find the hidden nuthatch.

For more information on how to enter click here.