First Bird of 2026

I had the privilege to start the new year bird watching at an amazing location, Fort De Soto Park in Florida.  And this year's bird year started with an interesting species, the Nanday Parakeet.  I had seen them once before in this exact place three or four years ago but not as my first bird of the year that first time.

I heard them before I saw them.  From the moment I stepped out of my car, their chatter filled my ear.  I followed the path towards the beach and found them both up in trees perching and on the ground digging in the sand.  They are a peculiar looking bird for the US.  Such a vibrant green bird gives off vibes of South America.  It really doesn't look like it belongs here.  And that is because it is not native here.

It is native to central parts of South America but became a popular pet in the last century which is how they made their way to our continent.  As these intelligent birds either escaped or were released by pet owners, they established some pretty extensive feral colonies in a few select cities across the country, including the Tampa Bay area.

So why am I writing about a bird?  Because it feels significant that this particular bird was my first of the year and not because I was seeking it out, I was more focused on finding the Reddish Egrets.  It just appeared before me and captured my attention as if there was some parallel to my life worth reflecting on related to this bird.

Maybe this is the year, I'm supposed to let myself be a bit feral and seek out a community that is a bit feral after escaping the captivity of an unhealthy marriage.  And I mean the word feral in a wild, adventurous way, not a destructive way.  Many non-native species are invasive and cause harm to our local ecosystem.  This bird seems to be largely neutral.  There isn't any real documented harm to other native species or the ecosystem.  They are just a bit wild, noisy, and beautiful to look at.