The rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri in a urban park: demographic trend, interspecific relationships and feeding preferences (Rome, central Italy)

Abstract

During the last decade, rose-ringed parakeet’s population of Villa Borghese (an urban park in Rome - Italy) increased dramatically until it reached it’s maximum in 2010, then stabilising after a light decrease. From 1999 to 2013 population increased of 70.5% each year, on average. From collected data local population of Piciformes do not seem to be affected. A clear preference for arboreal and shrubby layer of the vegetation was observed when feeding on a variety of non-native species, this confirming the strong relationship of the taxon with anthropic habitats.