Parakeets are the squawk of the town

Exotic green ring necked parakeets are becoming an increasingly common sight in the Black Country, experts have revealed.

People across the region have spotted the emerald green parrot like birds nesting in trees and feeding from bird tables.

They are already common in south west London, where there is estimated to be around 30,000 ring necked parakeets in the wild, but it now appears they are moving north. It is thought the parakeets have survived in the UK thanks to bird enthusiasts leaving out food and seeds for them.

They are very easy to recognise not only from their bright emerald green feathers and rose red beak, but by their distinctive loud squawk and parrot-like shape.

Chris Edwards from the RSPB's Sandwell Valley nature reserve said: "We know there are around three of four parakeets nesting in the area. Not actually on the nature reserve but round about. People are starting to spot them in their back gardens."

Colin Sedgwick from Lichfield, who regularly volunteers at the RSPB Sandwell Valley, managed to photograph the birds.

He said: "I went to look for them and found them just outside the Sandwell nature reserve.

"It seems there may be half a dozen of them there. Their distinctive colour and squawk make them very easy to recognise.

"I managed to get quite a few photographs, and they do seem to be on the increase in the area, and are definitely dotted all over the Black Country."

Wildlife officer for Birmingham City Council Dr Stefan Bodnar said: "What we don't know at the moment is how they will have coped with the exceptionally harsh winter this year.

They are from the Himalayas so should be used to cold weather but we are not sure whether they would have been used to it being this cold. It is a case of wait and see."

Mr Bodnar added: "They are an unusual site round here at the moment, but I think in 10 to 20 years time they will be really quite common."

There are a number of theories as to how the birds ended up in the UK. One theory is that they escaped from a container at Heathrow in the 1950s another is that they flew from an aviary which was damaged during the storm of 1987.

Although they are a beautiful and startling site to see bird watchers are not always pleased to see the parakeets.

Matt Lewis Curator at Dudley Zoo who has been keeping an eye on the bird numbers said: "In some ways the parakeets are quite a pest. They nest in holes in trees, where the woodpeckers would normally nest. They also cause quite a lot of damage to fruit farms, taking the fruit and causing quite a lot of damage to the plants."