page_title: Harold Washington Park
section_title: Parakeet nests
hierarchical_section_title: Harold Washington Park / Facilities / Parakeet nests
caption_attribution_description: English: Harold Washington Park Parakeet Nests
context_page_description: Harold Washington Park is a small park in the Chicago Park District located in the Hyde Park community area on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was recently named for lawyer, state legislator, U.S. congressman, Hyde Park resident, and the first African American Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. The Park District officially calls the park Harold Washington Playlot Park with a designated address of 5200 S. Hyde Park Blvd Chicago, IL 60615. It is one of 4 Chicago Park District parks named after persons surnamed Washington. It is one of 40 Chicago Park District parks named after influential African Americans. The Park is bounded by East 53rd Street on the south, South Hyde Park Boulevard on the west, and Lake Shore Drive to the east. Architecturally, it is flanked to the north by Regents Park and The Hampton House to the south. In addition its southwest corner opposes two National Register of Historic Places Properties.
context_section_description: In the 1980s, a dozen or so South American monk parakeets were released into the park directly across the street from the Hampton House. They settled in a large ash tree. By the summer of 1988, bird watchers counted two dozen birds in the original tree. The population has continued to redouble frequently. The park, which is in the Chicago Park District has been renamed Harold Washington Park. The flock, known to many as Harold's parakeets, has grown to a few hundred birds that nest throughout this park, Burnham Park and Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago. The original tree became infested with termites and collapsed on June 12, 2004. Over 50 birds were displaced by the collapse. The nests were replaced in other nearby trees. Birdwatchers come from around the world to see this flock of birds. The birds have been a hotly contested issue pitting the U.S. Department of Agriculture against local politicians and the Harold Washington Memorial Parrot Defense Fund.
  Alternate theories for the original population of birds are
  Harold Washington released a dozen or so birds during his local residence.
  A small flock of the birds escaped from a commercial shipment.
  A small flock of the birds escaped from a residential birdcage.
  Regardless of their origins, the flock was ably defended by the Mayor who foiled attempts to have them removed from the local park.
caption: Harold Washington Park ash tree with monk parakeet nests
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