Quaker nests are big, complex structures that typically host more than one family, with each family having its own "apartment" and entrance. They live in these nests year round, another distinctive trait of their species. 

     Quakers choose high, safe locations to build their huge, twiggy homes. Sometimes they make  them at the tops of palm trees or, less conveniently for their human neighbors, the tops of utility poles, frequently right next to the transformers that carry electricity.

     Because quakers are communal dwellers, their nest-size grows as more birds join the flock. Eventually, what began as a reasonably sized pile of sticks can grow into an enormous structure. These structures present a hazard and can interfere with the proper operation of the electrical equipment on an electricity pole. To prevent this from happening, the local electric utility company in Florida calls out crews to remove the nests when they overgrow the safety margin.

     The next step was to explain the situation to the nearly 400 members of the Quaker Parakeet Mailing List.  With just one posting to the group a list was generated.  The posting asked for volunteers in various Florida counties willing to be responsible for prearranging breeders and wildlife care centers to accept and raise the displaced young quakers.

     The response from the mailing list was overwhelming.  Campagna easily signed up volunteer contacts for the key areas in Florida where quakers are numerous.  Some members expressed sorrow at not being able to cover an area because they lived across the country.  The volunteer list was forwarded to the utility company, where it has been put to good use.

     "I said I would try, " states Wolfson.  "I wondered what I had gotten myself into.  I had only one experience with hand-feeding."  It was a terrifying process that he did not know much about, yet he had been placed in charges of the rescue of innumerable chicks and eggs.  Like the people from the utility company, he felt it was the only humane thing to do.

     After speaking to people he knew, Wolfson figured ha had Dade County covered for the majority of what might happen.  "I had two breeders involved who said they would help -- one at either end of Dade County.  I also looked for a vet but did not have any luck there.  Broward  County, on the other hand, was on a back burner until later."  After an initial burst of activity setting up his crew, there was no contact from the utility company.  What Wolfson describes as "a feeling of complacency" set in.  "I didn't call anyone I thought I might have to, figuring I would go see them instead.  But nothing happened, and there was no progress on my end.

     Of course, life did not go according to his assumption.  One Friday, a call came in form he utility company stating that they would be moving two nest in neighboring Broward County on the following Monday.  They provided the address and the time -- 9:00 a.m., sharp.  Wolfson's arrangements had to be coordinated over the weekend.  Calling around, Wolfson spoke to The Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale, who promised to have an on-site ambulance standing by.  "Perfect!" he thought , but while shopping later in the day , he bought a picnic basket (just like the one he used to transport his own bird) just in case there were problems with the ambulance.

     On Sunday, Wolfson and his godson traveled 30 miles from Miami to the nest site to  check things out.  Neither nest looked big, but because of the time of year, both probably had chicks and/or eggs.  The nests were on transformers and neither showed much activity.

     A second truck, a cherry picker,, arrived shortly thereafter, driven by Terry, who also worked for the environmental company.  Both men wer quickly in safety harnesses and busy taking doiwn the nest.  The first nest yielded seven eggs, including tow with holes in them.  While this was taking place, Wolfson noted that the ambulance he had promised was not there.

     After many frantice calls, he discoverd the wildlife center had another emergency and was trying to find a nearby volunteer to cover the nest teardown.  Meanwhile, Wolfson put the piece of nest with the eggs in the back of his truck while the utility company's workers went back for the second nest.

     "this nest had four babies, I think, "  Wolfson said, admitting how shaken he was by the experience.  "There was still no ambulance.  The utility guys were as gentle as you can imagine -- they treated the babies like they were thier own.

     After the nest was torn down, the parent quakers were visibly upset.  Wolfson continued, "Fran was on the ground.  Terry was cleaning up the nest part and sticks, and putting them in a bag for disposal.  It was sad.  The quaker on the eggs and chicks waited until the guy was within arm's reach before going out the back of the nest.

     "After we had the chicks in the truck, the bird and its mate came to the wires, stared at where the bird nest had been and made a loud commotion.  Fran looked up at the birds and said, "I would be mad too if I was you, partner."\

     With no ambulance or brooder nearby, Wolfson put the eggs and babies into the carrier he had bought.  Lined with paper, the tiny nestlings and the eggs were whisked off the The Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale, where the babies were fed and placed with foster avian parents.  Wolfson met and thanked the director, then dashed off to work.  The total time spent on the rescue was three hours.

    The following Tuesday, Wolfson recieved another call about a nest tear-down in the same area that would take place on Thursday.  The wildlife center although interested, had thier hands full caring tor native species.  Understandably, they were unable to strain thier limited resources, but hey gave Wolfson names of other that could help.  He said that the wildlife cneter's poeple were a great help and a wonderful resource for getting the job done.

     Other volunteers requiered specific times in advance in order to coordinate their schedules.  This was largely impractical, given the random way the nest are removed.  Happlily though, Campagnawho Wolfson calls "the angel" of the story, referred him to Bob Turner, of Brenda's Birds in Delray.  Turner was the breeder who originally brought the problem of the nest removals to Karen's attention.  Turner assured Wolfson tha he would be ther to help with the babies anytime and anywhere.

     Thursday arrived.  Wolfson took a sick day from work.  The nest-removal crew arrived.  Turner arrived with a brooder and an incubator in his truck.  The nests came down.  This time, however, there were more than 25 babies, ranging from 2 days to a week old.  There were also 15 eggs.  Turner placed them in their protective transports and whisked them off to their new temporary home.

     Wolfson thanked the Quaker Mailing List for "moral support and ideas that were greatly appreciated."  Most of all, he was thrilled "to get to see a bunch of our "little green chickens" not become part of the food chain.

     "If this story moves anyone to ant ot help in some way, " he concluded, " I would suggest a donation to The Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale.  The have quaker there, and they really go out of there way to make sure they are getting good homes before they let them go.  This includes home visits from an adoption counselor."  The center is located at 3200 SW 4th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida  33315. 

     Campagna refers to Wolfson as her "hero."  He was able to pull together the necessary components to make the rescue happen, even though he felt completely unequipped to handle the job.

     Campagna believes that the feral monk dilemma is not going to be easily solved.  She says, "The Florida Audubon Society has not commissioned a consultant researcher to do a census of quaker nests, as a first step to understanding the impact the South American parrot has on our ecological space.

     "While Audubon's usual position on non-native species is generally not favorable; the jury is still out with regards to the quaker.  No empirical evidence has been gathered to refute the notion that quakers have peacefully found ther niche in our ecological chain.  Until such evidence is found, if ever it is, I believe quakers deserve the same protection afforded our native  creatures.  The list of quaker rescue volunteers working with the utility company is a step in that direction.

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