(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2026-04-10) Petrov, Rusko; Dimitrova, Tsvetina
Climate change, characterized by rising winter temperatures and decreasing snow cover in Bulgaria, facilitates the adaptation and overwintering of exotic parrots of the genus Psittacula – the Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria) and the Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), which have been released from private collections or aviaries in urbanized and park environments. Observations since 2020 have registered a total of 8 Alexandrine Parakeets (Stara Zagora - 2, Veliko Tarnovo - 2, Valchi Dol - 2, Montana - 1, Plovdiv - 1) and 4 Rose-ringed Parakeets (2 in Varna and 2 in Stara Zagora). They utilize local tree species (e.g., plane trees, maples, hackberries, cherry laurels) for food, shelter, and roosting, similar to their invasive establishment in neighboring Europe. These changes highlight how milder winters allow tropical species to expand northward, potentially threatening the local fauna.