SF bans parrot-feeding

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS) - San Francisco has banned the feeding of the city's famed wild parrots. But, as KCBS' Margie Shafer reports, some bird feeders are prepared to face a fine to enjoy the uniquely San Francisco experience.

Gathering at Ferry Park and feeding the flock of wild green and red parrots is a daily ritual for Jerrad Kelly. He knows these birds who sit on his head and shoulders and eat out of his hand. ...

"I actually support the ban," said former bird feeder Bill Widnall. He told KCBS the birds are simply becoming too tame.

"You shake your arm, the bird stays. And this is really, I just think it's gone too far," explained Widnall.

He fears tame birds could easily be stolen, and worries that the parrots are being overfed. The birds attract nature photographers and tourists, too.

What's your take? To the best of my understanding, these birds are the subject of the movie "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." How wild are they if they apparently act so tame?

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com