Along Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst, the skyline comes with a side of drama. Towering stick nests, some wrapped right around pole-top transformers, hang over the road like haystacks in the sky. The architects are monk parakeets, bright green parrots about 11 to 13 inches long that live in noisy, communal colonies and build sprawling twig complexes. As those nests keep growing, local businesses and utility crews worry the birds could be flirting with power outages or even fires.
NBC New York reports that some of the colonies have constructed nests that can reach about 10 feet across and weigh "hundreds of pounds," and that PSEG Long Island has tagged the pole-top clusters as both a fire risk and a potential cause of outages. The station notes that the nests are easy to spot along Montauk Highway, where shop owners say the birds are equal parts neighborhood mascots and troublemakers. "To be honest, I love them all the time ... But sometimes, they come and knock the power out," one manager told the outlet.
Utility response and public safety
According to PSEG Long Island, crews are allowed to remove nests during restoration work or emergency repairs, following a four-stage relocation process that is meant to protect wildlife while keeping electrical equipment clear. The utility notes that monk parakeets have a strong preference for pole-top locations and often rebuild on the same gear, which has pushed the company to look at deterrents or possible equipment changes. PSEG says more nest removals may be needed to prevent outages and avoid damage to infrastructure.
When nests hit the grid
Those worries are not just theoretical. In Amityville, a monk parakeet nest made contact with electrical equipment in July 2025 and caused brief outages for hundreds of customers, according to Patch. PSEG told the outlet that "random animal or nest contact" has led to multiple outages on that circuit since 2023, and that crews have been patrolling the lines and planning upgrades to cut down on repeat incidents. For communities that rely on steady power, even short blips can translate into serious headaches for businesses and for seniors.
Local backlash and nest removals
When the utility or its contractors do move in, it is not always a quiet affair. News 12 Long Island reported that a recent effort to reduce nests in Lindenhurst left some dead hatchlings and eggs in the trash, which prompted the Suffolk SPCA and local advocates to call for an investigation. Contractors told the station they regret the distress and are working with officials in response, while neighbors say the episode showed just how risky nest removals can be during the breeding season.
How they got here
Monk parakeets are native to South America, yet they have been part of the New York-area bird scene for decades. Audubon traces local colonies to the pet trade and likely escapes near JFK Airport in the late 1960s. Their communal, insulated nests help them get through colder winters, and they favor human structures such as utility poles and stadium lights, which goes a long way toward explaining why power equipment has become prized nesting space. That same adaptability is what makes it so difficult to find humane, lasting deterrents that satisfy both engineers and conservation-minded residents.
What residents should know
PSEG asks residents to report any nesting on poles or transformers so crews and wildlife partners can check the site and choose the least harmful way to deal with it. The utility says its website lays out how to contact crews and explains the relocation process. For immediate hazards such as smoke, sparking wires or nests that have caught fire, the company advises calling 911 first, then PSEG at 1-800-490-0075. More patrols and targeted nest removals are expected this spring as utilities try to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare.
