This is bird note.

A flock of hundreds of parakeets swirls into a deep ravine in Argentina.

The ravine sides are riddled with thousands of small holes, the nest holes of an enormous

colony of burrowing parakeets.

The parakeets excavate deep nest tunnels in sandstone and limestone cliffs high above a river or the coastline. The colony's many tunnels zigzag and interconnect, creating an intricate

labyrinth. Their nesting colonies are among the largest of any parrot. One in Argentina has

70,000 birds. Burrowing parakeets are big and slender, a foot and a half tall with long tails,

golden green wings and yellow underparts marked with orange.

Above ground, they roam in search of seeds and fruit over dry, open country in Chile and Argentina.

Once a common sight, they've declined due to human activities, including land development and being treated as an agricultural pest.

The large flocks sleep together in trees or in their nesting burrows.

Just before sunrise, they leave the roost and gather en masse to forage over the countryside.

Soon, the flock is on the move.

Their raucous calls filling the countryside. Soon, the flock is on the move. Their raucous calls filling the air.

For Bird Note, I'm Ariana Rommel.