WESTSIDE BIRDLAND

“Wild Things” (by Debra J. Hotaling, So SoCal, July 27) caught my eye, and I’d like to share further information about the parrots that inhabit the Westside.

In 1964, there was an enormous fire in Bel-Air. A wealthy homeowner there maintained an aviary of exotic birds. In anticipation of the approaching flames, it is said, he freed the birds, and the rest is history.

I clearly remember, as a child, watching 10 green parrots with red “underarms” flying so clumsily around our neighborhood, feeding on the red berries of nearby pepper trees. Over the years, we observed them growing in numbers. Recently, my husband videotaped at least 20 of them in our backyard, munching away on our pepper tree.

As far as we’re concerned, they can park on our green sofa anytime.

Heidi Myer Wong

Los Angeles