Rules Committee forwards ordinance to make wild parrot the city's official animal

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on June 5 voted unanimously to send an ordinance to the full Board that would amend the Administrative Code to designate the wild (feral) parrot as the official animal of the City and County of San Francisco. The committee recorded aye votes from Vice Chair Shimon Walton, Supervisor Asha Safai and Chair Matt Dorsey.

Mike Farah, representing Supervisor Matt Haney Melgar's office (the item's chief sponsor was identified as Supervisor Melgar), told the committee the code change follows a resolution the Board had already supported and framed the measure as a celebratory update to the city's symbolic fauna. "As you may know, San Francisco has an official bird, which is the quail. This marks the addition of the parrot as the official animal," Farah said, urging committee support.

Committee members spoke in favor while noting different perspectives. Chair Matt Dorsey said the city can "walk and chew gum at the same time," addressing critics who questioned the timing of a symbolic designation amid other city challenges. Vice Chair Shimon Walton said he would support the ordinance but wished the process had been more inclusive and encouraged public participation.

Public comment was broadly supportive. Naima (San Francisco Early Care and Education Advocacy Coalition) endorsed the designation in person. Caller Eileen Bogan of SPEAK (Sunset Parkside Education and Action Committee) supported naming the parrot but urged the city to adopt a strategic plan addressing food sources, habitat and flight paths, building glass strike risks and disease monitoring (including avian flu). Caller David Pilpel also voiced support and noted that naming the parrot would not preclude designating other symbols in future.

Clerk Victor Young said items heard that day are expected on the Board agenda of June 13, 2023; the committee's positive recommendation sends the ordinance to the full Board for consideration.