FACTS: Missouri Used to Be Overrun by Parrots, Yes Parrots

I grew up and have spent most of my life in Missouri so I figured I knew my birth state. Apparently not as I've learned that my homeland was once overrun by parrots, millions and millions of parrots.

In another sign that the apocalypse might very well be near, I learned something today from the Missouri sub-Reddit. It was a post that simply said "Missouri had a native parrot. There used to be millions, but then last one died in 1918". Since I doubt every single word I read on the internet (it's that Show Me Missouri upbringing), I sought confirmation of facts elsewhere and I found it.

Wikipedia tells the sad story of the Carolina parakeet. Sure enough. The parrots in Missouri claim is true. The documentation says the parrots were "native to the Eastern, Midwest, and Plains states of the United States".

Why were parrots drawn to Missouri?

Wikipedia says they loved the "rivers and in swamps, especially in the Mississippi-Missouri drainage basin". Well, Missouri sure has plenty of those so I now understand why parrots looked at us like beach people look at Florida.

The question is why aren't parrots in the wilds of Missouri now? It might be cats fault and I'm not just saying that because I'm a dog person. As the story goes, some cats died after eating the parakeets because they had ingested toxic seeds from cockleburs. You can't make this stuff up. That made Missourians believe the parrots were poisonous and that led to their extermination.

That is why you won't have parrots on your Missouri bird feeder.