A little Googling casts some doubt on that story, however. It may be that the berries are simply toxic to birds, whether they have fermented or not.
Posted on 02/23/2010 8:22:45 PM PST by nickcarraway
Robins migrating north for the spring are stopping off along Florida's Treasure Coast for some cocktails.
"This time of year, expect to see some robins looking a little woozy," said Ken Gioeli, natural resources agent for the Cooperative Extension Service in Fort Pierce, Fla.
The reason the robins' noses are turning as red as their breasts: fermented berries on Brazilian pepper bushes.
The robins' trip north coincides with the berries ripening; and Gioeli said overripe berries on the plants "can be somewhat fermented."
That may be especially the case this year because of the particularly cold weather.
"In the same way that cold temperatures helps sweeten citrus," Gioeli said, "it's possible that the cold puts more sugar in the (Brazilian pepper) berries."
As any good chemist vintner or beer brewer will tell you, fermentation of sugar- or starch-containing plant material will make beverages with low alcohol content.
But what's good for robins isn't good for people, for whom Brazilian peppers are toxic.
"So nobody should try making Brazilian pepper wine," Gioeli said.
Gioeli said the robins are slowly, and perhaps wobbily, making their way north. Most are out of Martin County, and their numbers are starting to dwindle in St. Lucie and Indian River counties.
Richard Baker of Sebastian, president of the Pelican Island Audubon Society, said this has been "a banner year for robins"; but neither he nor his wife, Juanita Baker, said they've seen any drunk birds.
"People have told me they've seen them," Juanita Baker said, "so maybe it's true."
Richard Baker said a fellow birder jokingly suggested the Audubon Society offer rehab for drunken robins or at least "pray for their misguided souls."
Gioeli said there's no research to confirm it, "but through my own experience, I think robins really love Brazilian pepper berries when they're really ripe, and I think they appreciate the fact that they get a little buzz."
The robins, like many others on boozy binges, don't think about the consequences of their actions.
"When the birds fly off in a wobbly manner, they light on power lines or fence posts and their droppings contain the (Brazilian pepper) seeds," Gioeli said. "That's why you tend to see Brazilian peppers growing under power lines and along fence rows, and Brazilian pepper is one of the most invasive plants we have in South Florida."
Some British guys got excited for a second, when they heard, “drunken birds.”
Wish they’d stop raiding the hackberries in our yard and pooping on our cars. Just a thought. Even better if we could ‘deter’ the grackles.
Once saw a bunch of Cedar Waxwings get looped on fermented China berries from a China Berry tree in our yard.
Poor things..but funny.
A little Googling casts some doubt on that story, however. It may be that the berries are simply toxic to birds, whether they have fermented or not.
And you should see them at the bird bath after loading up on the berries! I have to refill it several times a day when they are active. Looks like the aftermath of a chili-eating contest :)
A wildlife biologist once told me that the berries of the Brazilian Pepper are abortificants to pregnant mares and cows.
Interesting to know that robins are migrating from Florida. That explains why we have had so many robins stopping by our place, northwest Arkansas, this past week. Today there were at least fifty on both side yards and they were all busy digging for food. We thought this meant an early spring but it is turning colder again in a few days so that theory is out the window. I think they will all wish they had stayed in Florida and enjoyed their berry juice a while longer.
Heck, I had some grape juice in the refrigerator that I drink once in a while (a glass here and there...) and the last time I opened the bottle, it fizzed a bit. I sorta wondered... and then I drank a bit of it and it had been fermenting in the refrigerator... LOL...
It's a 12 step program
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