Hungry Cockatoos Are Waging War on Tasmania’s Opium-Producing Poppy

New York Post ^ | February 16, 2020 | Vincent Barone

[nickcarraway]

locks of hundreds of cockatoos are ravaging the fields of farmers who grow the plants that produce that bagel and kaiser roll mainstay — poppy seeds — on the Australian island, but experts caution it’s likely not due to an addiction to the opioid-producing plants.

“The crop is about [11.8 acres] and the best estimation is that at least a third of the crop had been severely damaged by cockies,” Keith Rice, of Poppy Growers Tasmania, told Australia’s ABC.

Some farmers down under have accused the cockatoos of just looking to get loopy on the alkaloid found in the poppies’ seeds.

SNIP

[Fungi]

So tell me, was it “climate change” nonsense, or are they just hungry?

[Ellendra]

Wonder if that would work in the opium fields of certain other countries?

[Equine1952]

Criocked cockies in poppy fields! Film at eleven.

[nickcarraway]

That’s what I was thinking.

[DesertRhino]

So heroin addict cockatoos are out of control in Tasmania? Is there ANY headline that isn’t possible in this modern psycho era?

[KarlInOhio]

But scientists believe the birds are more likely enjoying the poppy’s high source of fat and protein, the Guardian reported.

Try telling that to the cops.

[Equine1952]

I wonder if they can take cockatoo guano and pot, mix it together and sell it as “Tasmanian Take-Off” or something. Bet it would sell for big bucks in Hollywood.

[Larry Lucido]

“Criocked cockies in poppy fields! Film at eleven.”

Poppy-cock!

[Larry Lucido]

[rfp1234]

They can export a bunch of the birds to Afghanistan to ruin the Taliban’s cash crop.

[OrangeHoof]

Didn’t Australia burn to the ground in the last global crisis? The birds are just searching for any morsel that can help them survive after their natural habitat was burned to a crisp.

[Tax-chick]

What’s the point of poppy seeds as a garnish, anyway? They don’t taste like anything, and they stick in your gums.

[sgt_lau]

Exactly! I have wondered about that too. They taste like.....well......nothing. And then to hear horror stories about false positives in urine tests for opioids is the scariest.