You’ve heard of angry birds. But drunk birds?
Yes, it’s a thing and they are terrorizing a northern Minnesota town.
The belligerent birds have become so tipsy on fermented fruit due to an early fall frost, that the Gilbert Minnesota Police Department dispatched a warning about the suspects.
Police have “received several reports of birds that appear to be ‘under the influence’ flying into windows, cars and acting confused.”
They say the birds that have not yet migrated south, deciding instead to stick around and feast on the fermented berries.
“It appears some birds are getting a little more ‘tipsy’ than normal,” police warn.
And what’s true of people, seems to be true in birds.
Experienced drinkers have a much higher tolerance.
“Generally, younger birds’ livers cannot handle the toxins as effectively as more mature birds,” the police department adds.
And don’t call police about the stumbling, chirp-slurring birds.
“They should sober up within a short period of time,” police assure.
This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last, time birds have been drunk.
The Audubon Society has well documented the encounters, writing in 2014:
“Instances of avian intoxication have been well documented in both the scientific literature and the press. In August 2011, the discovery of 12 dead juvenile blackbirds caught the attention of some veterinary researchers. Post-mortem testing confirmed that the birds had likely downed too many fermented berries and tipsily flew to their deaths, according to a 2012 research letter in the journal Veterinary Record.”
Meanwhile some people are having fun with the timing of this alert.
“There goes the chance of any bird from Northern MN ever being on the Supreme Court,” Angel Johnson posted to the Gilbert police department’s Facebook page.
Main Photo Gary Clark/Audubon Society
