Birds Die From Flying 'Drunk' Into Windows

AP/Newsday ^ | 2/2/06 | n/a

[kiriath_jearim]

Birds Die From Flying 'Drunk' Into Windows

By Associated Press

February 2, 2006, 10:40 AM EST

VIENNA, Austria -- Experts who conducted tests on 40 songbirds found dead in Vienna say they didn't die of bird flu as initially feared, but slammed into windows after becoming intoxicated from eating fermented berries.

The birds -- whose remains were carefully examined to ensure they were not victims of avian influenza -- had livers so diseased "they looked like they were chronic alcoholics," Sonja Wehsely, a spokeswoman for Vienna's veterinary authority, told Austrian television Thursday.

All died of broken necks after slamming into windowpanes, apparently after gorging themselves on berries that had begun to rot, turning the juice inside to alcohol, Wehsely said. She said the juice probably continued to ferment as the birds digested the berries, causing them to become disoriented and fly into the panes.

Their discovery last month in a residential neighborhood of Vienna had triggered concerns that bird flu had reached the Austrian capital.

[Paleo Conservative]

Don't drink and fly.

[Night Hides Not]

Bummer, dude.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Ahhhhh...110 proof berries will get you every time.

[lastchance]

Not a great shock to me. We used to laugh at the robins that got drunk on the berries of our Brazillian Pepper bush.

[No Truce With Kings]

More proof that old pilots observe the rule that you wait 24 hrs from bottle to throttle.

[Onelifetogive]

Birds Die From Flying 'Drunk' Into Windows

Oh great...now the leftists are going to want all windows to be padded!

[colorado tanker]

This is a berry bad problem.

[kiriath_jearim]

"Don't drink and fly."

***

In future, will drunken birds be arrested for "FUI"?

[tiredoflaundry]

Isn't there a program or something for these birds?

[GSlob]

Good thing Ted Kennedy is not capable of flight - those below would need VERY sturdy hooded rubber raincoats and umbrellas. And cleaning one's car would be a nightmare... brrr!

[theFIRMbss]

>Birds Die From Flying 'Drunk' Into Windows

Even if I'm not
drunk, sometimes Windows makes me
want to take my life . . .

[DennisR]

Some liberal Democrat will want a few billion dollars to prevent these accidental deaths. Birds - protect them; babies - kill them.

[martin_fierro]

We need UN intervention.

[N. Theknow]

Kennedy birds?

Oh, wait. They would just leave other birds to die while they tried to fly away in a neck brace.

[birbear]

I knew it! I knew it!

I saw the headline, and wondered how many posts before somebody makes a Microsoft comment.

My guess was between 10-15... you hit it at number 12.

[Rhetorical pi2]

MADF (Mothers against drunk flying) are trying to get the fermented berries eating age raised to 21.

[showme_the_Glory]

Kind of reverse of the birds in the Bud commercial that get the por guy to walk into the window after they ring the door bell.

[KarlInOhio]

Another set of happy customers of Fat Ted's Corn Mash Birdfeed.

[ghitma]

Ah yes another relevant article from newsday.