[EBB Sightings] Yellow Variant House Finch? + Robins

	
	
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On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:18:53 -0700 (PDT), "Jaan Lepson"

>The first thing that comes to mind with ripe berries is a very common
>intoxicant: ethanol.  I'd guess the robins are drunk.  Or at least buzzed.

Possibly, but I wonder if there is enough ethanol in Pyracantha or
Cotoneaster berries to cause drunkenness.

However, the seeds are known to contain small amounts of hydrogen cyanide
which is what I believe the birds may be reacting to.  Either that or the
erratic appearing behavior may be just normal competitive behavior in a
flock where there is a high concentrations of fruit. 

Anyway, if you want to taste the berries, I recommend spitting out the
seeds.  They are not good for you. 

I'd be interested to learn how much, if any, ethanol there is in the
berries. 

-- 
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA        jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu 
SF Birding Classes start Sept. 15  http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.californiabirds.org/
Western Field Ornithologists       http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/