James Markus wrote:
Mary,
You describe an almost Monty Python scene. I can almost see it in my minds eye - flying "Turduses" Gilliam graphics with Palin doing the Attenborough-like scientific description, while Cleese is rained upon by the drunken birds. It would have been another epic skit.
Jim
mjgphotoz wrote:
Jim, I am still laughing. I never knew the scientific name for Robins.
One spring years ago in Az, a flock of at least 100 "Turdus" migrated to our front yard and ate the heat fermented berries fallen from the pyracantha bushes around the porch. Their little bellies puffed up as they drunkenly staggered around the yard unable to fly for several hours. It was a sight to behold and I am sure an embarrassment to all birds everywhere!
Mary
Jim, I can see it now! The whole thing was surreal. The robins all were gone by the next morning and I did not see any feathers laying about so I am assuming the neighborhood cats did not get them while inebriated and earth bound!
There is a funny post script to this little tale however. A few weeks later, on a Sunday morning when no veterinary offices were open, my Mom and I were alarmed when her little fox terrier started regurgitating and staggering around in the back yard. We thought she was dying until I took a closer look and saw recycled pyracantha berries. Yep, the backyard fence was planted with the same type bushes, and you guessed it, she ate the fermented berries. She was fine when she sobered up and we ever after referred to har as " the lush".
