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Wildlife Officials: Watch Out For Drunk Birds

Author Phil Harris
A robin perches on a branch in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, which shares a boundary with the space center. Robins range throughout North America, from Alaska to Florida. Although considered a harbinger of spring, they do winter in northern states, frequenting cedar bogs and swamps. They also winter in Florida, where they often can be seen in flocks of hundreds near KSC and the wildlife refuge, which comprises 92,000 acres, ranging from hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods to fresh-water impoundments, salt-water estuaries and brackish marshes. The diverse landscape provides habitat for more than 310 species of birds, 25 mammals, 117 fishes, and 65 amphibians and reptiles, including such endangered species as Southern bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub jays, Atlantic loggerhead and leatherback turtles, osprey, and nearly 5,000 alligators. (Photo by NASA/Getty Images)

North Carolina hunters have a few busy weeks ahead. The wild turkey hunting season is here and continues through May 6th. Meanwhile in Georgia, some birds may look like they’ve been drinking Wild Turkey.

In a Facebook post, Georgia wildlife officials are warning people to look out for drunk birds. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Wildlife Resources Division says some birds, including cedar waxwings and American robins, will eat fruit that has begun to ferment around this time of year. It affects coordination, which leads the birds to fly into windows.

According to the Georgia DNR, one possible culprit for the avian intoxication is Nandina berries. The Nandina plant is commonly used in landscaping and pulls cyanide from the soil. Lethal doses can end up in the bright red berries. Unfortunately for the birds, eating too much of any fermented fruit can lead to alcohol poisoning and even death.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

These are the Keystone Native Plants for North Carolina

New research shows an increase of 1 in 3 people now purchasing native plants and gardening for wildlife. Why are natives so important?

Native plants are the core of the wildlife habitat garden. Even small-scale native plant gardens that incorporate blooming plants for multiple seasons are proven to increase pollinator abundance and diversity. Within days or even moments after native plants are introduced to a space, wildlife can appear. Research shows wildlife habitat gardens support 50% more wildlife than surrounding conventional landscapes.

Not only do natives support more local wildlife, but they are more suited to withstand the climate in North Carolina. For example, trees native to storm-prone regions are more likely to withstand high winds. North Carolina’s state bird, the cardinal -30% of its diet relies on insects these many native plants provide.

Why should they replace such trees and shrubs?

Plants such as ornamental pear, taxus, barberry, as considered exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature do not support wildlife as well as native plants. Occasionally, they can even escape into the wild and become invasives that destroy natural habitats. Not only do they destroy and crowd out native plants, but they don’t support local wildlife.

Learning More

Replacing invasives with native plants reverses the dominance of non-beneficial plants in the landscape, a key contributor to habitat loss that has hurt many wildlife species. By doing so, you’ll cut down on the amount of water, pesticides, and fertilizers you use. Native plants are low-maintenance. They help the environment the most when planted in places that match their growing requirements. They will thrive in the soils, moisture, and weather of your region. That means less supplemental watering, which can be wasteful, and pest problems that require toxic chemicals. Native plants also assist in managing rainwater runoff and maintaining healthy soil as their root systems are deep and keep soil from being compacted. They also minimize further negative impacts on wildlife and pollution of local water resources.

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