03-06-08	Paw Prints
	The Season for Dead Birds is March & April
	There is not much surprise at the number of reports of dead birds, especially robins, this time of year.  Waxwings are also birds that frequently suffer from the toxicity, because they, too, feed primarily on berries. Plant berry fermentation produces alcohol in the berries.  Birds eating the alcohol-containing berries can become drunk or can die of alcohol toxicity.  Berries tend to ferment after very cold weather, which we recently had.  Plants known to have berries that ferment include privet, possum haw, and hackberry.  One other factor exists in the privet berries.  The berries have a hard shell and usually pass through the birds intact.  However repeated freeze thaws cycles can crack the shell.  In that case the seeds release an alkaloid as they pass though the bird’s digestive tract.  The alkaloid is also toxic for the birds.  Therefore, the birds suffer a double toxin – alcohol and an alkaloid.  This time of year, people see lots of dead birds because of this.