‘Legless’ birds fascinate visitors
PA Wellington The drunken behaviour of birds at Wairakei Resort Hotel in Rotorua has been arousing much interest.
The hotel manager, Mr Pat Watson, said their raucous behaviour was good for business. The birds flock to the “garden bar” each day and quickly become “legless.” About 70 tuis have become partial to potent nectar fermenting in the flowers on six trees outside the hotel. Mr Watson said the birds appeared each spring and got “crazy drunk” on nectar.
“They get so drunk they start making a real noise and sometimes fall out of the trees,” he said.
“I’ve seen up to three birds fall out at once and then waddle along the ground.”
He believed the exotic trees were commonly known as carmine cherry and attracted birds from the surrounding native bush with their bright red flowers.
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Press, 26 September 1989, Page 7
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141‘Legless’ birds fascinate visitors Press, 26 September 1989, Page 7
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