Bohemian Waxwings have returned to Prince George in full force this winter after their near absence last year, thanks to a bumper crop of berries. Local fruit yields in 2023 were sparse, but this year’s masting phenomenon among fruit-bearing plants, especially Mountain Ash, has provided a feast for the birds.
As the Bohemian Waxwings move across the sky in sun-blotting masses and weigh down berry bearing branches with their numbers, it might look like they’re having more fun than you are. They actually might be.
Shaye Hill, while pursuing a UNBC Masters degree in Ornithology, explained that the fermenting Mountain Ash berries contain ethyl alcohol, and while these birds have a sophisticated metabolism that allows them to break this chemical down, “they still do get a little bit intoxicated.”
Their stay in Prince George will likely last another month, depending on the size of their food supply—or until more flocks arrive to crash the party.
Story also available on frequencynews.ca, 88.7 FM in Prince George—Lheidli T’enneh, and cfur.ca/listen-live Mon-Fri 7:30am & 5pm PST
CFUR Radio Society’s journalist, Ian Gregg is funded by the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) through the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC).