Subject: [Tweeters] birds and toxic berries
Date: Dec 8 16:16:59 2006
From: AMY DAVID SHUMANN - daccshumann at msn.com


Hi Tweeters,
Last April I posted a message about a dozen or so Cedar Waxwings that were
found dead in Freeway Park. Given the disucssion about birds and berries I
thought it was worth repeating. Enviornmental Health folks at Public Health
did autopsies on the birds because of West Nile concerns. It turns out that
the Waxwings died from cyanide poisoning from the cotoneaster berries they
were eating in Freeway Park. Apparently this type of toxicity has been
documented in the Midwest, but not in this area. I don't know what causes
the berries on some plants to become toxic. An unfortunate development for
the Waxwings.

Amy Shumann
Seattle
daccshumann at msn.com