Wayne is exactly right - toxicity (and other palatability factors) vary from
lifeform to lifeform and can change radically in plants from plant part to
plant part and in maturation lifecycle.

For information on Cotoneaster related cyanide poisoning and the toxicity
cycle see:

http://agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/FHR54-4.pdf

A great example of fruit maturity palatability variation in humans is
Solanum tuberosum poisoning (commonly known as green potato poisoning).
Solanine, the poison in question is highly toxic and can cause death if
eaten in even small amounts. Solanine is found in all parts of potato
plants but is especially concentrated in green potato skins and in potato
sprouts. It can cause paralysis, shock, and hypothermia - it lowers all
metabolic functions and can slow or stop heartbeat and/or breathing. Not
something to fool with - if you have green potatoes throw them out. Don't
try just peeling the green away - the toxicity can contaminate layers below
the skin and can be transfered through handling. Potato sprouts should
always be disposed of carefully - just a couple of bites can kill a dog.

Chocolate = humans yum, dogs funeral

and remember Laetril? Apricot kernels (yucky - taste like bitter almond
extract) can be toxic to humans if consumed in amounts of 2 ounces or more
at a sitting. Still, products containing this (and even kernels themselves)
are still sold out of ignorance.

see: http://www.personalmd.com/news/a1998120903.shtml

Ending on a bird note... I've seen a friends Macaw eat 6 whole dried
habanero peppers in one minute flat - my hands go numb if I touch them!

Cheers

Rob


Rob Conway
Newcastle, WA

robin_birder at hotmail.com





>From: "Wayne C. Weber" <contopus at telus.net>
>To: "MIKE DENNY" <m.denny at charter.net>
>CC: TWEETERS <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Tweeters] birds and toxic berries
>Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 22:22:56 -0800
>
>Mike and Tweeters,
>
>Climbing nightshade, or bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
>is a widespread weed in Washington, and as you point out, its toxic
>properties are well-known.
>
>However, the highest concentration of the toxic alkaloids are in the
>green (immature) fruits. The ripe fruits, which are orange-red in color
>(like miniature tomatoes) have little or none of the toxic chemicals.
>
>In addition, at least one source that I consulted claimed that
>the plant is not poisonous to birds, although the immature fruits
>are known to be extremely toxic to humans, sheep, and rodents,
>at the least.
>
>One should not assume, because a given plant is poisonous to humans
>and other mammals, that it is poisonous to birds. For example, poison
>ivy and poison oak berries, while poisonous to humans, are not toxic
>to birds and are eaten by numerous bird species. On the other hand,
>avocados, which are quite edible to humans, can be deadly to some birds.
>I have heard of pet parrots being killed after being fed avocado by their
>owner, who was unaware of their poisonous properties.
>
>So it may well be that sparrows and other birds can eat and digest
>nightshade berries with no harm at all.
>
>Wayne C. Weber
>Delta, BC
>contopus at telus.net
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "mike denny" <m.denny at charter.net>
>To: "AMY DAVID SHUMANN" <daccshumann at msn.com>; <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
>Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 6:56 PM
>Subject: Re: [Tweeters] birds and toxic berries
>
>
>Hello All,
>
>On 7 November 2004 while birding with John Gatchet below McNary
>Dam on the Columbia River. We watched as two tan-striped
>White-throated Sparrows fed on the beautiful eye catching red-orange
>fruits/berries of the Climbing Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara). These
>sparrows fed on 5-7 berries each, smashing the soft red flesh and
>consuming the seeds with seeming impunity.
>
>This plant and all of its parts are poison and contain compounds such as
>solanine, glycoside,dulcamarine to name a few. So we marveled at
>how these two small bodied birds could ingest these toxins and then
>fly off unaffected? See Oregon Birds 31(3):117.
>
>Later Mike
>
>********************************************************************
>Mike & MerryLynn Denny
>1354 S. E. Central Ave.
>College Place, WA 99324
>509.529.0080 (h)
>
>IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
>*******************************************************************
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Tweeters mailing list
>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Tweeters mailing list
>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters

_________________________________________________________________
Share your latest news with your friends with the Windows Live Spaces
friends module.
http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwsp0070000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://spaces.live.com/spacesapi.aspx?wx_action=create&wx_url=/friends.aspx&mk