It turns out that in the lead-up to the silly season, humans aren't the only species getting drunk on holiday spirit. ⁠ Rainbow lorikeets in Adelaide's Botanic Garden have been wreaking havoc after getting 'drunk' on fermented nectar from the Weeping Boer-bean tree.⁠ In fact, the later months of the year are sometimes referred to as 'drunken parrot season' by ornithologists studying the behavior of birds before the wet season.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ The Weeping Boer-bean tree has actually been named 'the drunken parrot tree', as lorikeets flock to drink fermented nectar from its flowers, which can have a similar alcohol strength to beer.⁠ 'Fruit-eating birds are particularly vulnerable because they depend so heavily on a food source that ferments, and to get enough proteins, they need to eat a lot of it,' ornithologist Dr. Glen Chilton told Australian Geographic in October.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #lorikeetbird #rainbowlorikeet #birds #lorikeet #animal #science #biology