# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DTCQon1ktFt
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/38499407-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/69b08da10b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-01-03T04:35:13.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

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.⁠
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⁠ 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.⁠
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#lorikeetbird #rainbowlorikeet #birds #lorikeet #animal #science #biology

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## Tags

science, lorikeetbird, rainbowlorikeet, lorikeet, biology, birds, animal

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