Drunken (not Angry) Birds snarl Austrian traffic

Paul Heymont 10/7/1611:54 AM

A huge flock of drunken starlings crash-landed on Austria's A2 motorway earlier this week, causing miles-long traffic jams.

Large flocks of starlings, like those above, are common, but usually keep to the air and roadsides. These, however, apparently gorged on over-ripe and fermented wild berries, ingesting enough alcohol to become unsteady. Then, losing their bearings in rain and fog, they began crashing into cars and trucks.

Witnesses described the situation as like being in a horror film. It's not the first incident of drunken birds making the news in Austria, though; in 2006 a flock of intoxicated waxwings crashed into the walls and windows of Vienna apartment buildings.

Photo: John Holmes/Wikimedia

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