Berry drunk pigeons taken to recovery centre

Whangarei's cats and dogs are licking their chops at an unexpected addition to their diet - drunk native pigeons.
The plump green birds have been falling out of trees and into the paws of domestic pets after gorging themselves on fruit from Whangarei gardens.
The forest-dwelling birds, also known as kereru, or kukupa in Northland, are a threatened species.
Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre manager Robert Webb said more than 20 native pigeons had been brought in during the past month after smashing into windows, falling out of trees and staggering into gardens. Some had then been attacked by cats and dogs.
"The cats and dogs think they're in heaven at the moment," Mr Webb said.
One bird was brought in by a concerned Springs Flat resident, who saw it fall from a tree into the paws of a cat. The bird had gorged itself on totara berries or shoots, which had fermented and turned alcoholic.
The pigeon is now recovering, suffering only lost feathers and presumably a hangover. However, another pigeon brought in from Onerahi died a few days after a similar incident involving over-ripe berries and a cat.
Mr Webb said native pigeons were looking for food in the city after a poor fruiting season in the forest.
Whangarei kereru expert Ray Pierce said it was the worst winter fruit season he had seen since he began working with the birds in 1992.
Guavas and loquats fermenting in the birds' stomachs were behind their drunken behaviour, Mr Webb said.
People often saw native pigeons on lawns, assuming they were resting and would soon fly away.
"But nine times out of 10, they waddle into plants and gardens and a cat or dog sees them," Mr Webb said.
So far this year 85 intoxicated native pigeons had been brought into the centre, up from 60 for the whole of last year.
Whangarei kereru generally live around Mt Parihaka and Pukenui Forest on the Western Hills.
Kereru expert Ray Pierce blamed the poor fruiting season of the birds' winter staple food, taraire berries, on the bad spring last year.
He believed kereru had delayed breeding this winter because of the lack of berries.
However, their survival in Whangarei was not at risk, because improved predator control should offset the food shortage.