Study finds that zebra finches sing differently after being given spiked juice
If you thought that scientists were too dull and responsible to ever get birds drunk in order to see what they sound like, you’d be wrong.
Christopher Olson recently did that very thing, focusing on getting zebra finches boozed up and analysing their singing.
Speaking to All Things Considered, he said: “We just showed up in the morning and mixed a little bit of juice with 6 percent alcohol, and put it in their water bottles and put it in the cages.”
So far, so normal… in the name of science, obviously.
Olson added: “At first we were thinking that they wouldn't drink on their own because, you know, a lot of animals just won't touch the stuff. But they seem to tolerate it pretty well and be somewhat willing to consume it.”
Although the finches only achieved low blood-alcohol levels of .05 to .08 percent, it was enough to intoxicate them, and it seems that, like humans, their voices are affected when drunk.
The scientists found that the birds' song became quieter and slightly slurred once they had polished off the spiked juice.
It is unknown whether they also put their wings around each other and claimed undying friendship, followed by an unpredicted mood change and the offer of a fight.
