Residents of the Black Sea city of Constanta alerted
authorities on Saturday after they found dozens of dead starlings, fearing they
may have been infected with bird flu, which triggered mass deaths in avian
populations in 2004-2006.
"Tests on five birds showed gizzards full of
grape marc which caused their death," Romeu Lazar, head of the city's
veterinary authority told Reuters, referring to a pulpy residue which is a
by-product of winemaking.
"This also applies to two dead crows we
tested," Lazar said. Birds are not used to alcohol but harsh winter and
snow had prevented birds from finding food. Had they been able to eat some
seeds, this would have diluted the poison."
The grape marc was presumed to
have come from a winery, but the veterinary chief said he did not know where.
