https://baltics.news/2023/06/11/in-slovakia-swans-became-drug-addicts-after-feasting-in-a-poppy-field/ Skip to the content Search Baltics News Menu * Estonia * Latvia * Lithuania Search Search for: [ ] [Search] Close search Close Menu * Estonia * Latvia * Lithuania Categories Latvia In Slovakia, swans became "drug addicts" after feasting in a poppy field * Post date June 11, 2023 * No Comments on In Slovakia, swans became "drug addicts" after feasting in a poppy field [l3sg] In Slovakia, a farming family must deal with an unusual situation. Dozens of swans have settled in their poppy fields, which do not intend to leave this area at all, because the birds have turned into "drug addicts". Slovak farmer Balints Pam has been growing poppies for many years, but he has never experienced anything like this before. In February, swans flew into his fields around the town of Komarno, and since then they have hardly moved. The birds destroy the upcoming harvest and do not leave because they have gradually become addicted to the poppies. "They came gradually. We counted more than 200 swans here," says the farmer. Why did the swans settle in the poppies and start feeding on their shoots? And not, for example, with winter rape, which swans like so much that they peck large areas in the spring? According to the farmer, the birds were most likely attracted not by the poppies, but by the large puddles of water in his fields that formed after heavy rains. Water and green sprouts in one place - just what this waterfowl needs. The appetite of an adult swan weighing 14 kilograms is substantial. The birds have most likely made a mistake - mixing poppies with rapeseed. Swans pick poppies from the flowers to the roots. However, this plant causes the effect of narcotic intoxication. Stunned swans can no longer fly. Tired, confused and apathetic, they also become easy prey for predators. "The whole pod of the poppy is toxic, except the seeds. But the swans don't know that and they hurt themselves," concludes farmer Pam. As naturalists have pointed out, it is the same with people who have become addicted to drugs. Eating a small amount of poppies will make the birds intoxicated. But as they eat more and more of the larches, they overdose and die. Several dozen swans have already died. In four months, the flock of birds has already destroyed five hectares of poppies. Losses of 10,000 euros were caused to a Slovak farmer. No one will pay them back - neither insurers nor the state. Damage to these protected birds is very rare in Slovakia, so swans are not on the list of species for which the state pays compensation. The farmer does not know how to get rid of the swans. It is a protected species in Slovakia. It is forbidden not only to hunt swans, but also to disturb them. The authorities also open their hands in ignorance. "Preparing for the next season, the grower should apply for an exception and to allow scaring away the protected birds. The swans that are already there can only be scared away with your hands. At the moment, nothing else can be done," says Jans Kalavskis, representative of the Slovak State Nature Protection Service. In recent years, when winters have become milder due to climate change, more and more swans and other waterfowl are wintering in the Carpathian region. Many even stay year-round, but when the cold periods come, they go to look for food in the farmers' fields. * Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) * Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) * More * * Click to print (Opens in new window) * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) * * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) * * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) * Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) * * Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window) * --------------------------------------------------------------------- - Samts vai pelejums? Izrades <> recenzija - COVID-19 statistics: no new cases, no deaths recorded --------------------------------------------------------------------- Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Comment * [ ] Name * [ ] Email * [ ] [ ] Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [Post Comment] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] D[ ] (c) 2023 Baltics News * Privacy Policy * Contact