Wildlife officials are trying to determine what caused more than 1,000 blackbirds to die and fall from the sky over an Arkansas town. Perhaps, shame?
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had begun receiving reports about dead birds about 11:30 p.m. Friday night. The birds fell over a 1-mile area of Beebe, and an aerial survey indicated that no other dead birds were found outside of that area. Also, no high school graduates were located in the same radius. There is speculation the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail, or been heavily stressed by an event.
On the other side of the world, officials say about 50 birds have been found dead on a street in Falkoping, Sweden. The jackdaws' deaths were also unclear, but fireworks were set off near the scene Tuesday night, which may be a cause. Cold weather, difficulties finding food and possible shock from the fireworks could be responsible, and either dying from the stress or being run over by vehicles may have done them in. Five of the dead jackdaws found in the city were being tested, the rest were thrown away.
Mass bird deaths aren't uncommon, but external force, not infection or disease is what scientist want to be certain is at play.
UPDATE: Ornithologist have confirmed the Arkansas flock was disoriented by fireworks and flew blindly into everything around them, leading to crash trauma and death. Similarly, close to 500 birds in Louisiana flew into powerlines to meet their end.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had begun receiving reports about dead birds about 11:30 p.m. Friday night. The birds fell over a 1-mile area of Beebe, and an aerial survey indicated that no other dead birds were found outside of that area. Also, no high school graduates were located in the same radius. There is speculation the flock could have been hit by lightning or high-altitude hail, or been heavily stressed by an event.
On the other side of the world, officials say about 50 birds have been found dead on a street in Falkoping, Sweden. The jackdaws' deaths were also unclear, but fireworks were set off near the scene Tuesday night, which may be a cause. Cold weather, difficulties finding food and possible shock from the fireworks could be responsible, and either dying from the stress or being run over by vehicles may have done them in. Five of the dead jackdaws found in the city were being tested, the rest were thrown away.
Mass bird deaths aren't uncommon, but external force, not infection or disease is what scientist want to be certain is at play.
UPDATE: Ornithologist have confirmed the Arkansas flock was disoriented by fireworks and flew blindly into everything around them, leading to crash trauma and death. Similarly, close to 500 birds in Louisiana flew into powerlines to meet their end.
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