What Is Going on With These Birds?

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First, nearly 5,000 birds die in Beebe, Arkansas and now an estimated 500 die in Louisiana. I could buy the lightning striking a flock for the Beebe birds, but the same thing happening today in Louisiana? And there were also the fish! What is going on? Any guesses?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/another-large-bird-kill-reported-this-time-in-louisiana

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/04/arkansas.bird.mystery/

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Type: Discussion • Score: 6 • Views: 4,309 • Replies: 66

[+3] - wayne - 01/06/2011 These bird deaths are not at all uncommon this time of year. Birds assemble in large flocks during winter months. I remember, years ago, a huge flock flew into a radio tower outside of my town....

@Arella Mae,

Large firework detonation in the middle of a flock (that's my guess).

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Sounds like a toxic exposure. But, what's the toxin?

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@rosborne979,

I could have even bought that theory for the Beebe birds but I don't think anyone is setting off fireworks today.

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@Miller,

Miller wrote:

Sounds like a toxic exposure. But, what's the toxin?

The cause of death for the birds was determined to be physical trauma.

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@Miller,

I agree. I live here in Louisiana. This is close to home for me and it's kind of disturbing. Disturbing no matter what but too close to home.

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@rosborne979,

For both flocks? Wow. What are the odds of that?

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@Arella Mae,

Arella Mae wrote:

I could have even bought that theory for the Beebe birds but I don't think anyone is setting off fireworks today.

It may have taken three days for some to report/discover the birds in Louisiana.

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@Arella Mae,

Arella Mae wrote:

For both flocks? Wow. What are the odds of that?

It may have been one flock with more than one species in it. Perhaps an associated event (stray firework) impacted a common roost scaring them into the air where they were exposed to a cluster of fireworks (the finale).

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@rosborne979,

You bring up valid points. I would really love to believe it is fireworks or lightning. The other possibities don't sound so good.

1 Reply

@Arella Mae,

Arella Mae wrote:

You bring up valid points. I would really love to believe it is fireworks or lightning. The other possibities don't sound so good.

It's an interesting mystery. I'm not certain what caused it. But fireworks are the simplest explanation which seems to fit the facts (at least what little I know of them from the news reports).

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@rosborne979,

Who knows? Maybe they will find out some kids were shooting off fireworks or bottle rockets or something here in Louisiana. Guess we will have to wait and see.

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@Arella Mae,

Arella Mae wrote:

Who knows? Maybe they will find out some kids were shooting off fireworks or bottle rockets or something here in Louisiana. Guess we will have to wait and see.

I think relatively large fireworks would be necessary in order to produce a concussion wave sufficient to cause physical trauma to a bird in flight, especially in a large flock as implied by the number of birds found on the ground.

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@rosborne979,

I just hope they find out soon what it actually was. This kind of thing can really panic people.

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@Arella Mae,

Blackbirds were a terrible idea to begin with.

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@farmerman,

LOL - I feel the same way about dem vultures. The only good thing about the vultures around here is they clean up the roadkill. But dey is ugggggly!

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@Arella Mae,

I'm thinking it was the people who panicked the birds with fireworks... (unless it was lightening)

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A second, albeit smaller, incident occurred today in Louisiana. 500 red-winged blackbirds. I heard that on NPR a few hours ago.

What Is Going on With These Birds?

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