Dead birds falling from sky still mystify experts

Scientists still don’t know what’s causing flocks of birds to drop from the sky in the South, even as several hundred more fell dead onto a Louisiana highway.

The puzzling phenomenon started on New Year’s Eve when thousands of blackbirds were found dead in central Arkansas. Townsfolk spent their holiday weekend removing the remains of between 4,000 and 5,000 dead red-winged blackbirds. Scientists have descended on the town, trying to find a cause for the mass die-off.

In the latest incident early this week, some 500 birds were discovered scattered on a rural road in Louisiana's Pointe Coupee Parish, 300 miles south of the Arkansas site. Officials there are stumped as to what caused the birds to plunge to their death.

Wildlife officials in both states were sending carcasses to researchers at the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis., and the University of Georgia. No one is yet connecting the two mass deaths, but the Audubon Society is closely monitoring the situation.

“Mass bird die-offs can be caused by starvation, storms, disease, pesticides, collisions with manmade structures or human disturbance,” says Greg Butcher, Audubon’s director of bird conservation. “Scientists are still investigating what happened to the birds in Louisiana and Arkansas, but initial findings indicate that these are isolated incidents that were probably caused by disturbance and disorientation.”

The birds that died –- red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, brown-headed cowbirds and European starlings –- are abundant species that flock together in large nighttime roosts during the winter months. Roosts can contain from tens of thousands to 20 million individuals or more, according to Audubon.

The U.S. Geological Service's website lists about 90 mass deaths of birds and other wildlife from June through Dec. 12. Five list deaths of at least 1,000 birds and another 12 show at least 500 dead birds.

The largest was near Houston, Minn., where about 4,000 water birds died between Sept. 6 and Nov. 26 from infestations of various parasites.

Red-winged blackbirds are among North America's most abundant birds, with somewhere between 100 million and 200 million nationwide, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, N.Y.

-- Julie Cart

One of thousands of red-winged blackbirds found dead in Arkansas this weekend. Credit: Stephen B. Thornton /Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Comments

[Imp Mason]

Hmmm - night flocking birds fall from sky right after New Years Eve? Well, let me take a WILD guess...
Maybe - and I'm just, you know, thinking out loud - they had CONCUSSIONS - From - oh, I don't know - FIREWORKS? Or perhaps some sort of respiratory infection from flocking through the chemical trail of said FIREWORKS?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/arkansas_bird_carcasses_being_sent_vKpnh2bWLBpBX0pX5UAxyH

But NOOOO this is Arkansas so you yahoos gotta think its yet another indication of the apocalypse. (Caleb)

Or - the irrational atheist alternative - government conspiracy (lacey)

You people ever heard of Occams Razor?

[justin]

It's BP's fault.

[Lauren]

The same thing happened here in the United Kingdom in 2010. A few hundred birds just fell from the sky dead into the garden of someone's house. It was unexplained and it's something that I have never heard happening before.

[amy brant]

This if my first thought on the subject of the wild life dieing in mid air. I think it is poison gas. We have just finished a few pipelines in these areas and they carry gas not oil. so check out the gas pipelines. That is just a wild guess, start with what has changed in these areas lately and that it about all I can think of. Thanks

[matt morrison]

im am not religious but the post by Cocopea makes me think that 2012 will be the end of the world

[Diz Pareunia]

Just a coincidence that people in those areas eat more than their share of blackeyed peas?
I think not.

[lacey]

is it just me but isn't it ironic that both the dead birds and the dead fish happen in the same state? have you ever though how maybe just maybe some one decided to try something new in Arkansas? well maybe its just me. but for me i do not think that this has anything to do with the "end" in 2012.

[Bill]

Definitely UFOS

[Caleb]

Isaiah 24:4-5
4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

Jeremiah 7:20
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

Hosea 4:1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

Luke 21:25-28
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

"The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God's purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger." {PROPHETS AND KINGS p277}

[Shumyla]

There is a mass swarm of black-winged birds flying over I-55 in Northern Mississippi (Southaven area), and they are heading east. I have noticed them at 5pm for 3 days straight. You can't miss them. They are heading east by the hordes.

[darrel wright]

they crashed into an UFO or global warming did it

[Hisami]

yup! deffinetly the chemtrails! :/ ima use this plus the chemtrail thing for my current event for school. im not just gonna show the effect(this artical) ima show the cause too.

[jimharvard]

Regarding the dead birds in Arkansas and Louisiana, the government is probably lying. Please see my article for a rational and plausible explanation:

www.examiner.com/conservative-in-pittsburgh/covering-up-dead-birds

[Rob]

Wonder how much frakking is taking place in the area? Watch Gasland to see how HALF of the country will soon be experiencing events like this. Thanks Dick.

[AllAboutScience]

LOL @ The comment below me. As for the comment below that...I definitely feel secure knowing our lord is such a loving, nurturing lord, to all his creatures that he created from magic space dust.

[Jmaximus]

This whole things smells of Balloon Boy, as in a media concocted non event. Animals get sick all the time just like people, and is perfectly in the realm of ordinary. There is no proof that any of these events are connected in any way, let alone significant. Yes it is worth study and no it is not a sign of end times or 2012.

[voteearlyandoften]

This is going to attract some religious nuts for sure

[Cocopea]

Hi there,

After searching the Bible to see what God might be saying, this is what really stood out to me:

Ecclesiastes 9:12 (NIV)
12 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:
As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them

Zephaniah 1:3 (NIV)
3 “I will sweep away both man and beast;
I will sweep away the birds in the sky
and the fish in the sea—
and the idols that cause the wicked to stumble.”[a]
“When I destroy all mankind
on the face of the earth,”
declares the LORD,

I know Scientists are going to attempt to explain it all, but to me, it's a clear warning from the Lord. And while they are saying it's not that "unusual", and yes-it has occurred before, but how many times has God sent warnings to his people? I wish people would take heed because I want to go home! We may not know the day of the Rapture, but clearly God is giving folks more time to repent.

Blessings!

[Jess]

The "Angry Birds" I-Phone app is shirley to blame..

[Amanda Jernigan]

Has anyone thought it might be due to the chemtrails the air force/ government is spraying into the atmosphere all over the country? And don't tell me these aren't related incidents. Do you think were stupid?

[Warren]

Is that how we are going to go in 2012?

[Anon]

John, your theory is correct.

[Judgement]

These things must come to pass.

How is it that you are not able to understand the meaning of these things ?

[John]

The same day the Republicans took over the House -- birds and fish die in the thousands.

[Alex]

@NoHope what does Obama signing the new health care into law have to do with these birds?

[SoundsLogical]

I bet Sam and Dean Winchester would have the explanation...

[Jomma]

More red winged black birds found in Lacassine La. Heard it on news tonight!

[Schizo]

Try evaporated Corexit 9?

[lamp]

The end is near?

[SireneB]

and the bees.

[NoHope]

ObamaCare?

[Timber]

Directional microwave transmission?

[Rocco]

Not to mention the fish.