More Than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall From Arkansas Sky

[WhyaDuck?]

Here's the thread on the birds:

More Than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall From Arkansas Sky - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community


These stories are starting to freak me out a little, in conjunction with all the weird minor earthquakes they are getting there.

 

[hockeymom]

Don't know if any of you watched the short lived series,"Flashforward" last year,but one of the mysteries was a bunch of crows dieing. They died during an experiment of basically stopping time. So this story is freaking me out a bit.
For anyone to say the birds and fish are unrelated is crazy!!!

 

[legalmania]

Don't know if any of you watched the short lived series,"Flashforward" last year,but one of the mysteries was a bunch of crows dieing. They died during an experiment of basically stopping time. So this story is freaking me out a bit.
For anyone to say the birds and fish are unrelated is crazy!!!

If it was in Arkansas I would be really freaked out.

 

[Herding Cats]

Here's the thread on the birds:

More Than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall From Arkansas Sky - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community


These stories are starting to freak me out a little, in conjunction with all the weird minor earthquakes they are getting there.

That is what has my interest. The hundreds of small (and a few not so small) eq's in the area makes me suspect some sort of fault line rupture, which may have released some sort of noxious fume or something.

There's probably more to this than they're saying - and maybe more than what they know. And while I do fear the "Big One" here in So CA., I think that a moderate eq on the New Madrid fault will be far more damaging...we here are prepared for eqs...the midwest is not.

This bears watching.

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[Elphaba]

WUSA 9 here in DC just posted on Facebook that they think it is fireworks related:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=128806&catid=283

 

[Dark Knight]

I HAVE to wonder if this is related to the New Year's tornadoes and storm system that killed 7 people. Tornadoes are capable of picking up large quantities of animals and dropping them like rain quite some distance away. It has happened with frogs in the past. To my mind that is the most logical explanation.

 

[LadyL]

I like that explanation Dark Knight b/c otherwise I'm beginning to get a bit paranoid.

 

[Filly]

Blunt force trauma for the win, Alex. They died of blunt force trauma? Get the heck outta here.




http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...-not-disease-nor-poison-killed-arkansas-birds

After the autopies of 17 of the birds they think it's blunt force trauma.

Txsviki asked if they fly in large flocks. This says they do.

Riddle me this one. Do black birds fly at night?

 

[Dark Knight]

I like that explanation Dark Knight b/c otherwise I'm beginning to get a bit paranoid.

Or, from Revelation 8:9

a third of the living creatures in the sea died....


Hmmmmm......

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Societ...die-off-What-s-a-conspiracy-theorist-to-think

 

[Dark Knight]

Blunt force trauma for the win, Alex. They died of blunt force trauma? Get the heck outta here.




http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way...-not-disease-nor-poison-killed-arkansas-birds

After the autopies of 17 of the birds they think it's blunt force trauma.

Txsviki asked if they fly in large flocks. This says they do.

Riddle me this one. Do black birds fly at night?

On ABC World News Tonight they said black birds cannot see at night, anymore than humans can. So the only reason they would fly at night would be if a loud noise like fireworks scared them out of their roosts.

I still say it could somehow be the tornado that had just gone through that area of the country. Just like when it rains frogs after a twister

 

[Elphaba]

Ok, Kirk Cameron is trending on Twitter because CNN had him on to talk about the dead birds. Did anyone see it?

(funny tweet making its rounds: CNN put Kirk Cameron on 2 talk about dead birds in Arkansas. Up next, Fonzie will update us on the rising tension in the Korean Peninsula)

 

[Wise Old Owl]

This is very very strange. IF it was the weather (tornados) that "rained" the birds - then how would you explain the fish?

Since I have been following this the number has changed. I first saw 1,000 birds. Then it went to 2,000. This morning the article on the homepage said 3,000. And then on HLN this afternoon they said 5,000. I'm sticking with the middle number of 2,000. That's still a whole lotta birds.

I've also now seen that it wasn't just red wing blackbirds but there were starlings as well.

Something very strange is going on in Arkansas. I think it has something to do with the ecosystem. Has to be for both fish and birds.

 

[Dark Knight]

This is very very strange. IF it was the weather (tornados) that "rained" the birds - then how would you explain the fish?

Since I have been following this the number has changed. I first saw 1,000 birds. Then it went to 2,000. This morning the article on the homepage said 3,000. And then on HLN this afternoon they said 5,000. I'm sticking with the middle number of 2,000. That's still a whole lotta birds.

I've also now seen that it wasn't just red wing blackbirds but there were starlings as well.

Something very strange is going on in Arkansas. I think it has something to do with the ecosystem. Has to be for both fish and birds.

The fish could be a separate incident, or the twister could have sucked them from a lake just as easily. But if it is just one species of fish, I am guessing it's a separate incident.

 

[Soulmagent]

Wouldnt birds falling from the sky landing on the ground have suffered blunt force trama?

I am not buying blunt force trama. Here is a list of top ten things that kill pets birds.


http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/topten.html

 

[IWannaKnow]

I think DK's explanation of tornado activity could explain the birds, and I could see it depositing all of them within a one mile radius that way, but did the tornado pass over Beebe? Was that all the same night? Wouldn't they have already jumped on that explanation?

I liked Herding Cats idea, and had the same thought until I heard about the tornado. I still think it could have been a plume of methane gas, in both cases, except methane wouldn't explain multiple organ trauma.....hmmmmm. Ok, back to the tornado theory....could also explain the fish, sucked up into the tornado.....

 

[Herding Cats]

Iwannaknow said:

except methane wouldn't explain multiple organ trauma.....hmmmmm.

Except, it could. If the noxious substance rendered them unable to fly, they'd hit the ground...and that would explain the trauma.

Dunno about the tornado, but it's possible, too.

Best-
Herding Cats

 

[IWannaKnow]

Herding Cats:
I read in one article that an ornithologist stated they died in mid-flight. The trauma to the bodies did not result from the impact with the ground. Let me find that.

OHHHHHH. Didn't find that article, found this instead:

http://www.neworleans.com/news/local-news/552255.html
500 birds found dead in Louisiana

Louisiana State biologists are trying to determine what killed an estimated 500 birds, specifically red-winged blackbirds and starlings.

Three days before the birds cluttered Louisiana Highway 1, more than 3 thousand blackbirds fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas. Authorities say examinations showed those birds suffered internal injuries that formed deadly blood clots.

OK, never mind, I found it, other thread:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/02/arkansas.falling.birds/index.html?hpt=T1

"Initial examinations of a few of the dead birds showed trauma. Whether or not this trauma was from the force of hitting the ground when they fell or from something that contacted them in the air, we don't know," Rowe said.

So, now they are saying it could have been from the impact with the ground. But I still say if this was hail, why are there only red-winged black birds and starlings being reported? In two states no less.....that is beyond odd IMO. Did they not get the memo to find a hole to hide in that night? :waitasec: Too many New Year's cocktails??

 

[Trident]

I don't believe any of this is a "mystery". Following this bird fall (one of many through the years) I came upon a site that said there is a caldera in Arkansas. A caldera is the site of a HUGE volcanic explosion in the past - Yellowstone is a caldera also.

A few years ago Yellowstone had similar odd happening, especially the herbiverous animals keeling over dead. I don't believe it's rocket science to ascertain they died from gases eminating from the ground, especially since Yellowstone Lake had grown a huge bubble in its middle. Gasses, underground gasses were to blame. Maybe this has happened many times in the past, maybe not. This could just be something that happens periodically, or it could be a harbinger of worse to come since I've read Arkansas has a caldera also.

Maybe it's just normal and natural, or maybe everything is alighning for the end of civilization as we now know it. Who knows. There have been many bird falls, and many fish die-offs previous to this. Nothing new under the sun.

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-winged_Blackbird

The Red-winged Blackbird nests in loose colonies. The nest is built in cattails, rushes, grasses, sedge, or in alder or willow bushes. The nest is constructed entirely by the female over the course of three to six days. It is a basket of grasses, sedge, and mosses, lined with mud, and bound to surrounding grasses, or branches.[9] It is located 7.6 cm (3 in) to 4.3 m (14 ft) above water.[16]

In winter, this species will forage away from marshes, taking seeds and grain in open fields and agricultural areas. It can therefore be a considered to be pest of crops

And a better description of the LA die-off:
http://www.wbrz.com/news/hundreds-of-dead-blackbirds-found-near-new-roads/

LABARRE, La. - Around 500 dead blackbirds and starlings have been found in Pointe Coupee Parish, according to state wildlife officials.

The birds were spotted lying in roads and ditches near Labarre Elementary School. The community is between Morganza and New Roads on Highway 10

Any tornados in this area? FWIW, Beebe and New Roads are about 366 miles apart.

Beebe, AR to New Roads, LA - Google Maps

Yep, December 31:
http://www.katc.com/news/tornado-watch-issued-for-se-louisiana/
Tornado Watch Issued For SE Louisiana
Posted: Dec 31, 2010 11:50 AM by Dave Baker
Updated: Dec 31, 2010 11:52 AM

A Tornado Watch has been issued for parts of southeastern Louisiana, including Baton Rouge, Houma, Hammond, and both the north and south shore areas of New Orleans until 7pm. This watch DOES NOT INCLUDE any of the Acadiana parishes. Strong storms will be moving in and around the watch area. These storms will produce heavy rain, damaging winds, and possibly tornadoes. If you are planning on traveling east of the Atchafalaya Basin along I-10, I-12, US 190, or US 90 you may encounter the severe weather this afternoon and this evening.

That was several days ago however....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40904491/ns/us_news-environment/
'Stress event' blamed after birds rain from sky
Scientists believe fireworks may have frightened red-wing blackbirds

"The birds suffered from acute physical trauma leading to internal hemorrhage and death," the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said in a statement. "There was no sign of chronic or infectious disease."

The birds were otherwise healthy, according to the statement.

The injuries were primarily in the breast tissue, with blood clotting and bleeding in the body cavities.

Dr. George Badley, the state's top veterinarian, told NBC News that the birds died in midair, not on impact with the ground.

and

With the birds, a few stunned ones survived their fall and stumbled around like drunken revelers. There was little light across the countryside at the time, save for the glimmer of fireworks and some lightning on the horizon. In the tumult, many birds probably lost their bearings.

"I turn and look across my yard, and there's all these lumps," said Shane Roberts, who thought hail was falling until he saw a dazed blackbird beneath his truck. His 16-year-old daughter, Alex, spent Saturday morning picking them up. "Their legs are really squishy," the teen said.

and

Meanwhile, around 500 dead birds were found near New Roads, La., on Monday, The New York Times reported. These were not just blackbirds, however — starlings and grackle were part of the mix.

James LaCour, a wildlife veterinarian at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, told the Times that unlike the blackbirds in Arkansas they did not show signs of trauma.

How does a stress event only affect the breast tissue?? Hail is the only thing that makes sense to me......Maybe they were hailed on New Years Eve, got sick from it and the first time they tried to fly they fell to the ground? Still, why only blackbirds?

 

[Tuffy]

Wouldnt birds falling from the sky landing on the ground have suffered blunt force trama?

I am not buying blunt force trama. Here is a list of top ten things that kill pets birds.


http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/topten.html

According to one report from MSNBC:

Their stomachs were empty, which rules out poison, Dr. George Badley said, and they died in midair, not on impact with the ground.

That evidence, and the fact that the red-winged blackbirds fly in close flocks, suggests they suffered some massive midair collision, he added. That lends weight to theories that they were startled by something.

Hmm...so the fall is not what killed them. They were struck (or struck something) in the air.

But according to CNN:

CNN reports that the autopsies revealed trauma to the breasts and "internal hemorrhage." But, in conflict with MSNBC's report, Karen Rowe, an ornithologist for the game and fish commission, could not rule out that the trauma happened when the birds hit the ground.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/01/03/132634847/blunt-force-trauma-not-disease-nor-poison-killed-arkansas-birds