More Than 1,000 Dead Birds Fall From Arkansas Sky

[drip~drop]

wm - Each incident I have been able to find involves water in some fashion. Even the Wisconsin cows had large lakes in the area, and it has been confirmed there are many lakes in that area. I think that a cold, cumulus, corexit laden cloud/s passes over a large pond or lake in a warm area and sucks more moisture off the pond which then super saturates the cloud and stimulates it to dump its contaminated contents somewhere nearby, usually on some wildlife that makes its home near that body of water. Blackbirds, grackles, starlings, coots etc all make their homes in the reeds in the shallow water at the edges of lakes and ponds. If they are not in the pond they are near by. The fish........well they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

One thing about the pelicans I can't understand is they say they have been washing up for a while, and each one has similar injuries, i.e. specific injuries to the same wing on each bird. I can't imagine a natural situation that would result in that unless they are washing into a specific area and being washed up against a rock....still....the same wing??? I would love to see any local articles you can come up with.

A lot of the farmers on large pieces of land have man made "lakes" and have the water brought in because we are all still on well water.
It is awful as can be. Thankfully my husband had a water distiller hidden away
(holds about 20-25 gallons) and now that's all we use except for showers.

 

[legalmania]

The other day when I was walking my dogs and it was snowing in Georgia. I smelt petroleum on my dogs. My white dog had a slight black coat, but the snow was not dirty. I've also noticed the birds are not in the woods. Nothing is dead yet, but if I see dead birds, I'm putting on a mask. It was very strange. Has anyone heard of a human flu this year?

 

[Filly]

Thousands of dead crickets. A virus they say. They are raised to feed reptiles at zoos all over the country as well as other places reptiles are kept.




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41034340/ns/us_news-environment/


Sorry if this was already posted. I checked and didn't see it. This is in Louisianna. They said it's a virus that paralyzes the crickets.

Birds, fish, cows, crickets.

Maybe I'm going with the oil spill as well. I mean you can't just dump a kajillion bajillion gallons of oil into the ocean without some backlash, no? Don't ask me how the crickets get in the mix, but if they were fed to reptiles there goes the reptiles.

 

[drip~drop]

The other day when I was walking my dogs and it was snowing in Georgia. I smelt petroleum on my dogs. My white dog had a slight black coat, but the snow was not dirty. I've also noticed the birds are not in the woods. Nothing is dead yet, but if I see dead birds, I'm putting on a mask. It was very strange. Has anyone heard of a human flu this year?

I'm not sure what you mean by human flu but I had something a few weeks ago that was bizarreo...imo
For 4 weeks...count 'em...4! I had no voice. I felt ok, a touch of fever here and there but no sick feeling. Thing is, I couldn't talk for weeks. At times, totally nothing and now and then I could whisper.
My Dr. and I both found it odd.
Now I have my voice back and hubby is thrilled.:floorlaugh:

 

[waltzingmatilda]

wm - Each incident I have been able to find involves water in some fashion. Even the Wisconsin cows had large lakes in the area, and it has been confirmed there are many lakes in that area. I think that a cold, cumulus, corexit laden cloud/s passes over a large pond or lake in a warm area and sucks more moisture off the pond which then super saturates the cloud and stimulates it to dump its contaminated contents somewhere nearby, usually on some wildlife that makes its home near that body of water. Blackbirds, grackles, starlings, coots etc all make their homes in the reeds in the shallow water at the edges of lakes and ponds. If they are not in the pond they are near by. The fish........well they are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

One thing about the pelicans I can't understand is they say they have been washing up for a while, and each one has similar injuries, i.e. specific injuries to the same wing on each bird. I can't imagine a natural situation that would result in that unless they are washing into a specific area and being washed up against a rock....still....the same wing??? I would love to see any local articles you can come up with.

IWK, I have monitored the news site that aired the story about the pelicans dying from natural causes but it's not there. I think it was a case of misreporting. Nor has their been any more news on the supposed task force that was set up. Our local news tends to downplay negative publicity which does affect the economy during 'the tourist season'.

I know I am not a LOON (pun intended) because my neighbor saw the same story and brought it up in conversation. :crazy:

Personally, I feel fishermen could be responsible for the pelican deaths. Pelicans dive for their food and I think they are diving into nets from shrimp boats or being injured during the fishermens' attempts to keep them out of the nets/lines. MOO

If I hear any addl info, I'll let you know.

wm

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://www.yankton.net/articles/2011/01/19/community/doc4d36568a9e0bf182406588.txt
Bird Deaths Linked To Poison
Yankton Animal Control Officer Lisa Brasel said the starling deaths were likely caused by USDA efforts using poison to reduce the birds at a nearby Nebraska feedlot. (Kelly Hertz/P&D)
Officials Say Pesticide Poses No Risk To Humans, Pets
By Nathan Johnson
[email protected]
Published: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 12:37 AM CST

In an interview with the Press & Dakotan, wildlife biologist Ricky Woods confirmed that he was involved with dispersing DRC-1339 at a cattle feedlot in Nebraska about 10 miles south of Yankton. He is with the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service Wildlife Services and is based in Lincoln, Neb.

“I’m pretty confident that is what caused the deaths of these birds,” Woods said. “There’s too much coincidence for it not to be the source.”

He said starlings at the livestock facility were targeted for eradication when the poison was put out Thursday.

“(The feedlot owners) had a significant number of birds on their property consuming feed and causing issues with their fecal matter,” Woods stated. “They contacted us. We came in and checked out the area. We then used a poison that is specific only to birds.”

Besides starlings, DRC-1339 — which can only be sold to government agencies and qualified pest control officers — is also effective on birds such as crows and blackbirds. It does not affect birds of prey who may eat the poisoned animals. The pesticide impairs liver and kidney functions, and death apparently results from uremic poisoning, or the accumulation of waste products in the body. Death appears to be painless and usually occurs within three days of consuming the poison.

Woods said starlings are practically the only birds left at feedlots this time of year. Additionally, because they are very aggressive, they will beat other birds to the poison. Before federal officials put out DRC-1339, they put out a pre-bait to make sure only the target birds will be affected.

It is a service the USDA will provide to livestock owners if requested and the situation warrants it, Woods explained.

“They basically have to be suffering property damage or losing a significant amount of money,” he said. “There has to be some sort of hardship before we’ll come in and do any reduction.”

The bird deaths 10 miles away in Yankton are a unique occurrence, Woods stated.

“We’ve done reductions at this (feedlot) in previous years and the birds didn’t make it that far,” he said. “It’s kind of surprising they made it that far, but it’s not completely out of the realm.”

It's a little, tiny bit laughable to me that 100 starlings droppings could be causing problems at a feedlot.....but OK. If someone really did put that poison down, maybe, but I would like to hear what the birds looked like or a cause of death maybe, cause DRC-1339 causes their kidneys to stop working and they become toxic and die. No blood clotting or hemorraging from what I understand. An autopsy would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath mind you. If they are simply poisoning these birds because they are eating the cattle's feed :furious: - then let the cattle eat grass like they are supposed to!!!!! And leave the damn birds alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.agri.state.id.us/Categories/Pesticides/Documents/24c/DRC-1339inFeedlots.pdf
COMPOUND DRC-1339 CONCENTRATE
PDF document - can't copy

http://www.whnt.com/lifestyle/sns-ap-al--deadbirds,0,7126267.story
Ag Department testing dead birds found in 2 north Alabama counties
By Associated Press
5:01 a.m. CST, January 19, 2011

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's new agriculture commissioner, John McMillan, says dead birds found recently in large numbers in two north Alabama counties will be tested at the State Diagnostic Lab in Auburn and the results on the cause of death should be known within a week.

One incident near Athens in Limestone County involved about 300 blackbirds. Another incident in Scottsboro in Jackson County involved at least 38 birds. McMillan said the deaths are not considered a public health threat at this time.

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/st...-Tennessee-Valley/zHVxdW6X4k2lJFJvmWK3TQ.cspx
Another Massive Bird Kill in the Tennessee Valley
By: Mallory Hoff
Email: [email protected]
Last Update: 1/18 5:57 pm

Last week about 300 birds were found dead on the side of the road in Athens. Now another massive bird kill in the Tennessee Valley has the State Agriculture Department investigating, this time in Jackson County.

“This situation is like Limestone County where you have thousands of them nesting in one spot, and then near the area where they were nesting and you have a big kill,” said Winfred Cotten of the Jackson County Health Department.


Jackson County EMA responded to incident with the help of the Jackson County Health Department. Neighbors were responsible for cleaning up the birds that landed on their properties. 15 birds were collected to be sent Montgomery for testing.

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=13865193
More dead birds found, this time in Scottsboro
Posted: Jan 18, 2011 6:52 PM EST
Updated: Jan 19, 2011 9:46 AM EST

SCOTTSBORO, AL(WAFF) - More dead birds are found, this time in a suburban Scottsboro neighborhood.

A sample of 15 birds was sent to Auburn University. The remainder were picked up and discarded. Officials say this could just be something that happens naturally in nature.

It was Monday afternoon around 1:00pm along Morning Glory and Golden Rod Drives that the dead blackbirds were found. Many dead blackbirds.

"We estimate between 50 and 100," said Jackson County Emergency Management Agency Director Victor Manning.

Manning was called to the scene. He says the birds were found all along a tree line. "It appeared that they were in the tree. It did not appear to be an instance where they were flying and fell out of the air," said Manning.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=187346&catid=3
Testing Could Reveal What is Killing Pelicans at Mayport
Created: 1/18/2011 6:29:30 PM
Updated: 1/18/2011 7:06:28 PM
I can't quote this article but it says something is stripping the natural oils from the pelicans, which makes their feathers get wet and they cannot stay warm. From there they starve and freeze to death.....says they know they are contaminated, but don't know with what. I say, check for Corexit.....

http://www.news4jax.com/news/26531876/detail.html
12 Pelicans Dead, 100 Sick In Mayport
Bird Expert Says St. Johns River May Be To Blame
POSTED: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
UPDATED: 10:17 pm EST January 18, 2011

More of the same, can't quote this one either....."There is something on their feathers that's taking their ability to repel water" says Cindy Moseling of the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary on Big Talbot Island.

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/...t/oil_and_gas/gulf_oil_spill/dispersants.html
DISPERSANTS

Birds
Studies have found that dispersed oil, including oil dispersed by Corexit 9527, damages the insulating properties of seabird feathers more than untreated oil, making the birds more susceptible to hypothermia and death. Dispersants and dispersed oil have also been shown to have toxic effects on bird eggs that are similar or worse than from untreated oil. Birds exposed to dispersed oil that return to their nests risk the death of their eggs.

 

[Reannan]

"There's a new reward out to help get information on what's causing dead pelicans to wash ashore at Topsail Beach."

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/nov/23/17/rash-pelican-deaths-have-volunteers-crying-foul-ar-562762/

This link actually has several previous stories as you scroll down the page.

 

[IWannaKnow]

I've searched for who the mod is for this thread and I cannot find who it should be. Is it possible to get a poll added to a thread? I think it would be interesting to see just what everyone thinks the cause of this is.....

If someone knows how to get a poll attached to this thread, please let me know!
Thanks
IWK

 

[drip~drop]

I've searched for who the mod is for this thread and I cannot find who it should be. Is it possible to get a poll added to a thread? I think it would be interesting to see just what everyone thinks the cause of this is.....

If someone knows how to get a poll attached to this thread, please let me know!
Thanks
IWK

Go to the forum page and at the top left, there is a "start new thread" button.
Click on that and it will give you an option for a poll.
hope that helped.

 

[waltzingmatilda]

"There's a new reward out to help get information on what's causing dead pelicans to wash ashore at Topsail Beach."

http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/nov/23/17/rash-pelican-deaths-have-volunteers-crying-foul-ar-562762/

This link actually has several previous stories as you scroll down the page.

Look at this.....

There's been speculation that the injuries are human-inflicted, but a recent autopsy found there may be another reason behind their deaths.


and this.....

They've been looking into the suspicious deaths since November.

What they're finding is that what looks like broken necks and wings isn't that at all.

Some of the birds are actually broken apart at the joint and days at sea taking their toll on the bodies.

“You can lose that muscle tissue around the joint and it can cause it to look like a broken neck,” she said.



Thanks much for the link Reannan! I am so glad you shared this with us as I was beginning to think I really was a loon!:crazy:

wm

 

[Steely Dan]

Go to the forum page and at the top left, there is a "start new thread" button.
Click on that and it will give you an option for a poll.
hope that helped.

Don't forget the emu.

 

[IWannaKnow]

Go to the forum page and at the top left, there is a "start new thread" button.
Click on that and it will give you an option for a poll.
hope that helped.

Thanks for that drip~drop, I looked there and I see that that is an option on a new thread, but I wanted to attach the poll to THIS thread.....does anyone know if that is possible or how to get it done? TIA. Probably an inappropriate request since I didn't start the thread. Guess the OP would need to request that? :waitasec:

 

[IWannaKnow]

Don't forget the emu.

Of course we couldn't forget the emu Steely....this is the bird thread after all :great:

 

[waltzingmatilda]

iWK, Jump to the 'Up to the Minute' forum main page and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the mods for this forum.

Hope this helps! <3

wm

 

[IWannaKnow]

http://www2.oanow.com/news/2011/jan...tment-testing-dead-birds-north-al-ar-1361599/
Dead birds from north Ala. being sent to Auburn for testing
State Diagnostic Lab testing blackbirds, grackles
By Donathan Prater
Published: January 19, 2011
Updated: January 19, 2011 - 6:24 PM

Large-scale bird deaths in a pair of north Alabama counties are being investigated after masses of the deceased creatures turned up recently near Athens, in Limestone County, and in Scottsboro, in Jackson County.

The birds will be tested at the State Diagnostic Lab in Auburn, according to Alabama Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan.

Approximately 300 dead birds were found in Limestone County and 38 in Jackson County, said a release from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

 

[IWannaKnow]

NEW In Indiana:

http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/birds-play-chicken-with-vehicles
Birds 'play chicken' with vehicles
50 to 60 dead birds found near road
Updated: Wednesday, 19 Jan 2011, 11:36 PM EST
Published : Wednesday, 19 Jan 2011, 9:51 PM EST

Tiffanie Dismore

A concerned citizen called News Channel 18 to report that 50 to 60 birds were found dead along South River Road near Division Road in West Lafayette.

News Channel 18 contacted Conservation Officer Matt Tholen and he said there is no need to worry. It seems to be a case of the birds playing chicken with vehicles.

Tholen was patrolling the area Wednesday evening and saw the very large flock of birds. He said there is a pile of sand and gravel on the road that the birds eat.

The large flock of birds was most likely eating and didn't get out of the way when cars approached. :waitasec:

"Few dead birds on the side of the road. Just by chance, I had happened to come through the area prior to when this call came in," Tholen said. "If I didn't see it for myself, I wouldn't know what to think. From what I've seen, they were probably hit by vehicles."

Wow, mother birds are REALLY not doing their jobs these days, teaching their babies to move when cars come through.......:maddening:

 

[IWannaKnow]

JBean-
:tyou: for the poll!

 

[waltzingmatilda]

Thanks for the poll JBean!

I cannot vote yet because I can't decide whether I think it is HAARP, the Gulf Oil Spill or Steely's fluffy brown emu! LOL!

IWK, that is too funny about the birds playing chicken with vehicles. Even if this is true, what could be causing all this bizarre fowl behavior? These bizarre excuses are getting old. MOO

wm

 

[IWannaKnow]

wm - I think they are getting soaked with corexit/oil from localized showers, which is causing their feathers to not repel water and they are getting soaked to the skin. The corexit then penetrates the skin and causes hemorrhaging and damage to their livers/kidneys (they are also ingesting it from trying to clean it off their feathers). This is ultimately causing them to not get enough oxygen to their brains and they are flying around from the pain, delirious. I would imagine their muscles would stop working properly and they become toxic because of the liver/kidney malfunction as well, all of which would affect their control. This is when people start to see them - when they begin flying into buildings, cars, etc and simply falling dead on the ground. Appears they are "playing chicken" or "trying to commit suicide".....and maybe they are from the pain. IDK. But either way, I think they are completely hypoxic and doing crazy things because of it by the time humans start to see the actual deaths. I think it is taking a few hours to kill them, so they get soaked, fly around and around, and finally start flying into things. Not a natural cause by any means IMHO. The jury is still out on the cows, but I could see the same thing working with them if they were caught in a shower with corexit.....

 

[IWannaKnow]

This makes me mad.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=gpwdcwp
Wildlife Damage Management,
Internet Center for Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings
University of Nebraska - Lincoln Year 1987
Results of a Bird Damage Survey of Kansas Feedlots
Charles Lee
Cooperative Extension Service, Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kansas

Major Problem Reported
Most feedlots (64%) cited feed loss as the major problem. This was actual feed consumption and feed that was contaminated that was removed. Over 21% were concerned about the birds spreading disease. Starlings have been associated with 17 diseases (Weber 1979). More information is needed that definitely links birds with the spread of disease in livestock.Other problems included building damage and the general mess associated with bird droppings.
Some feedlots report having men clean livestock waterers daily to remove accumulated bird droppings.

So, if I'm reading that correctly, the major reason for these "targeted die-off's", otherwise known as poisonings with DRC-1339 are because the birds are eating the feed at those heinous feedlots. Wonderful. :furious:.

I'm not trying to insult any reader who is part of a feedlot, but I don't think they should exist. They are not good for the people or the animals, directly and indirectly I now find. If the cows were out on pasture, as they should be, there wouldn't be any corn for the birds to eat which then gets them targeted for "control" :maddening:

My OT :twocents: of course.