Arkansas Birds Dead at the Scene, Poison Ruled Out
From a Bird's Eye View
The AGFC reports of three types of an estimated 2,500 dead birds were found in Beebe, Arkansas. MSNBC reports of close to 4,000. Authorities from the AGFC sent some of the dead birds to a Madison, Wisconsin lab in hopes of bringing closure to an unusual number of questions.
Today further information supported that the birds died while in mid-flight with empty bellies. Meaning, not while on ground and not poisoned. That rules out any connection between the thousands of diseased dead drum fish and the fallen dead birds found. Blackbirds usually eat seeds and grains, not drum. Go fish.
Ever fly into a smokestack of glowing explosions? Imagine the dangers. It is rumored that fireworks could have stressed out their fragile systems. Take the timing for instance, New Year's Eve. Countless times the nation has celebrated from 11 until midnight on each New Year's Eve, July 4th, big event finales and other explosive dramatic moments successfully - without taking out thousands of birds.
Weather may have been involved in the blackbird fly-by fallout. Medscape defines streak lightning the most common in human lightning strike injuries. The lightning itself could cause cardiopulmonary arrest - respiratory paralysis - nervous system injury. And then there's the shock wave of thunder to consider. A little bird against such odds, think about it. Perfect time for a feel good story turning the impossible possible.
Best Friends supplies an incredible 2005 story surrounding a bird falling victim to a lightning strike. The 13-year-old bird had four burnt feathers and a burn hole as the process of rehabilitation began. The bird was an American Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle was released back into the wild post rehabilitation. One bird, one strike, another positive ending. But not for the blackbirds. That is if lightning can kill thousands of birds in one shot.
And then there's the hail element. Could hail have pounded thousands of blackbirds to death? Hail could. But so can a 747.
As for the red-winged blackbird, between all of the above, it appears the red-winged blackbird never had an easy life. Flying through explosions, dodging lightning bolts and so on.
To us the life of a red-wing is for the birds. To them, the sky is the limit - on sunny days.
Source(s): AGFC: APHIS; MSNBC.com; Medscape.com; Best Friends.org (accessed / embedded Jan. 3, 2011)
Published by Lori Lane
Lori Lane is a published poet, active electronic journalist, technical writer, fitness center staff member. Lori Lane welcomes questions or feedback. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentVery interesting!
I heard about this. Weird.
I heard it happened in another state now, too. Scary. cheers ;0
Remember the show FastForward? Lots of birds died suddenly in that show, having something to do with a time-shift element. But that's sci-fi. In real life, some examiners have said the birds died from trauma. Probably the result of some type of concussive force... like a sonic boom or something...
It concerns me that so many birds died so mysteriously. I am reminded of the canary that was sent into mines to detect unliveable conditions for the miners. If the bird died, the miners left or didn't go in at all. But if our red-winged blackbird friends are our canaries, where will we go?
Nice reporting!