Madison Scientists Crack Mystery of Mass Southern Blackbird Deaths
New Year's Eve Celebrations Likely Killed Thousands of Wild Birds
Dead blackbirds fell from the Southern sky in flocks on December 31st.
When Chicken Little said the sky was falling, he likely had no idea what would happen on New Year's Eve 2010, when thousands of red-winged blackbirds suddenly toppled to the ground in Arkansas and Louisiana.
What happened to all of those birds? Why did scores of red-winged blackbirds instantly perish and fall in a mass avian nightmare of mortality on New Year's Eve?
Madison, Wisconsin, scientists came up with a blunt answer to the massive blackbird deaths.
Research pathologists at the National Wildlife Health Center, known for analyzing wildlife disasters and sudden deaths, cracked the code on the blackbird death-demic, releasing a preliminary report on January 5th.
The widespread New Year's Eve bird deaths were likely caused by blunt force trauma, the experts revealed. The Wisconsin scientists hypothesized that the blackbirds probably panicked at the sounds and sights of New Year's Eve fireworks and flew smack into tall trees, buildings and other tall structures before falling to their deaths.
Within a day, the National Wildlife Health Center veterinary pathologists began performing necropsies (animal autopsies) on approximately 50 of the dead red-winged blackbirds (from both Arkansas and Louisiana) before arriving at this conclusion. Virtually all of the birds the scientists examined showed evidence of bruising and widespread damage to internal organs and body tissues.
The pathologists have determined that the birds were dead before they hit the ground.
Previous theories about the massive sudden blackbird deaths abounded. Popular ideas included doomsday prophecies, government conspiracies, hailstorms, possible poisoning, terrorist plots, fire and brimstone, dangerous pesticides, automatic gunfire, harsh weather and more. Public suspicions of foul play were perhaps heightened by the surprise many Southerners encountered, waking up on New Year's Day to find dead birds all over the ground.
Although final toxicology reports have not yet been completed, these rumors have been all but debugged by the bird necropsy findings.
Because red-winged blackbirds naturally tend to roost in crowds, the Madison scientists have indicated that a single commercial-grade fireworks display could have sent hundreds, or even thousands, of birds aflutter at once.
Why would the Southern blackbirds encounter fireworks on New Year's Eve?
New Year's Eve fireworks are a popular perennial custom in many areas of the American South, as folks greet the new year with a big bang. This time, however, Southern birds may not share the same sentiment.
Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle and Sports
Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. View profile
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- Dead blackbirds fell from the Southern sky in droves on New Year's Eve, December 31st.
- Why did thousands of birds instantly perish and fall in a mass avian nightmare of mortality?
- Madison, Wisconsin, scientists came up with a blunt answer to the massive bird deaths.