Illegal Fireworks Likely Cause of Massive Arkansas Blackbird Deaths
Photo: Kelly Martin Wikimedia Commons
Professional-grade fireworks probably caused the deaths of thousands of red-winged blackbirds in Beebe, Arkansas, on New Year’s Eve. The loud noises, combined with birds’ poor night vision and large winter gathering, likely led 4,000 to 5,000 birds to crash to their deaths.
That’s the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s “strong working hypothesis,” Karen Rowe, a Commission ornithologist.
Here’s what officials have pieced together:
At 10 p.m., residents heard several extremely loud, “window-shaking” noises that are believed to have come from professional-grade fireworks, which no one had permission to set off. The blasts came from an area near the birds’ winter roost.
About 15 minutes later several folks went outside when they heard the whooshing wings of a blackbird flock flying at its normal fast speed. “But when they looked up, instead of the birds being above treetop level, like they usually are, they were at rooftop level,” says Rowe. “They crashed into houses, cars, trees, mailboxes, shrubbery. Everything around.”
Blackbirds don’t usually fly at night. The big booms apparently flushed the birds from their roost, and then poor eyesight and disorientation stymied them from making it back safely.
“Necropsy report shows trauma primarily to the chest,” says Rowe. “Hemorrhaging in the body cavity, bruised skulls, blood clots in brain. It’s consistent with crashing into something rather than falling.”
Toxins don’t appear to be a factor, says Rowe, adding that the death toll is difficult to estimate because feral cats, raccoons, and other scavengers likely made a meal out of the fallen creatures.
The loss of any animals is regrettable, says Rowe. “I don’t want to see it again, but I especially hope we don’t see it with any declining species like cerulean warblers.”
Beebe residents aren’t likely to see a repeat of the freak event on the Fourth of July, the only other day the city allows fireworks. Blackbirds will be spread out on their individual nests then, instead of congregating in their winter roost.
It appears that similarly mysterious bird deaths in Louisiana around the same time are unrelated. “Initial findings indicate that these are isolated incidents that were probably caused by disturbance and disorientation,” says Greg Butcher, Audubon’s director of bird conservation.
The birds—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.
Blackbirds are so prolific that during the Christmas Bird Count this year, Rowe says she and another biologist commented that they spent so much time counting blackbirds that they didn’t get to search out more rare species. “This will teach us,” she says wryly.
Comments
Great post, this is very
Great post, this is very educative article for everyone,..
Baja ringan
Also in Sweden, about 50
Also in Sweden, about 50 dead birds were found. The cause of death was unclear, however, said to have been ignited in the vicinity of the site on Tuesday evening, a fireworks display.
Not the colorful fireworks to scare the animals, but sometimes extremely loud explosions.
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Illegal fireworks? People
Illegal fireworks? People are setting these things off all of the time, especially in the south. Why have we not heard of more of these incidents? I would think that if the culprit were fireworks, this would be a nearly yearly occurrence. I'm no conspiracy theorist, but the fireworks explanation seems a little lacking to me.
Walter Allendorf - atlas international reporting
probably flying into trees
probably flying into trees and houses, after they had been startled by noise. Investigations had shown any event that the dead birds were suffering from diseases not yet been poisoned were
Bewildered and disoriented
Bewildered and disoriented !According to ornithologists, the animals were probably frightened, had lost the orientation and were then flown to homes, cars and other obstacles. But was not yet solved the puzzle, as long as extensive testing to poisoning or Clarified by diseases. Up to 5,000 birds were at a distance of about two kilometers, fell dead from the sky. A resident heard before the incident, a series of explosions, possibly from the fireworks or a device used by farmers to deter birds have originated, said Badley. Then a large number of birds was flying around aimlessly. "He has heard and their wings as they flew against obstacles."
For most bird carcasses found out it was Rotschulterstärlinge. You can see at night, according to Badley relatively poorly and were probably flying into trees and houses, after they had been startled by noise. Investigations had shown any event that the dead birds were suffering from diseases not yet been poisoned were.
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so, a rothschild starling,
so, a rothschild starling, you say? i thought the Bildebergers were behind all this.i will notify Alex Jones post haste.
Thanks for sharing her
Thanks for sharing her story, it was so funny.
Correction - DRC-1339.
Correction - DRC-1339.
The USDA's biodefense lab in
The USDA's biodefense lab in Ames, Iowa is now investigating the Arkansas bird deaths. The 'solo fireworks' theory sounds like bull to anyone with a brain pan slightly larger than a starling's.
There is a poison used to kill blackbirds called DRC-1330. It is virtually untraceable after a few hours. It is supposed to be used under the supervision of the USDA, but a USDA source said there is an underground supply.
http://www.torringtontelegram.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=&s...
Birds, Birds, Birds....dead
Birds, Birds, Birds....dead in Arkansas, Louisanna, Kentucky on seperate days not just upon New Years fireworks. Also, scattered some what widely about (i.e not piled up against a building, or directly against other obstacles). How are the bodies distributed relative to obstacles?...eye witnesses indicate they were falling from the sky like hail and not just slamming into obstacles while in flight........Not buying the the fireworks theory since they have been going on for a long time. Storms maybe reasonable given the regional nature and the fact a strong stormfront had passed through the area...Fish too? Nonetheless all this is something to keep track of for sure. Would like to see all the facts posted somewhere...unless there is something to hide...don't like the heresay though.
That's what we need, more
That's what we need, more regulation. I'll bet there are many times more birds killed by cars and trucks every day, Lets make them illegal too. I don't really like them anyway, they are so dirty and noisy. There is no history ever, of birds being killed by fireworks. Seems kinda funny that all of a sudden this year it would happen.
I live across from a
I live across from a ballpark where fireworks displays are held -- usually the first week of June (festival), and 4th of July. The fireworks are way too loud. Typically the next morning after a fireworks display I find several dead birds in my yard. I've seen birds fly in panic during the loud booms of those fireworks. Found two dead cardinals last July 5th, their nest of 3 young birds died of starvation days later. There were two dead fledgling crowes, and one dove. I've asked my neighbors about finding any dead birds in their yard after the fireworks, and yes, a few had found one. But no one really notices this to pay much attention, or to care. My dog hates the fireworks and can't stand the noise. Could we keep the fireworks but tone down the loud stuff? We're harming alot of innocent creatures.
How about a Sonic Boom from
How about a Sonic Boom from a hot dog pilot out of Ft Smith?
I think this is sad
I think this is sad they need to control this and those who buy fireworks need to fill out paper work -- and the big fire workwith the loud noise should need a license to BOOM.. May Missississppi
@speaktru- Please read the
@speaktru- Please read the post in its entirety.
"Beebe residents aren’t likely to see a repeat of the freak event on the Fourth of July, the only other day the city allows fireworks. Blackbirds will be spread out on their individual nests then, instead of congregating in their winter roost."
Also, who is claiming that fireworks caused the fish kill? The two are unrelated.
Watch the first 15mins or so
Watch the first 15mins or so of the movie, The Core, and then think back to the massive earthquakes in 2010. It's eerie...
This has got to be the work
This has got to be the work of our government. When has this happened before? So the black birds and starlings are a nuisance, so the is their way of controlling the masses of birds. I think it is horrible. Who knows what happened but until they are for sure, one can only speculate.
I really doubt that
I really doubt that fireworks were the cause of this, what about the fourth of July fireworks? And did the fireworks kill the fish too?
Uhm, aren't Red-winged
Uhm, aren't Red-winged Blackbirds on (nesting) territory during Fourth of July? That would result in the death of what do you think, 1 or two birds?
If there was a roost of thousands of Agelaius phoeniceus in mid-summer, I think that would REALLY raise a few eyebrows.
I hate fireworks. I do not
I hate fireworks. I do not understand the appeal of loud booms. Why can't they make them without the noise? I once watched a red-headed woodpecker panic as it was approaching its nest with food for a nestling because an idiot just had to let a firecracker go mid-day. I watched for quite some time and the bird did not return. That same weekend my dog jumped out the screen window, again, mid-day explosion. So irritating.
How about all the dogs we
How about all the dogs we are forced to hear barking 365 days a year as oppoosed to fireworks mainly around holidays. Maybe they should remove the dog's ability to bark
Is anyone going to be held
Is anyone going to be held accountable for this outrage?