Massive bird, fish deaths since New Year’s eve across U.S., overseas
Why are massive numbers fish and birds dying in different states across the U.S. and other countries?
The scientific community so far does not have definite answers, although possible causes were cited. The internet has been awash in searches for apocalyptic explanations. Others are turning to Nostradamus, according to The Examiner.
Recently, more than 100 birds fell dead on Highway 101 in Geyserville, California, The Mirror reported. Police said the birds had small black and brown feathers, and they were intact—they had not been shot at.
More recently 30 dead birds were sighted in Missouri, The Huffington Post said.
The alarming incidences of massive bird and fish deaths have come one after another. On Dec. 31 in Bebe, Arkansas 3,000 red winged blackbirds and starlings fell on rooftops, yards, curbs and roads in a town with a 5,000 population. (See http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2011/01/black-bird-deaths-in-arkansas-ramp-up-internet-searches-for-apocalypse-link-14982).
The deaths raised several theories, but mainly blamed it on the New Year fireworks. Thurman Booth of Arkansas’ wildlife service said, “There was probably some physical reason, but I doubt anyone will ever know what it was,” The Huffington Post reported.
On Jan. 1 hundreds of dead grackles, robins, starlings and red wing blackbirds were found near Murray State University, western Kentucky. Mark Marraccini, spokesman of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said tests ruled out disease or poison, The Washington Post said.
Another woman in Kentucky found dozens of dead blackbirds in her yard, The Daily Mail said. State Wildlife veterinarian Jim LaCour said the deaths could be due to underlying disease, including starvation and the cold weather.
On Jan. 4, some 500 red wing blackbirds and starlings were found dead on a highway at Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana, just 300 miles away from the Arkansas bird deaths, The Examiner said.
On Jan. 5, dead birds were found in Texas, Tennessee and Sweden. Some 200 dead American Coots were found under a bridge in Tyler, Texas, Mirror News said. In Wilson, Tennessee 150 dead blackbirds fell from the sky, and up to 100 dead crows were found on a street in Falkoeping, West Sweden.
In Italy, thousands of dead doves fell from the sky landing on trees, rooftops and streets. The Examiner said the doves’ beaks had an unusual blue stain. Authorities sent the birds in for testing.
Simultaneous with the birds falling from the sky are the thousand of dead fish washing up on shores.
In Chicago’s lakefront, dead gizzard shads by the thousands were seen, many frozen in the ice and others floating on patches of water. Most unusual, is that mallards and Canadian Geese were seen by fisherman eating the dead fish, which is not part of their normal diet, Reuters reported.
Dan Makauskas of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources told Reuters the fish may have died because of the cold weather, aggravated by weakness from poor nutrition. He said such things are not unusual, but “We just haven’t seen it around here.”
On Dec. 30 up to 100,000 dead drum fish washed up the Arkansas River. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the same day up to 100 tons of dead sardines, cat fish and croakers washed ashore, Mirror News reported.
On Jan. 4, dead fish were seen by the hundreds on the St. Clair River Sania shores in Ontario, Canada. That same day, thousands of dead fish were along the Spruce Creek banks in Orange, Florida, The Examiner said.
The following day, on Jan. 5, dead fish were found in Maryland, England and New Zealand. Up to two million were found in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, and in Kent, England the shore was lined with 40,000 dead velvet swimming crabs. In New Zealand hundreds of dead red snapper lined the shore, The Examiner reported.
Experts have said the deaths are unrelated, The Huffington Post said. As for the most recent deaths of birds in California and fish in Chicago, no explanation has been given yet.
