Posted on 01/08/2007 4:39:56 AM PST by Arrowhead1952
Several blocks of Congress Ave are closed as police investigate the death of dozens and dozens of birds lying in the street.
KLBJ spoke to the APD's Toni Shovenitz, She says they are speculating it is some type of posioning.
Right now police are using leaf-blowers to clean the road. They hope re-open this area before rush hour traffic.
Local paper has this (not sure if registration is required):
http://tinyurl.com/y45qd3
Frontpage of paper has this:
http://www.statesman.com
Strange, and a bit disturbing. My wife and 13 year old just left for school about 20 blocks north of this area, and of course she left her cell phone at home this morning...
In case registration is required:
"Drivers should avoid Congress Avenue this morning
By Joshunda Sanders | Monday, January 8, 2007, 05:41 AM
The City of Austin Office of Emergency Management is asking drivers to avoid the area of Congress Avenue from Cesar Chavez to 11th Street and adjacent streets this morning because the roadways are blocked. The city says a public safety incident has blocked access to roadways and buildings in that area. According to the Austin Police Department, at least a dozen dead birds have been found in the area.
UPDATE from the Austin Police Department: Congress Avenue from Cesar Chavez to 11th Street, as well as one block on either side of Congress Avenue is currently closed down and will remain closed until approximately noon. Individuals that work in this area should not come in until further notice.
UPDATE: Brazos Street is currently backed up heading toward the Capitol area."
They have a streeet named for Cesar Chavez? Figures...teasips...
The closed area is all of Congress avenue including east-west streets for one block, from the state capital building all the way down to the river. This is the heart of downtown Austin, and police are saying don't go to work until further notice. Just goes to show how easy it could be to create havoc if this is unplanned, or God forbid it is planned.
Could have, but I don't think the wire coils would kill the birds.
Yeah... it used to be 1st street, most older Austinites still call it that. 19th street is MLK Jr Blvd, and 26th street is now Deane Keeton street (I have no idea). Wonder what name they'd think of for 6th street?...
Two weeks from tomorrow, the governor's inaugural parade is on Congress Ave.
12 year old with a BB gun perhaps?
"Grackles, or starlings?"
Could be similiar birds. Basically a pest.
Guy Fawkes?
Carolyn
Carolyn
ping
Rove moving the hurricane death ray machine through Austin in the dark of night?
Latest text from local paper:
"Congress Avenue from Cesar Chavez to 11th Street is closed this morning after authorities discovered a dozen dead birds in the area. Workers in downtown office buildings along Congress will not be allowed in the area until about noon, authorities said.
Austin police spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said authorities received a call about 3 a.m. this morning about the birds in a two-to-four block area on Congress.
Austin fire officals responded and began collecting samples from the birds. “What they are doing is some follow-up testing to see if there is anything we need to worry about,” Chovanetz said. “At this point it is strictly precautionary. We want to make sure there is nothing in the air, the water, the buildings before we let people in.”
Austin-Travis County Medical Serices officials said no one was injured in the incident."
Local radio station said "dozens", this site says "a dozen". I typically don't trust the local Pravda/Austin Statesman newspaper but who knows.
I also heard earlier that there were "dozens" of dead birds, rather than a dozen. I don't trust the local paper either.
Does Austin have air detectors for bacterial contaminates (ie. dirty bomb detectors)?
Local TV says they tested air quality early this AM and all is OK. They said ~2 dozen dead birds, all located in one area near 9th street.
Lots of 1st responder types wandering around along with police, fire, and EMS. Feds are there "supporting" first responders, I did not catch the name of the agency. Looks kinda goofy at this point, but at the same time it's having a high impact on downtown business.
sw
I think so. They are taking this very seriously, which is good.
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