Posted on 01/11/2011 10:07:37 AM PST by TaraP
SANTA ROSA -- Days after massive bird die-offs in the south, Sonoma County officials Tuesday had a mystery of their own as more than 100 bird carcasses were discovered near Geyserville.
California Highway Patrol Officer Jon Sloat said the birds were discovered on to Independence Lane at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The California Department of Fish and Game was notified and a local warden responded. He took several of the birds away to be identified and tested by a biologist, Sloat told the San Rosa Press Democrat.
The birds all appeared to be the same species – small in size with brown and black feathers.
The incident came just days after thousands of blackbirds died in Arkansas and Louisiana. According to the National Wildlife Health Center , the birds died of unexplained blunt-force trauma.
Samples of the blackbirds were taken to the center’s Madison, Wisconsin, lab where they were examined.
"They died of impact force to their bodies," said Scott Wright, chief of disease investigations at the center.
At least 3,000 red-winged blackbirds died on New Year's Eve near Beebe, Ark. Fireworks probably sent them flying from their roost sites.
There was a big freeze in Nor Cal yesterday so small birds would be affected. Not a big deal.
Do they fall head first??
I wonder if there are any wind generators near-by...birds could have flown into the blades, recovered to fly some distance away from the wind site, and crashed....
The latest 'Lazy MSM Serial Story." Boring!
IMHO -They don’t have to fly into the blades - the sound waves emitted are likely sufficient to disorient them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.