Mystery as thousands of birds fall from sky (Australia)

Australian News ^ | 1/10/07 | Amanda O'Brien

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

THOUSANDS of birds have fallen from the skies over Esperance and no one knows why. Is it an illness, toxins or a natural phenomenon? A string of autopsies in Perth have shed no light on the mystery. All the residents of flood-devastated Esperance know is that their "dawn chorus" of singing birds is missing.

The main casualties are wattle birds, yellow-throated miners, new holland honeyeaters and singing honeyeaters, although some dead crows, hawks and pigeons have also been found.

Wildlife officers are baffled by the "catastrophic" event, which the Department of Environment and Conservation said began well before last week's freak storm.

[Shadowstrike]

No, that would be cats sleeping with dogs!

Then the 'Rapture' happened about 7 years ago cause my dog took a kitten, and raised her like a dog.

[TexKat]

Officials: Unclear what killed birds

01:38 PM CST on Tuesday, January 9, 2007

By SHELTON GREEN
KVUE News

It could be weeks before we know what killed dozens of birds in downtown Austin overnight Monday.

A total of 63 birds, most of them grackles, were found scattered all around Congress Avenue area early Monday.

The scare got the attention of the Center for Disease Control and local authorities who shut down the busy avenue for hours.

The folks who work and live near Congress and were shut out of their businesses say the bird problem is costing them business.

"We use a little horn here occasionally. We tried owls, fake owls and snakes up in the trees, we've tried netting but nothing really seems to drive them off," said Rob Sutherland, Hickory Street Patio Cafe.

Initial test results suggests there was no threat to people.

http://www.kvue.com/news/green/stories/010907kvuedeadbirdscare-cb.23662ad0.html

[RinaseaofDs]

While this isn't funny, this does remind me of the WKRP episode where they did a turkey drop from an airplane, and instead of putting parachutes on the turkeys, they just threw the frozen birds from the plane, where they did massive damage to the city that was reported like the Hindenberg explosion.

That was classic.

[Fred Nerks]

puzzling. thanks for the ping.

[EnjoyingLife]

The birds while still alive (photo links): http://digg.com/world_news/Birds_In_the_Thousands_Drop_Dead_Over_Esperance_Australia#c4650898

[Old Professer]

CO2 overload.

[Chena]

A few years ago someone noticed the frogs are disappearing. Haven't heard much about the frogs lately.

I heard that they croaked.

[Chena]

Stop it, you're scaring me. ;)

[Lovergirl]

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RightWhale]

Tiny green and brown frogs appear here when there is a puddle. I have no idea where they go when the ground is so dry that wildfire is a distinct possibility, but I have seen these creatures now and then over the past 30 years. They are about 1-1/2 inches long and soundless, about the size of shrews.

[Chena]

I've never seen any frogs in Fairbanks and as a matter of fact, I used to think the Interior didn't have any frogs at all. However, about ten years ago we were fishing at Four Mile lake (off the Taylor hwy.) and we spotted some small frogs. I can't remember exactly what they looked like, but I do remember they were very small.

[1066AD]

Poisoning Pigeons In The Park ?

[RightWhale]

Could be just the one frog. A very old frog.

[Chena]

From the website: http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=nongame.projects Wood frog baseline investigations in Interior Alaska Amphibians are generally thought to be highly susceptible to changes in their environments, which often lead to developmental malformations, including loss of limbs, malformed digits, or lack of eyes. These changes can include exposure to environmental contaminants, ultraviolet radiation, disease agents, and nutritional deficiencies. Wood frogs are the only amphibian species that occurs in Interior Alaska. This study was initiated to complement the collection of baseline data on 5 national wildlife refuges in Interior and Southcentral Alaska. To date, 32 adult wood frogs have been examined in the Fairbanks area. No malformations were noted

[lowbridge]

New Jersey strikes again.

[P.O.E.]

Melanie: [on the phone] Mitch? Oh I'm glad I caught you. Something terrible...
Drunk: 'It's the end of the world.' Thus sayeth the Lord God unto the mountains and the hills, and the rivers and the valleys. Behold I, even I shall bring a sword upon ya. And I will devastate your high places. Ezekiel, chapter six.
Waitress: Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink.
Drunk: Isaiah, chapter five. It's the end of the world.
Mrs. Bundy: I hardly think a few birds are going to bring about the end of the world.

[sodpoodle]

"It's the Rapture" - yes you are brilliant;)

p.s.I'm not an ornithologist, but I think those are raptors.

[Ditter]

I heard a man call into a radio program in either Austin or Houston (we were on the road) this afternoon that a flock of ducks and geese fell on a Louisiana town (don't remember when). It was decided they had flown into a hail storm and either been killed by the hail or knocked to the ground. Ducks and geese fly very high and the hail could have turned to a light rain by the time it reach the ground. It doesn't seem like this is what happened in Austin but I thought it was interesting.

[sodpoodle]

Mrs. Bundy: I hardly think a few birds are going to bring about the end of the world.
____________________________________________

Dixie Chicks!

[RightWhale]

32 adult wood frogs have been examined in the Fairbanks area

The specimen in the image is very small by comparing to the vegetation in the background but apparently fullgrown. The color should be more green and less gray as the image shows. I have not seen any malformed wood frogs, but they would have to be more puddle frogs than wood frogs since they are seen near puddles. They probably burrow into the ground when the puddles dry up, although what happens during the 2/3 of the year that things are frozen is still unknown.