Does this happen and we are just not aware of it? The media doesn't pick up on it? Or is this actually something new like is being implied?
From the article:
"Birds Australia, the nation's main bird conservation group, said it had not heard of a similar occurrence. "Not on that scale, and all at the same time, and also the fact that it's several different species," chief executive Graeme Hamilton said. "You'd have to call that a most unusual event and one that we'd all have to be concerned about."
And...
"Acting chief veterinary officer Fiona Sunderman said toxins were the most likely cause but the deaths could be due to anything from toxic algae to chemicals and pesticides.
Dr Sunderman said there were no leads yet on which of potentially hundreds of toxins might be responsible. Some birds were seen convulsing as they died."
With all the "gasses" stories popping up, one wonders if there is some worldwide "venting" of noxious gasses. (Insert Rosie joke here).