[John W]

Source?

[Frank_Discussion]

Ditto?

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

There is no source. Nobody knows why the birds were dropping dead in Austin yesterday.

[Dysart]

Bird kills are not uncommon, but Valadez said it was unusual for such a large number to turn up dead in downtown Austin. Among the theories: intentional poisoning or disease.

Perhaps I should have pointed out that it was one theory, but the most likely cause(my opinion). A disease process would almost certainly not cause a quick and widespread die-off among several species like was seen in downtown Austin. Poisoning is most plausible.

[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