It would be nice if some civic minded citizen would gather several specimens and take them to a private lab for doing a necropsy, so that someone can determine a cause of death.
I note in the recent case, government officials were not just picking up samples, but picking them all up. I wonder if anyone thought to gather a few of their own. The government said it was safe and then sent people in hazmat suits to pick up the birds.
Yet more!
Hundreds of dead blackbirds found near New Roads
LABARRE, La. - Around 500 dead blackbirds and starlings have been found in Pointe Coupee Parish, according to state wildlife officials.
The birds were spotted lying in roads and ditches near Labarre Elementary School. The community is between Morganza and New Roads on Highway 10.
Scientists from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have been sent out to collect samples, which will be sent for testing to the University of Georgia and National Wildlife Center in Wisconsin.
This comes after about 5,000 blackbirds and swallows were found dead around Beebe, Ark. on New Year’s Eve. Dr. Jim LaCour with LDWF said he’s not sure the two incidents are connected.
http://www.wbrz.com/news/hundreds-of-dead-blackbirds-found-near-new-roads/