aren't pidgeons and chickens used as early detection against poisonous gasses?? what kind of birds are dying?? anyone know?
AUSTIN (Reuters) - The downtown area of the Texan capital of Austin was closed on Monday as a precaution after the discovery of several dozen dead birds, officials said.
"The area will be closed until at least noon (1 p.m. EST) today," Austin police department spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz said.
Officials said the street closures were a precaution in case the deaths were related to something like a gas leak but they did not believe there was any direct health threat.
"We ... do not feel that there is a threat to the public's health," said Dr Adolfo Valadez, medical director for the Travis county health and human services department.
He added that the department did not think avian flu was responsible for the deaths of the birds, which included grackles, sparrows and pigeons. The birds were being tested.
The area affected includes the commercial heart of the city, preventing thousands of workers from reaching their jobs, but not the state legislature which was due to open its 2007 session on Tuesday."....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070108/sc_nm/austin_closure_dc_3
I believe they are suppose to be having a presser soon. They don't know what killed the birds, but I'm sure, just like in NY, they will assure us it's harmless.
Pigeons, sparrows and grackles were mentioned during the 1 PM news on KLBJ. The latest count found on the street was 63, but they were still looking on roofs and other raised areas.