Birds falling from the sky

[Dayna]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... s-science/


I thought maybe this might belong here. Does anyone really believe this thing with fish and birds being killed is from "fireworks". Birds usually don't fall from the sky in mass numbers all over the world. There must be something environmental going on. You think?

[Ted]

Well, the Rapture is apparently not due until 21st May...

http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/may21/

[AndyM]

Wonder if I can get a refund on that holiday we've just booked for July.

[john poole]

Wonder if I can get a refund on that holiday we've just booked for July.

The world isn't due to end until 21st October.

[AndyM]

But after the day of the Rapture, the world will be wracked with earthquakes and floods and the bodies of the 'unsaved dead' will be torn from their graves and bestrew the earth. Difficult enjoying your tapas in the middle of all that.

[Des]

Getting back to science (yeah I know, boring) I think this is likely to be weather-related, and as I said elsewhere, birds are always on the edge of death - that's partly why they sing early every morning in spring - they are telling their neighbours and territorial rivals that they are still alive; that they've survived cold temperatures and predators in the night. In winter, birds die in their millions every day, succumbing to the cold and starvation. We never see birds die but they literally fall off their perches and out of the sky. There are normally enough scavengers to clear them up and we don't see this very private death. Once in a while though, the violence of the weather together with the physiological stress caused by lack of food can fell these birds especially if they are a gregarious species like Red-winged Blackbirds as in this case. I'd bet the body weight of these birds is below average.

I find it sad that the only time the media gets interested in anything involving the natural world, it's in over-hyped stories like this, and wider ecological issues are largely ignored.

[Dayna]

I've heard someone say that the death of the birds in Arkansas could have been from a recent tornado they had in the area. That sounds possible, but the way this has happened in such mass amounts in different places, it just seems hard to believe it's something normal.

[Ted]

...the bodies of the 'unsaved dead' will be torn from their graves and bestrew the earth. Difficult enjoying your tapas in the middle of all that.

But not impossible. Have you ever been to Magaluf?

[AndyM]

I was waiting for a line like that, but unsure which resort would supply the punchline - good choice!!

[Des]

I've heard someone say that the death of the birds in Arkansas could have been from a recent tornado they had in the area. That sounds possible, but the way this has happened in such mass amounts in different places, it just seems hard to believe it's something normal.

I think the consensus is now that fireworks may have spooked them, Dayna. Being colonial roosting birds, they may have all left the roost in the dark and flown into various buildings.

[Dayna]

That makes some sense. It's probably silly but I was wondering if the government had something to do with it. You know how they tend to do what they want and not tell us.

[NormanD]

That makes some sense. It's probably silly but I was wondering if the government had something to do with it. You know how they tend to do what they want and not tell us.

C'mon Dayna. You've been given scientific and rational explanations from people here whose opinions you know well enough by now to trust. What's all this with "the government"?? There's enough paranoia around as it is.

[Dayna]

That makes some sense. It's probably silly but I was wondering if the government had something to do with it. You know how they tend to do what they want and not tell us.

I told Des what he said makes sense, since he's the only one that's taking my post seriously. I thought I would have made it clear that I have no parnoia and it bothers me to think anyone would think that of me here. I was just curious about what's been happeneing like most people are. It's been mentioned many times on here that the government doesn't always tell the truth about things.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all if no one's really interested.

[AndyM]

I don't think the response shows a lack of interest, Dayna, but as Des is the resident nature/science man around here, he was best placed to answer.

[uiwangmike]

Another report, this time turtle doves in Italy.
http://www.salon.com/wires/world/2011/0 ... index.html