Time for a news bump
In the case of the Western Australia birds, the 4000 birds that started this thread, they are now saying three months on that it looks to be lead
poisoning.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au...
LEAD poisoning is suspected of killing thousands of birds that fell from the sky over the West Australian coastal town of Esperance last year.
After three months of searching for answers to the unprecedented phenomenon, the state Department of Environment finally confirmed yesterday that lead
poisoning was responsible for killing four birds it tested recently.
Four out four-
thousand is not a great sample size but hopefully they are on the right track. I breathe a sigh of relief on this one as it was
the Big One that, without a proven cause, could be an indicator of something heading our way.
Although, if I lived in that area and didn't know of any possible lead poisoning for months, I would not be a happy bunny. Although the Government
says it's all clear for humans - take that how you will.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au...
Department of Environment spokesman David Mell said there was still no direct evidence of a lead source, although lead carbonate transported into
Esperance for shipping through the port is the main suspect.
There was also 100 more dead birds in Esperance this past week
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Next up we have 50 birds dying in Texas this week. Berries are getting the brunt of the blame on this one.
www.kxan.com...
More than 50 birds were found in the courtyard at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability building.
Employees were notified immediately, and the area was blocked for about two hours while the Austin Fire Department's HazMat Team and Animal Control
checked the courtyard to make sure there wasn't a public health threat and to remove the dead birds.
After investigating, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said it's just Mother Nature at work.
www.statesman.com...
About 50 cedar waxwing birds died in North Austin apparently after getting drunk on the fermented berries of some yaupon trees, said Doug McBride, a
spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services.
I do not recall reading this before but apparently the Texas Birds back in January were down to parasitic infection.
The deaths were not related to the parasitic infections that killed 63 grackles, pigeons and sparrows whose bodies were found on Congress Avenue in
January, McBride said. Emergency workers shut down 10 blocks of Congress Avenue when the birds were found, and many people could not get to work.
I wouldn't mind them confirming it at least.
McBride did not immediately know Monday evening whether additional testing would be done on the birds.
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Finally, we go to Mumbai this week where a possible case of lung infection takes the lives of some birds.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com...
MUMBAI: The migratory birds which dropped dead from the skies in Santa Cruz on Sunday have been found to be suffering from an infection of the
lung.
But doctors, who conducted the post-mortem tests on the Northern Shovellers, said it was too early to tell whether they were suffering from any
serious viral ailment like avian influenza.
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On a sidenote, I have seen a few news stories lately of people killing and basically torturing birds. It is sickening and those responsible should be
ashamed. What do they do it for?!
