Could it not be so that its mostly red-winged blackbirds and starlings because they are the only ones that massively cruise / hang / fly at the height at which most of the fireworks crack?
That would plead for the fireworks theory again... However, if these birds are normally hanging out at a much higher altitude, the weather theory makes more sense to me! Best regards, Lennart Suselbeek On Fri, Jan 7, 2011 at 3:21 AM, malcolm McCallum < malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org> wrote: > THis may be complete coincidence, but about a month ago (and I'm on the > Arkansas/Texas/Louisiana/Oklahoma border) my spouse and I were commenting > that it seemed like there were fewer large flocks of birds flying by our > house this year. > > The way we take such great care of this planet, its a wonder anything is > alive. > > Malcolm > > On Thu, Jan 6, 2011 at 6:48 PM, David L. McNeely <mcnee...@cox.net> wrote: > > > The Arkansas event included starlings, as well as red-winged blackbirds. > > For all we know, some other birds were affected, but most birds do not > > flock in many thousands together, and so a kill would not be as likely to > be > > noted. Red-winged blackbirds, and to a lesser extent starlings, do. > > Starlings often flock with blackbirds, and so would be likely to be > > affected with them. > > > > Despite the suggestion that fireworks are an unlikely cause, a large > > fireworks display was reported to have occurred in Beebe near the time of > > the event. So was severe weather reported in the area. > > > > David McNeely > > > > ---- "Judith S. Weis" <jw...@andromeda.rutgers.edu> wrote: > > > But why would this affect just red-winged blackbirds and not other > birds? > > > > > > > > > > Dear ECOLOG-L Members, > > > > > > > > I have an ornithologist friend who works for the Dept. of the > > Environment > > > > in > > > > D.C., and in a recent correspondence I asked for his opinion on the > > mass > > > > bird kills in the news. Here is his reply for any who are interested. > > > > > > > > "The red-winged blackbird and other species kills were most likely > > > > microbursts and windshear associated with the storm system which had > > moved > > > > through earlier. Microbursts can have wind gusts between 60 and 120 > > miles > > > > an > > > > hour, that would create plenty of force to mimic hurricane conditions > > and > > > > do > > > > some real trauma. Is was not disease or some type of contamination. > You > > > > can > > > > see a few birds staggering around with broken wings on the news > videos. > > I > > > > believe the birds were either crushed in the air of forced downward > > with > > > > enough energy to kill them. I don’t buy the firework theory. If it > were > > > > true > > > > we would have giant bird kill problems every July 4th." > > > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > > > > Evan D. Clark > > > > > > > > On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 12:53 PM, J. Michael Nolan < > > > > mno...@rainforestandreef.org> wrote: > > > > > > > >> List Members.... > > > >> > > > >> Apologies for cross-posting. > > > >> > > > >> Interesting story for all Ecologists, Biologists...... > > > >> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12105157 > > > >> > > > >> Really do hate it when people use the term "Blackbird" and will tell > > you > > > >> why, should want to hear. > > > >> > > > >> By the way, this is the first Bird sp. to migrate north in the > Spring. > > > >> > > > >> Obviously, we have seen this before and will be curious about any > > > >> follow-ups to this. Typical media usually does a poor job of > following > > > >> up, > > > >> unless it is that will catch our attention. > > > >> > > > >> Thank you and have a great week. > > > >> > > > >> Mike Nolan > > > >> > > > >> ---------- > > > >> > > > >> If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your > > > >> number, > > > >> best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address. > > > >> > > > >> After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon > request. > > > >> > > > >> Sincerely, > > > >> > > > >> J. Michael Nolan, Director > > > >> > > > >> Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > ************************************************************************************************** > > > >> “Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine > Ecology” > > > >> > > > >> “Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and > South > > > >> America” > > > >> > > > >> Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit > > > >> 161 Main St. > > > >> Coopersville, MI 49404 > > > >> Local/International Phone: 1.616.604.0546 > > > >> Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721 > > > >> Fax: 1.616.604.0546 > > > >> Google Talk/MS IM/Skype: travelwithrandr > > > >> AOL IM: buddythemacaw > > > >> E-mail: i...@rainforestandreef.org and travelwithra...@gmail.com > > > >> Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses > > > >> Web: http://rainforestandreef.org > > > >> > > > >> > > > ************************************************************************************************** > > > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > David McNeely > > > > > > -- > Malcolm L. McCallum > Managing Editor, > Herpetological Conservation and Biology > > "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan > Nation > > 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert > 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, > and pollution. > 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction > MAY help restore populations. > 2022: Soylent Green is People! > > Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any > attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may > contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized > review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not > the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and > destroy all copies of the original message. > -- *PhD candidate Resource Ecology Group (REG) & Forest Ecology and Forest Management (FEM) Centre for Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen University PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands e: lennart.suselb...@wur.nl i: www.seed-dispersal.wur.nl t: (+31) 317 485426 f: (+31) 317 484845 *P Please consider the environment before printing e-mails and documents* *
