UNBELlEVABLE! Thousands of birds drop dead from sky | SEE PHOTOS AND REASONS
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Sep 18, 2020
Biologists at New Mexico State University are trying to find out why hundreds of thousands of migratory birds have been found dead across the state.
READ ALSO: United Nations Reacts To Kidnap Of Students In Katsina State, Nigeria , Vows to secure their release
According to Martha Desmond, a professor at the university's department of fish, wildlife and conservation ecology, the mystery started August 20 with the discovery of a large number of dead birds at the US Army White Sands Missile Range and White Sands National Monument.
READ ALSO: Why I Am Working For Tinubu Even As A PDP Member - Wike Reveals | READ MORE
What was first believed to be an isolated incident turned out to be a much more serious problem when hundreds more dead birds were found in regions across the state.
READ ALSO: Why Doris Ogala Is Demanding 1bn From Pastor Chris Okafor | READ DETAILS
This includes Do├▒a Ana County, Jemez Pueblo, Roswell and Socorro.
READ ALSO: How Nigerian Army Foiled Shocking Attempt to Sell Day-Old Baby for 3 Million in Calabar
"It's just terrible," Desmond told CNN.
READ ALSO: Why Tinubu, Akande, Aregbesola, Oyetola met in Osun | READ DETAILS
https://afnews.ng/video-how-3-missing-men-were-rescued-from-pacific-island-after-writing-giant-sos-in-sand/
READ ALSO: ONNOGHEN IN BIGGER MESSY, AS APPEAL COURT STRIKES OUT HIS CHALLENGING SUIT
"The number is in the six figures. Just by looking at the scope of what we're seeing, we know this is a very large event, hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions of dead birds, and we're looking at the higher end of that."
READ ALSO: Victor Osimhen NOT wanted by Man Utd as identity of top attacking transfer targets are revealed
Dead migratory birds - which include species such as warblers, bluebirds, sparrows, blackbirds, the western wood pewee and flycatchers - are also being found in Colorado, Texas and Mexico.
READ ALSO: Why 'I Feel Insulted' - Pastor Kingsley Blasts Ministers Over Viral Bible Tattoo
Alongside biologists from White Sands Missile Range, Desmond and her team began identifying, cataloging and examining about 300 dead birds on Saturday to learn more about the condition they were in when they died.
READ ALSO: Why Violence Is Rising In Relationships - Ifenkili Podcast Exposes Hidden Signs | WATCH VIDEO
Residents and biologists reported seeing birds acting strangely before they died. For example, birds that are normally seen in shrubs and trees have been spotted on the ground looking for food and chasing bugs.
Many were lethargic and unresponsive so they were getting hit by cars, Desmond said, in numbers "larger than ever seen before."
READ ALSO: HOW to Prevent Snake Attacks and What to Do Immediately After a Snake Bite | READ DETAILS
On the missile range golf course, swallows, which are aerial insectivores that don't even walk, were sitting on the ground and letting people approach them, she added.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS (GUU) : Opening Day Ceremony Of Nigeria Universities Theatre Arts Festival (NUTAF 21)
https://afnews.ng/sh0cking-builder-uncovers-30-year-old-secret-hidden-behind-houses-walls-during-renovation/
READ ALSO: United Nations Reacts To Kidnap Of Students In Katsina State, Nigeria , Vows to secure their release
Possible reasons
READ ALSO: Why I Am Working For Tinubu Even As A PDP Member - Wike Reveals | READ MORE
One of the factors biologists believe may have contributed to the deaths of the birds is the wildfires burning in California and other Western states, which may have forced the birds into early migration before they were ready.
READ ALSO: Why Doris Ogala Is Demanding 1bn From Pastor Chris Okafor | READ DETAILS
"Birds who migrated before they were ready because of the weather might have not had enough fat to survive," Desmond said. "Some birds might have not even had the reserves to start migrating so they died in place."
READ ALSO: How Nigerian Army Foiled Shocking Attempt to Sell Day-Old Baby for 3 Million in Calabar
Some birds might have had to change their migratory pathways, while others could have inhaled smoke and sustained lung damage.
READ ALSO: Why Tinubu, Akande, Aregbesola, Oyetola met in Osun | READ DETAILS
While the fires and dry weather in New Mexico may have amplified the number of migratory bird deaths, that still leaves many questions.
READ ALSO: ONNOGHEN IN BIGGER MESSY, AS APPEAL COURT STRIKES OUT HIS CHALLENGING SUIT
"We began seeing isolated mortalities in August, so something else has been going on aside the weather events and we don't know what it is. So that in itself is really troubling," she added.
READ ALSO: Victor Osimhen NOT wanted by Man Utd as identity of top attacking transfer targets are revealed
The birds will be sent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Oregon for necropsies and to determine their cause of death, but it could take weeks to get results.
READ ALSO: Why 'I Feel Insulted' - Pastor Kingsley Blasts Ministers Over Viral Bible Tattoo
"This is devastating. Climate change is playing a role in this." Desmond said.
READ ALSO: Why Violence Is Rising In Relationships - Ifenkili Podcast Exposes Hidden Signs | WATCH VIDEO
"We lost 3 billion birds in the US since 1970 and we've also seen a tremendous decline in insects, so an event like this is terrifying to these populations and it's devastating to see."
See Photos below;
Related Stories
[VIDEO] Convoy Recklessness in Akwa Ibom Sparks Outrage as Victim Speaks Out, Sends an Open Letter to Gov Eno
Why 'I Feel Insulted' - Pastor Kingsley Blasts Ministers Over Viral Bible Tattoo
HOW to Prevent Snake Attacks and What to Do Immediately After a Snake Bite | READ DETAILS
How Nigerian Army Foiled Shocking Attempt to Sell Day-Old Baby for 3 Million in Calabar
Why Doris Ogala Is Demanding 1bn From Pastor Chris Okafor | READ DETAILS
Why Violence Is Rising In Relationships - Ifenkili Podcast Exposes Hidden Signs | WATCH VIDEO
""
— Thompson Nsisongabasi