Mystery death of 5,000 birds and 100,000 fish in small US town
The God fearing locals in Beebe, Arkansas thought the world was coming to an end as more than 5,000 birds rained down from the sky on New Year's Eve.
In fairness to the Bible-belt inhabitants this is a tale of Biblical mystery or a Hollywood horror film, depending on what you prefer.
The thousands of red-winged blackbirds were found scattered across roads, roofs and gardens in Beebe, and still no one knows why this happened.
The birds showed signs of "physical trauma", according to Karen Rowe at the state’s game and fish commission, reports The Metro.
They could have been hit by "lightning or high-altitude hail" just before midnight on New Year’s Eve, when heavy storms struck the region, she added.
The birds could also have died when new-year firework displays startled them from their roosts and caused them to die of stress, the commission said. Grahame Madge, of Britain’s RSPB, said: "Hail is a possibility. To get that number is exceptional.
"I would think it would be weather-related, perhaps extreme winds or hail."
The "bird rain" happened only a day after 100,000 fish were found washed up on the banks of a nearby river.
The dead fish were found on the Arkansas river in Ozark, about 200km (125 miles) west of Beebe.
They may have been killed by disease, said Keith Stephens, of the game and fish commission, adding: "The fish kill only affected one species.
"If it was from a pollutant, it would have affected all of the fish."
Tests are being carried out on the dead birds and some surviving fish.
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