https://www.wesh.com/article/birds-drop-from-sky-chihuahua/39091334 Skip to content NOWCAST WESH 2 News at 5 Live Now Menu * Search * Homepage * Local News * National News * CommUNITY Champion * Share Your Christmas * Coronavirus * Olympics * Politics * Matter of Fact * Investigate * Weather * Radar * Alerts * Hurricanes * Beach * Map Room * Return to Classes * Traffic * Walt Disney World * Universal, SeaWorld and More * Vote * Entertainment * Sports * Buccaneers * Friday Night Hits * Black History Month * Real Estate * Chronicle * ulocal * State of Addiction * Project CommUnity * Stitch * Upload * CW18 * MeTV * True Crime Network * Estrella * Lawline * News Team * Contact * Advertise with WESH * Advertise with CW18 * Advertise with Estrella * Privacy Notice * Terms of Use WESH 2 News and Weather WESH 2 News and Weather * Weather * Search [ ] Press enter to search Type to Search Search location by ZIP code ZIP [ ] Advertisement Bizarre video shows hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky Share * * * Copy Link [ ]Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied! Updated: 12:08 PM EST Feb 15, 2022 By NBC News/WESH Bizarre video shows hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky Share * * * Copy Link [ ]Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied! Updated: 12:08 PM EST Feb 15, 2022 Hide Transcript Show Transcript mm hmm. Oh, okay True vote. GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Your Email Address[ ] Submit Privacy Notice Advertisement Bizarre video shows hundreds of birds suddenly drop from the sky Share * * * Copy Link [ ]Copy {copyShortcut} to copy Link copied! Updated: 12:08 PM EST Feb 15, 2022 By NBC News/WESH Security footage shows how a flock of birds drop dead mid-flight in the northern Mexican city of Chihuahua. Sectional police of Alvaro Obregon reported that close to 100 yellow-headed blackbirds that migrate from northern Canada to Mexico for the winter dropped from the sky on Feb. 7.People in the community were stunned to find the birds dead on the streets and sidewalks. A veterinarian told police the birds could have died after inhaling toxic fumes from a heater nearby or because of an overcharge from electricity cables.Another theory was that a predator was behind the strange event. Ornithologist and biology professor at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, Ronald L. Mumme told Newsweek he thought a large bird was behind it."Based on the birds' behavior, my suspicion is that a falcon or other bird-eating raptor attacked the flock in flight, and during evasive maneuvers the flock members dove, became disoriented, and many crashed to the ground and injured themselves," he said. "I don't think any birds were having problems until they collided with the ground or buildings. It looks like most of the birds were able to fly away, but a significant number could not."Two more experts told The Guardian they agreed with Mumme, blaming the event on "flock murmurating to avoid a predator raptor." Authorities said they still don't know for sure what caused the deaths.A similar incident was reported in Wales in March 2020 when dozens of starlings were found dead on a street. Experts speculated the birds had gone into a dive murmuration, or formation, together and hit the pavement. In 2014, USA Today reported that birds had fallen from the sky in St. Louis, Michigan, because they ate insects and grubs from contaminated soil. A forensic study found lethal levels of DDT in the birds. ALVARO OBREGON, CDMX -- Security footage shows how a flock of birds drop dead mid-flight in the northern Mexican city of Chihuahua. Sectional police of Alvaro Obregon reported that close to 100 yellow-headed blackbirds that migrate from northern Canada to Mexico for the winter dropped from the sky on Feb. 7. Advertisement People in the community were stunned to find the birds dead on the streets and sidewalks. A veterinarian told police the birds could have died after inhaling toxic fumes from a heater nearby or because of an overcharge from electricity cables. Another theory was that a predator was behind the strange event. Ornithologist and biology professor at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, Ronald L. Mumme told Newsweek he thought a large bird was behind it. "Based on the birds' behavior, my suspicion is that a falcon or other bird-eating raptor attacked the flock in flight, and during evasive maneuvers the flock members dove, became disoriented, and many crashed to the ground and injured themselves," he said. "I don't think any birds were having problems until they collided with the ground or buildings. It looks like most of the birds were able to fly away, but a significant number could not." Two more experts told The Guardian they agreed with Mumme, blaming the event on "flock murmurating to avoid a predator raptor." Authorities said they still don't know for sure what caused the deaths. A similar incident was reported in Wales in March 2020 when dozens of starlings were found dead on a street. Experts speculated the birds had gone into a dive murmuration, or formation, together and hit the pavement. In 2014, USA Today reported that birds had fallen from the sky in St. Louis, Michigan, because they ate insects and grubs from contaminated soil. A forensic study found lethal levels of DDT in the birds. Good Housekeeping The Best Presidents Day Mattress Sales of 2022 Amazon Presidents' Day Sales 2022: What You Can Shop Right Now The Best Presidents Day Sales of 2022 The Best Presidents Day Appliance Sales of 2022 Loading more articles... 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