On December 31 at about 11pm in Arkansas, USA, 5,000 blackbirds and starlings began dropping from the sky, all fatally wounded by the time they struck the ground. Similar events have occurred since then in US states such as Louisiana, where 500 birds fell to the earth on Monday, January 3, as well as farther away in countries such as Sweden, where 50 jackdaws were found dead on a street the following day, also suffering some form of trauma, and in Italy, where up to 8,000 turtle doves were similarly discovered perished, many with a strange blue stain inside their beaks.

But the recent reports of animals losing their lives en masse has extended beyond avian species. On December 30, a tugboat operator in the Arkansas River discovered what turned out to be some 100,000 drum fish fatalities along a 20-mile stretch of the river near Ozark, Arkansas, USA.

In Brazil, around 100 tons of sardines, croaker and catfish washed up dead near Paranaguá, and approximately 40,000 crabs were discovered after they had succumbed along the shores of Kent in the United Kingdom.

In Maryland, USA, 2 million small fish washed ashore, and hundreds of dead snapper were found in New Zealand on January 4, many of which were missing their eyes. Investigations are underway to try to explain these massive bird and fish deaths on such a global scale. Suspected causes include cold weather, frightened shock from sounds such as fireworks, as well as possible illness and poisoning.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the staggering losses of our animal friends, and thank all officials and experts working to find answers to the cause. Let us heed such alarming events as reminders to be more conscientious stewards of the Earth and all her inhabitants.

http://www.naturalnews.com/030914_dead_fish_birds.html
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/carpet-of-dead-snapper-on-new-zealand-beaches/story-
e6frfku0-1225982188696
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/04/arkansas.bird.mystery/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/01/04/dnt.la.bird.deaths.wafb
http://www.france24.com/en/20110104-birds-fall-sky-again-time-louisiana
http://www.wsmv.com/news/26379609/detail.html
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/40000-crabs-die-of-cold-in-britain_100483431.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/01/05/sweden.bird.deaths/index.html
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/01/06/Major-fish-kill-reported-in-S-Carolina/UPI-48711294351800/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8243341/How-fright-killed-thousands-of-birds-in-Arkansas.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/01/06/maryland.fish.kill/index.html