Trauma declared reason for thousands of dead birds

"Trauma is the only sign we found from the autopsy. No signs of disease although we can't rule that out," said state veterinarian George Badley.

Badley and other veterinarians examined the birds and found huge clots in blood in the breast bone and near the liver.  State officials were leaning toward inclement weather as the cause of death for the birds, but late Monday afternoon, a Beebe resident called the state Game and Fish Commission officials and said fireworks and cannon explosions could be to blame.  The blackbirds, which usually fly in large groups at night, may have become startled and disoriented by the sounds and crashed into buildings, trees, and each other as a result.

"This is pretty bizarre.  Birds fall from the sky all the time but not in these numbers," said Badley.

Some of the birds have been sent to a Wisconsin wildlife lab for more tests.  There, they'll be running toxicology tests and to make sure no bacteria or viruses led to the massive deaths.