Mass Death of Blackbirds in Arkansas Was Deliberate, Criminal Charges Could Follow

Hundreds of blackbirds fell from the sky shortly after midnight on new year’s day for the second consecutive year in Arkansas. The strange occurrence had some claiming that it was a sign that the world was ending in 2012, but police in Beebe, Arkansas, said that the birds were not victims of some cosmic force. Instead, police believe that mass bird death was caused by pranksters who purposefully fired fireworks into a roost.

Fireworks were also blamed for the bird deaths in 2011 but police believe that that incident was an accident. This year, however, authorities say that someone deliberately set off fireworks near a roost.

Genny Porter from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said:

“We know that there was evidence of fireworks set off in the middle of the roost, and it wasn’t a coincidence.”

As the Inquisitr reported earlier, more than 200 blackbirds fell down dead on new year’s day in Beebe, Arkansas. Last year, nearly 4000 birds fell from the sky.

The massive bird deaths stirred apocalyptic speculation but most wildlife experts agreed that new year’s eve fireworks scared the birds out of their trees, and caused them to fly into branches, buildings, and each other in the panic.

Officials say that if they find out who is responsible for this year’s mass bird death, criminal charges could be filed.