Are the Animal Die-Offs Connected or Not?

This short article in the New York Times points out how people tend to try to find common explanations for events which  happen at the same time. It presents some good evidence for the unrelated causes of the two major blackbird die-offs.

The article also puts the number of dead birds in context: “Five billion birds die in the U.S. every year,” Ms. Driscoll said, “so statistically some have to die at the same time.” The population of red-winged blackbirds is more than 200 million, she said, and they fly in flocks of 100,000 to 2 million. “So 5,000 sounds like a lot of birds, but really it is a relative number.”

What do you think? 

Google made a map showing animal deaths from all over the world

This map shows recent animal deaths. The folks at Google put it together based on news stories. What information would we need to know if these animal die-offs are unusual or typical? What information would we need to know in order to find out if the deaths are related or just coincidence?

What is killing animals in Beebe and Ozark Arkansas? Ecolog Entry #9

In your ecolog journal start your entry with ideas about why so many birds and fish in Arkansas died in the last week. Don't forget to put today's date on your entry. Explain why you think this may have happened. Be clear and specific and use full sentences.

4,000 dead birds and more than 80,000 dead fish on
the same day within 125 miles.... what is the cause?

View Arkansas Bird Kill and Fish Kill in a larger map


Good summary of both bird kill and fish kill.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/01/04/132621511/arkansas-mysteries-why-did-thousands-of-fish-and-birds-suddenly-die

http://www.suite101.com/content/inexplicable-bird-and-fish-kills-in-arkansas-a327329

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/us/04beebe.html?src=twrhp  

Bird Kill
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40885546/ns/us_news-weird_news/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40885546/ns/us_news-environment/

Videos about Bird Kill

http://www.sciencenewsblog.com/blog/102111

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/40887824#40887824

Fish Kill
 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40887450/ns/us_news-weird_news/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/02/arkansas.fish.kill/index.html


And... ANOTHER Bird Kill in Louisiana

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/04/apocalypse-mystery-bird-deaths-louisiana