The more than 300 birds found dead in north Alabama near Athens and Scottsboro in January were not ill or poisoned, but were most likely struck by vehicles as they were feeding on roadways.
The birds were sent to the Alabama State Diagnostic Lab earlier this month, and Fred Hoerr, director of Auburn's lab, said the first phase of their two-part investigation is complete.
"We've concluded that the birds died from blunt force trauma," Hoerr said. "Most of them were found on the side of the road, so we assume they were involved in collisions with the vehicles."
Hoerr also said weather could have been a factor.
"The birds do not represent a public health threat," Hoerr said.
The birds were found dead soon after north Alabama received several inches of snow.
"With the winter weather we had right before, the birds were probably trying to feed on the roadway," Hoerr said.
Approximately 50 birds were found in the Scottsboro neighborhood of Adair Moody, freshman in business.
Her family and neighbors weren't shocked by the sight of dead birds in their yards and street, though.
"Since it had recently happened in Arkansas, they weren't as shocked about it, although it was really odd," Moody said. "We had just had freezing weather for a long period of time, and some of my neighbors thought hypothermia could have been the reason for the deaths."
The lab conducted tests called necropsies on the dead birds, during which the tissue of the birds is screened for infectious diseases.
"I brought some samples and some birds back to the state lab, and we ran a host of diagnostic tests," said Wes Gaston, a wildlife disease biologist at the United States Department of Agriculture in Montgomery. "We tested for avian influenza, poisons, just a plethora of tests, and they all came back negative."
Gaston said his office was not surprised at the results.
"There was a blackbird roost near where the birds were found, and it was right next to the interstate," Gaston said.
"The ground was covered with snow at the time, so they tried to find food by going to the interstate where there was bare ground."
Cars driving on the interstate could have also made the birds disoriented and pushed them further into the freeways, Gaston said.
Hoerr said because his office was not part of other states' investigations into their bird deaths, he could not comment on whether the causes in other states were the same.
"Ours here is a part of Auburn's veterinary school, so we have a lot of resources on hand," Hoerr said.
Moody said her neighbors called the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency.
"They came shortly after and scoped the scene and collected the birds they needed for testing and disposed of the rest," Moody said.
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