It wasn’t the sort of auspicious and augury-tinged event the folks of Beebe, Ark., wanted to have happen on New Year’s Eve, but it’s looking like the freak accident involving anywhere from 1,000-5,000 blackbirds dropping dead at once might be explained in mundane terms. –KA

The Wall Street Journal:

A rain of dead and injured red-winged blackbirds that fell over an Arkansas town on New Year’s Eve was likely caused by a booming noise, potentially from fireworks, state officials said Monday.

Read more

WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...

This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.

At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.

Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.

Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.

Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.

Donate now.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG