Disturbing video of hundreds of blackbirds crashing is not as weird as thought

[C C]

https://gizmodo.com/disturbing-video-of-...1848541001

EXCERPT: “It is hard to say but from the video it looks like something really startled/surprised the flock, such as a predator, and caused the flock to take evasive action, with some hitting the ground and nearby structures,” said Martha Desmond, an ornithologist at New Mexico State University, in an email to Gizmodo. “While this can be shocking to see, these events do occur—just usually not caught on camera.” (MORE - missing details)

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xGHKxpEmCmo

[Magical Realist]

Poor birdies! Something must've really startled them.

[stryder]

https://gizmodo.com/disturbing-video-of-...1848541001

EXCERPT: “It is hard to say but from the video it looks like something really startled/surprised the flock, such as a predator, and caused the flock to take evasive action, with some hitting the ground and nearby structures,” said Martha Desmond, an ornithologist at New Mexico State University, in an email to Gizmodo. “While this can be shocking to see, these events do occur—just usually not caught on camera.” (MORE - missing details)

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xGHKxpEmCmo

There is the potential that the problem is actually down to how birds natigate. Birds have magnetite receptors) that aid them in identifying polar alignment (and likely also tells them which way up is) This means if there is any fluctuation in magnetic field there will likely have their navigation effected. This could either be through artifical or natural phenomona (Volcanic action could create a change in EM fields etc).

[Zinjanthropos]

Had a migrating duck hit high tension power lines near our last house and land dead in the yard. It was banded so I took the metal ring off its leg and sent it in to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Turned out the bird was banded in Thunder Bay on the west end of Lake Superior. Have found couple more and did same since that incident and I'm in the habit now of checking for bands whenever I see a dead bird. I hope that instead of just videoing or cleaning up these blackbirds that someone took the time to check for bands, removed them and sent in to governing authority.