CNN: Thousands of birds fall from sky — why?

Blackbirds fly over an irrigation canal in California. (Getty Images)

What could make thousands of birds fall from the sky? That’s what scientists are wondering after about 5,000 dead birds were found on the ground in Beebe, Ark., just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

CNN has a picture of the ominous scene, where the bodies of red-winged blackbirds litter a street and field. This article has offers several ideas about what might have caused the strange event, including fireworks, weather and poisoning.

Still, you have to wonder: What would Edgar Allan Poe or Alfred Hitchcock make of this?

From CNN:

On CNN’s “American Morning,” Stephens told Kiran Chetry and Jim Acosta that in addition to weather, local New Year’s Eve celebrations may be to blame.

“We’re leaning towards maybe a stress event,” he said.