Mysterious Mass Death of Birds In 2021

This year (2021), there are some unexplained phenomena, where hundreds of birds die due to unknown causes which occur in several countries of the world.

1. Mysterious Mass Death of Crows in Kashmir

In early January 2021, the unexplained deaths of hundreds of birds in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir sparked fears of an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu.

According to Anadolu Agency, Anil Atri, a wildlife officer stated that around 154 birds were found dead in the Udhampur region and five more in the Jammu region over the past three days.

Hundreds of crows were found dead in Jammu’s Udhampur and in the Panj Peer area of Rajouri district.

Image credit: The Kashmir Walla

Vivek Sharma, Director Animal Husbandry, Jammu, said that they have sent samples to National Disease Diagnostic Lab Jalandhar to determine the cause of death of the birds.

As a precautionary measure, the Government of India has started culling thousands of other birds following the sudden detection of deaths of wild ducks, ravens and geese in several parts of the country.

All relevant departments have been alerted and ordered to closely monitor areas frequented by migratory birds.

Atri said that a team led by experts had been deployed to monitor the situation. We advise everyone to avoid any dead birds they may encounter. Don't touch the carcass.

2. Mysterious Mass Death of Sparrows in Gianyar, Bali

Made Santiarka, Head of the Animal Health Division of Gianyar Regency, Bali, said that hundreds of sparrows fell and died due to unknown cause occured on September 9, 2021.

The carcasses of hundreds of sparrows that fell to the ground at the cemetery or Sentra, in Banjar Sema, Pring Village, Gianyar Regency, Bali, were immediately buried by local residents.

Image credit: VOI

According to VOI, Santiarka stated that he was at the location at that time, so it is true that there was a death of the birds and the local people had buried the carcasses.

The cause of death may have been a change in weather, but it is still a temporary diagnosis, for further analysis they will take samples and check them in the lab.

The sparrow was indeed nesting in a tall tamarind tree in the cemetery area. In addition, the population of sparrows in that place is very large and lives in groups.

Then, in the early hours of Thursday, September 9, there was heavy rain and very strong winds in the area. It is suspected that the flock of sparrows fell and eventually died.

The Head of Administration for the Bali Conservation and Natural Resources Center (BKSDA), Prawono Meruanto, admitted that he could not confirm the cause of this phenomenon.

According to him, the phenomenon of falling birds scattered for the first time has happened. This is also very unusual.

3. Mysterious Mass Death of Ravens in Russia

In the last week of September 2021, in Russia there was an unexplained phenomenon of mass death of ravens

The village in Ust-Tarka, Novosibirsk Region is filled with bodies of black birds.

According to The Sun, the bird's mass death has "caused concern among the population".

Image credit: The Sun

Sergei Kuzlyakin, chief physician of the Ust-Tarksk department of veterinary medicine, told local media that tests had been carried out to determine the cause of the bird's mass death.

He noted that birds and other animals did not appear to be harmed, only ravens - hundreds of species in Russia.

Dr Kuzlyakin said: "I have been working as a doctor since 1975 and this is the first time I have seen this. I was shocked."

According to the veterinarian, administrative officers were busy collecting bird carcasses.

Some of the carcasses were taken to be examined at a local laboratory, while the rest were burned.

There are "several hundred deaths per day", he told NSK.

Some suggested that it was the beginning of the end times, and a new term was coined: "aflockalypse." This is the type of mass bird death when a flock suddenly falls from the sky.

Laboratory tests confirmed the raven was not suffering from a "dangerous infectious viral disease"