An unprecedented number of migratory snort are dropping dead across New Mexico in a inscrutable raft die - off that ’s concerning scientist .
The number of bird death is count on to be in the hundreds of thousands , " if not 1000000 , " Professor Martha Desmond at New Mexico State University ( NMSU ) toldLas Cruces Sun - News .
She explains that life scientist from NMSU examined most 300 bird carcasses that were found near Doña Ana County last weekend , but they ’ve also see countless reports , photographs , and telecasting of the phenomenon across the state , as well as part of Colorado and Texas . The die - off has affected a wide variety of fowl metal money , although it appears to solely affect migratory birds , namely swallow , flycatchers , and warblers . Native species , such as chaparral cock or raetam titmouse , come along to be unmoved .
Along with legion reports of dead bird , many residents in New Mexico have find bird work strangely , exhibiting unusual behavior such as not exhaust , flying low-down , moving slowly , or being so lethargic they are polish off by vehicle .
The grounds of this tragic mystery is still unreadable , but researchers are chasing up a few theory . The meridian defendant is the wildfire that are currentlyripping through Californiaand other states along the West Coast . It ’s thought these unprecedented conditions might have somehow sparked the birdie to embark on their crepuscule migration earlier than normal . As they moved inland , their typical sources of food and water were dwindling due to the droughts brought by the yesteryear long , hot summer . Some are also excogitate the birds might have inhaled smoke and sustained lung damage .
This corner of the US also experienced a local cold front in the first week of September 2020 , which might have also scuppered the bird ’s migration plans . In all likeliness , it ’s a combination of all the factors above .
To facilitate excavate deep into this mystery , the Southwest Avian Mortality Project is asking local residents to cover any dead birds through their app orthe iNaturalist website – more information can be found onthe website for Carsonin New Mexico . Alternatively , they ’re asking residents to collect specimens in plastic bags , store them in the freezer , then meet the researchers . Again more info can be found on theCarson website .
