The dead jackdaws were autopsied yesterday by Erik Ågren at the National Veterinary Institute in Uppsala. They were intact on the outside but when we opened them up, we saw that they had internal bleeding caused by acute external force Says statsepizootolog Marianne Elvander.
An autopsy of birds showing mysterious internal bleeding
Mass Death in Falkirk baffles the experts.
The birds were unharmed on the outside but according to an autopsy report, they died from blunt external trauma.
- It is a mystery, I have never seen anything like it, "says Anders Wirdheim of Sweden Ornithological Society.
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Information of nearly 100 jackdaws found dead on a street in Falkirk, quickly became world-world. After two cases of mysterious mortality in the United States, where the birds suddenly dropped dead from the sky, there is attention to go to Sweden.
- It is extremely unusual that jackdaws are dying in this way in the winter, "says Anders Wirdheim, the Swedish Ornithological Society.
Elvis Soderlund, 28, saw the dead birds when he went home on Tuesday evening.
- It was really weird, I felt a great discomfort in the body, "he says.
In Beebe, Arkansas, United States, said state veterinarian on Monday that the birds probably rushed to death by fireworks. Even in Falkirk are reports of firecrackers on the night that the birds died.
- There are reports of fireworks but we do not know if it caused the bird death, says länsveterinär Robert ter Horst.
Blunt external trauma
After suspicions of bird flu sent the children and young bird carcasses in sealed bags to the National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala for autopsy.
Late yesterday came the result - the birds died of acute blunt external trauma. But what kind of violence is unclear.
- They had no evidence of disease or infection, but when we opened them we saw that they had internal bleeding, said statsepizootolog Marianne Elvander.
Yesterday, there was information that motorists driving on the birds. But according to the SVA had birds no external injuries.
- They were completely intact on the outside so they have not come under any wheel, "said Marianne Elvander.
SVA's wildlife experts will now continue to investigate bird death.
- We do not know what caused the violence, "said Marianne Elvander.
"Never seen anything like it"
Although Anders Wirdheim is puzzled.
- I have never seen anything like it, jackdaws are herd animals that sleep in trees at night, they're not used to fly around then, "he says.
- Something has apparently scared them and made them fly off, but why they died is a mystery, "he says.