KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: Fireworks target blackbirds in Beebe

by Matt Johnson

BEEBE – Beebe residents started off the New Year with the bizarre yet familiar sight of dead birds on their front yards.

"This morning when I came out I had seven birds dead in the yard which is quite a surprise," said Charles Moore, a Beebe resident for 16 years.

About 200 dead blackbirds littered the streets exactly a year after nearly 4,000 birds plummeted to the ground.

This time, however, investigators say the birds were targeted. A spokeswoman with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission says fireworks were found directly next to the roost.

Criminal charges are possible if the suspects are found. At this point, local authorities are operating with no leads.

After last year's blackbird event, scientists determined fireworks spooked the thousands of birds into flying into buildings and each other. Beebe officials are confident there is no need for conspiracy theories that suggest otherwise this year.

"There were some fireworks that shot off early last night and we did have birds leaving their roost and then falling out of the air," said Mayor Mike Robertson.

Moore doubted the fireworks theory last year but a second straight year of mass blackbird casualties has persuaded him to think otherwise.

"The birds were brought down by fireworks this year," said Moore, standing over seven dead birds on his lawn. "I didn't believe it, but now I do."

Now officials are working on a construction project in the southwestern part of Beebe that will target the roost and likely clear out the blackbird population.

"There's construction we hope that's going to take place during the year to eliminate these roosting areas," said Robertson.

When the birds are not falling out of the sky, they're falling out of favor with some of the locals.

"Many people have not liked them, the mess, and actually the smell," said Moore.

So for now he's taking in the spectacle before all the birds are taken away for good.

"The time is growing near that the birds will be leaving so I'm going to be a little sad about that," he said.