Cold Kills More Than 100 Birds

Biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the deaths of at least 100 birds.

The birds, mainly brown pelicans, were found on the southern tip of Pelican Island, also known as Sand Island.

“When we reached the southern tip, we found two groups of brown pelican carcasses along with several other dead birds in the area,” explained USFWS biologist Peter Tuttle. “The birds appeared to have been dead for lengths of time ranging from a day or two to a few weeks.”

Biologists believe the unusually cold weather is to blame. But they sent five of the birds to the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin to determine the cause of death. Lab results should be available later this week.

“Local residents tell us it’s not uncommon for juvenile birds to die in colder temperatures," said Tuttle. “(But) a mortality rate this high is too unusual to be ignored.”

Last week, News 5 found a few dead pelicans on Dauphin Island. Experts at the Sea Lab told us they too were most likely killed by the cold.