A new "spin" on dead birds, gee I thought it was firecrackers and other stuff

[Raineyrocks]

Can't they at least try to stick to 1 story, gosh they're such liars!

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-02-20/news/0302200356_1_duct-tape-homeland-security-ridge

Ridge urges Americans to be ready, not afraid
February 20, 2003|By Michael Kilian, Washington Bureau.
WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Wednesday launched a national Ready Campaign to prepare Americans for terrorist attacks, urging them to take such measures as storing 3 or more gallons of water for each family member and watching for dead birds as a sign of chemical attack.

A week after Ridge and his department came under fire for suggesting that duct tape and plastic sheeting would be a defense against possible attacks, the homeland security secretary traveled to Cincinnati to tout the new campaign he said was designed primarily to prevent fear and panic.

"Fear is the terrorists' most effective weapon," Ridge said. "The threat of terrorism forces us to make a choice. We can be afraid or we can be ready. And today America's families declare we will not be afraid and we will be ready."

The campaign's list of recommendations elaborated on some of the precautionary steps Ridge urged last week after the Bush administration raised the terrorist threat level from yellow, for "elevated risk," to orange, for "high risk." Ridge did not say when he expected the threat level to be reduced to yellow, though he had indicated over the weekend that it might be soon.

Speaking Wednesday, Ridge said, "Stash away the duct tape," prompting laughter from the audience. "Don't use it, stash it away, and that premeasured plastic sheeting for future--and I emphasize future--use."

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized Ridge's suggestions last week, charging that the homeland security effort was seriously underfunded and that duct tape was no substitute for federal money.

A spokesman for Daschle said he had no immediate response to Wednesday's presentation. A spokeswoman for Pelosi said that she had no additional comment but that the sentiments she expressed about underfunding last week still stood.

Rob Perks, spokesman for the environmentalist Natural Resources Defense Council, said that although the readiness campaign was welcome, the administration had failed to take steps to protect Americans from an attack on highly vulnerable chemical plants.

"While we applaud any effort to better inform the public about these dangers and about ways to cope in an attack," Perks said, "we cannot help but observe that the Bush administration has failed to take meaningful steps to reduce the likelihood that Americans will need to run or shield themselves from a toxic release caused by an attack on a chemical plant."

[Raineyrocks]

February 19, 2011

DETROIT (Reuters) - At least 200 geese have died for unknown reasons along the southwestern shores of Lake Erie while others are struggling to hold their heads up, stay upright and fly, Ohio officials said on Friday.

No cause has been diagnosed. Some of the dead birds have been sent to a national wildlife laboratory in Wisconsin for testing. Many sick birds have been sent to rehabilitation facilities.

The sick geese appear to have problems controlling their muscles, with many struggling to walk and others laying their heads on their backs, said Dave Sherman, a biologist at the Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station operated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/politics/...,6946773.story

Birds die as lakes turn toxic

February 23, 2011

AT least 27 native birds have died and 12 have been sent to animal rehabilitation centres after a suspected outbreak of the paralysing bacterial infection botulism at two Cockburn lakes.

At Magnolia Gardens, City employees and residents have reported 14 dead birds and rescued seven.

Harmony Lake is also believed to have been struck by the botulism bacteria, with 13 dead birds found and five sent to rehabilitation centres.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1226010509531

Many blackbirds found dead in Ukraine

Published: Feb. 19, 2011 at 12:37 PM

SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Mass deaths of blackbirds in the Crimea are puzzling Ukrainian scientists.

Dozens of the migratory birds have been found dead on the Kamyshovskoye highway in Sevastopol, along Kazachya Bay and in other coastal areas, ITAR-Tass reported Saturday.

Ornithologist Alexander Grinchenko of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds said it is not yet known if the blackbirds died from infection or poisoned food. They probably flew from North Africa, where no bird epidemics are reported.

The first examinations by the Sevastopol state veterinary center suggest frost as a cause. A recent storm brought heavy snow and frigid weather to the Crimea.

Tissues from the dead birds have been sent to a veterinary clinic in Simferopol, and a diagnosis is expected within a week.

The mass bird death is the first reported in Ukraine, and it is not known if there is any connection to recent incidents in the United States and Europe.

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011...0691298137067/

[Pat McCotter]

Rainey, did you post the first article thinking it was new? It is from Feb 20, 2003.

[Raineyrocks]

Rainey, did you post the first article thinking it was new? It is from Feb 20, 2003.

Oops, did somebody already post it?  I did think it was new, sorry, it's early and I guess I wasn't fully awake.