Dead blackbirds fall again in Arkansas town

BEEBE, Ark. (AP) -- Blackbirds have fallen dead from the sky in a central Arkansas town for the second New Year's Eve in a row.

Police in Beebe say dozens of birds have fallen dead, prompting officers to ban residents from shooting fireworks Saturday night.

Officer John Weeks said the first reports of "birds on the streets" came around 7 p.m. Police are working with animal control workers and others to determine a count. It wasn't immediately clear if year-end celebrations are again to blame.

Last year, fireworks were blamed for the deaths of thousands of birds.

Biologists said last year's kill was caused by the birds being rousted from their roosts and flying into homes, cars, telephone poles and each other.

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