Health and environmental officials are investigating why around 40 birds fell from the sky in Boston, US.
The bizarre occurrence took place Thursday morning (local time) on Bakersfield St, Dorchester, when as many as 40 birds were found dead while others were lethargic.
The city's Inspectional Services says that grackles were the only type of birds involved.
Resident Shelora Levaud says some seemed as though they were paralysed.
"I tried to move them a little bit, and it just seemed like they were on one side, and you put them on their feet and they just fell," she says.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston and Inspectional Services are working to determine what caused the birds' illness.
"We're not sure what's going on, if it's an environmental toxin, or it's some disease that's being spread around the birds," says Danielle Genter of the Animal Rescue League.
There were no initial signs of people feeding the birds, however investigators are looking at the possibility of the birds ingesting a chemical agent known as avitrol, which is commonly used to remove pests.
It's believed the birds weren't the only victims in the odd event - a house cat named Sally B was also found seriously ill and later died.
"My sister fed her. Then like at 8:30am she came to the door and told me Sally was laying there at the back door, and that was it," owner Willien Pugh told the Boston Herald.
"Nobody knows who did it or nothing."
CBS News / Newshub.
