Hundreds of Birds Dropped Dead in Rome’s Streets

A countless number of roosting starlings were found mysteriously lifeless over Rome’s streets on New year’s day

According to the local press releases, hundreds of birds (mainly roosting starlings) were found lifeless near Rome’s main train station after several people set off fireworks on New Year’s Eve, animal rights groups said Friday, calling it a “massacre.”

Those very birds were found at the Termini train station end of Via Cavour by a motorist who later on posted a footage of the disturbing scene on the international platform YouTube.

At first, the cause of those poor birds was not clear, however, it seemed related to a loud display of fireworks in the neighborhood that hundreds of birds use to nest; as stated by the International Organization for the Protection of Animals (OIPA).

« It can be that they died from fear. They can fly up together and knock against each other, or hit windows or electric power lines. Let’s not forget they can also die of heart attacks.”

Revealed Loredana Diglio, a spokeswoman for the organization.

She noted afterwards that fireworks and firecrackers cause distress and injury to both wild and domestic animals on a yearly basis, and the unusual concentration of bird deaths came despite a ban by the city of Rome on personal fireworks displays, which was widely ignored, and a 10 p.m. curfew due to virus restrictions. Then she added :

« They can fly up together and knock against each other, or hit windows or electric power lines… Let’s not forget they can also die of heart attacks. »

The Italian branch of OIPA has called for a ban on selling firecrackers and fireworks for personal use, citing the threat to animals.