Dead birds
day
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strange.Austin shuts downtown after dead birds discovered:Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown early Monday after dozens of birds were found dead in the streets[/b]Story Highlights???NEW: Preliminary tests show no dangerous chemicals in air???NEW: Local official: "We do not feel there's threat to public health"???DHS: No "credible intelligence" of "imminent threat" to city???Up to 60 dead birds prompt closure of 10-block stretch of downtownAUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown early Monday after dozens of birds were found dead in the streets, but officials said preliminary tests showed no dangerous chemicals in the air.As many as 60 dead pigeons, sparrows and grackles were found overnight along Congress Avenue, a main route through downtown. No human injuries or illnesses were reported."We do not feel there is a threat to the public health," said Adolfo Valadez, the medical director for Austin and Travis County Health and Human Services. He said preliminary air-quality tests showed no dangerous chemicals and the area should reopen around noon.U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said officials had no credible information to suggest any imminent threat to the city.On Congress Avenue, just outside the state Capitol, emergency workers donned yellow hazardous-material suits Monday morning, and dozens of fire trucks and ambulances were parked nearby.Workers were testing for any sort of environmental contaminant or gas or chlorine leaks that might have cause the bird deaths, said police spokeswoman Toni Chovanetz. At least one bird carcass was being tested locally for other possible causes, and other carcasses were shipped to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas A&M University.Valadez said the tests on the dead birds would likely take several days and look for signs of poisoning or viral infections, though he said officials do not think bird flu is involved.A 10-block stretch of Congress Avenue, several side streets and all buildings in the area were shut down and declared off-limits as a precaution, Chovanetz said.The street closure stretched from just outside the Capitol to a section of the Colorado River known as Town Lake. The Capitol opened on schedule Monday, the day before the legislative session was to begin.Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/08/austin.birds.ap/index.html
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Just got this email from the agency:
"***EMERGENCY NOTICE***
At approximately 11:10 a.m., the Downtown Austin Alliance received an update from the Office of Emergency Management regarding the Congress Avenue closure.
There is no definitive time set as to when Congress Avenue and the 100 blocks east and west of adjoining streets will be reopened. Even though earlier news reports stated that the area may be reopened by noon, the closure will remain in place until authorities have determined the area is safe."
Good times.
There is only one man who can provide us with guidance on this scourge that has befallen Austin.
The opposite is true here in Queensland, Australia... Christmas temps have been consistantly 10 - 15 degrees celcius cooler than previous years. Having jackets/jumpers out in QLD over xmas is a weird thing.
LOL!
PROJECT BIRDED