Science Do birds ever die mid-air?

**Rain Man** · 08-24-2021, 09:08 PM

I was pondering this today.

Aside from getting shot by hunters or sucked into jet engines, do birds ever die of natural causes while they're flying? Y'know, like a heart attack or stroke or something?

I'm asking because I've never heard of someone getting hit by a falling bird. It seems like there are enough birds and enough people that I'd know someone who was hit by a falling bluebird or wren. And what about geese? Could a person be killed by a falling goose? I'm just wondering if I should be worrying about this.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 08-24-2021, 09:22 PM

We had a really bad hail storm about 4-5 years ago and there were dead birds everywhere but yes they die mid air from different circumstances. Heart attacks , choking on worms, old age etc......

FlaChief58 · 08-24-2021, 09:25 PM

Where the hell is Frankie when we need him?

eDave · 08-24-2021, 09:28 PM

Other than dying from hail, spaceships, updrafts into freezing altitudes, and things, birds tend to go off into seclusion when they are not feeling well. In fact, very few birds actually survive far into adulthood. Dead birds are very important to the insect, reptile, feline, and rodent food chain.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 08-24-2021, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

Other than dying from hail, spaceships, updrafts into freezing altitudes, and things, birds tend to go off into seclusion when they are not feeling well. In fact, very few birds actually survive far into adulthood. Dead birds are very important to the insect, reptile, feline, and rodent food chain.

I wonder how many birds on the west coast decide to fly across the pond but didn't realize it was the Pacific ocean and died of old age trying to make it across

eDave · 08-24-2021, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I wonder how many birds on the west coast decide to fly across the pond but didn't realize it was the Pacific ocean and died of old age trying to make it across

Sailors often see seagulls flying more than a hundred miles from the nearest shore.

**Rain Man** · 08-25-2021, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

Other than dying from hail, spaceships, updrafts into freezing altitudes, and things, birds tend to go off into seclusion when they are not feeling well. In fact, very few birds actually survive far into adulthood. Dead birds are very important to the insect, reptile, feline, and rodent food chain.

Also the Thanksgiving food chain.

**srvy** · 08-24-2021, 09:56 PM

Yes but Randy Johnson retired.

cosmo20002 · 08-24-2021, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Yes but Randy Johnson retired.

Also, Dave Winfield, who was actually arrested in Toronto (charges later dropped) for killing a seagull with a throw while warming up between innings.

**srvy** · 08-24-2021, 10:10 PM

displacedinMN · 08-25-2021, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

The same people that want wind power are the same ones that want wind farm owners charged to killing birds.

JakeF · 08-25-2021, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

The same people that want wind power are the same ones that want wind farm owners charged to killing birds.

Just stop, please

or take it to D.C.

TLO · 08-25-2021, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

That was kind of sad.

Frazod · 08-25-2021, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLO

That was kind of sad.

The really sad part is that the goddamn things will never generate enough energy to justify the resources needed to build and maintain them.

Basically they're like ethanol, with the added bonus of being bird killing eyesores.

Frazod · 08-25-2021, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frazod

The really sad part is that the goddamn things will never generate enough energy to justify the resources needed to build and maintain them.

Basically they're like ethanol, with the added bonus of being bird killing eyesores.

Made a couple of pussies hurt with this. Sorry about that.

View Poll Results: Do birds die mid-air?
No. If they're about to die, they glide down and land gracefully.	5	9.62%
Yes, but it's so rare that falling dead birds are not a threat to people.	7	13.46%
Yes, it happens occasionally. But it's not common enough to worry about.	21	40.38%
Yes, it happens a lot. I've known people who have been hit.	0	0%
Yes, and I've been hit. I'll tell you the species below.	2	3.85%
Yes, and I've been hit many times. I'm shocked that everyone hasn't.	0	0%
Birds aren't real.	10	19.23%
I'm not a veterinarian so I can't answer this question.	7	13.46%
Voters: 52. You may not vote on this poll

08-24-2021, 09:08 PM	Topic Starter
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3048491 VARSITY	Do birds ever die mid-air? I was pondering this today. Aside from getting shot by hunters or sucked into jet engines, do birds ever die of natural causes while they're flying? Y'know, like a heart attack or stroke or something? I'm asking because I've never heard of someone getting hit by a falling bird. It seems like there are enough birds and enough people that I'd know someone who was hit by a falling bluebird or wren. And what about geese? Could a person be killed by a falling goose? I'm just wondering if I should be worrying about this.
Posts: 141,662

08-24-2021, 09:22 PM	#2
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1450477	We had a really bad hail storm about 4-5 years ago and there were dead birds everywhere but yes they die mid air from different circumstances. Heart attacks , choking on worms, old age etc......
Posts: 40,388

08-24-2021, 09:25 PM	#3
FlaChief58 SuperChiefs Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Florida Casino cash: $1989822	Where the hell is Frankie when we need him?
Posts: 19,030	4 0

08-24-2021, 09:28 PM	#4
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	Other than dying from hail, spaceships, updrafts into freezing altitudes, and things, birds tend to go off into seclusion when they are not feeling well. In fact, very few birds actually survive far into adulthood. Dead birds are very important to the insect, reptile, feline, and rodent food chain.
Posts: 53,803

08-24-2021, 09:56 PM	#8
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1401250	Yes but Randy Johnson retired. __________________ "The victim stance is a powerful one. The victim is always morally right, neither responsible nor accountable, and forever entitled to sympathy."
Posts: 24,519	10 0

08-24-2021, 10:10 PM	#10
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1401250	__________________ "The victim stance is a powerful one. The victim is always morally right, neither responsible nor accountable, and forever entitled to sympathy."
Posts: 24,519	1 0