By KRWG News
Las Cruces – Piles of dead crows, possibly hundreds of them, have been found at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park.
Members of the Mesilla Valley Audubon Society reported Tuesday the stack of dead birds discovered during their annual "Christmas Bird Count."
The birds were found dead in the park's river and along the west side of the river.
Birdwatcher Ken Stinnett said most of the birds found dead were American crows, although he said he also saw a Chihuahuan raven and Brewer's blackbird.
It is unclear why the birds died but agricultural extension agent Jeff Anderson said the birds might have been killed by a slow-acting, water-soluble avicide called DRC-1339 that was applied recently in Vado and Anthony, N.M.
The USDA later picked up the carcasses to perform necropsies.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.