Sunday, February 24, 2013

Hopkinsville's Bird Invasion

The town of Hopkinsville in Kentucky is in the midst of a bird invasion. For reasons that remain unclear but may be linked to global warming, millions of birds have descended on the town this winter. The birds - blackbirds and European starlings - are flying around in great clouds that blacken out the sun and turn the ground white with their excrement. Although the birds have not yet started to attack people, fears are spreading that their droppings could be carrying diseases that are fatal to dogs or people with compromised immune systems.

The Hopkinsville authorities are not taking this avian invasion lying down. A pest control company has been hired to deal with the bird menace, which they are attempting to do by scaring them away with sonic cannons and loud banging noises. It seems however that these measures are proving ineffective and simply cause the birds to move from one part of the town to another. The loud noises are also causing further distress to the town's dog population.

The Hopkinsville area is no stranger to bizarre invasions. In 1955 a farmhouse outside the town was menaced by what appeared to be goblin-esque aliens who had landed in a flying saucer (though debunkers have suggested they were actually Great Horned Owls).

More (birds)

Even more (aliens/owls)

An inuit panda production

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