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Train blamed for hundreds of bird deaths on Calhoun Co. tracks

Posted at 10:48 AM, Mar 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-25 11:17:47-04

SPRINGFIELD, Mich. (AP/WXMI) — A DNR official says hundreds of birds found dead along railroad tracks in Springfield died after being hit by a train.

A representative with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in Lansing, tells FOX 17 that the official cause of death is trauma due to being struck by a train.  She also says that none of the birds had a common food in their gizzards, so they weren’t eating something along the tracks and were distracted from being hit by the train. Tests were negative for toxins that might have rendered the birds too ill or disoriented to fly.

400 to 500 crows died. An investigation began after the birds were found dead earlier this month in Springfield.