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The story of the mysterious bird deaths in one East Richmond neighborhood has gone international.
Last week, we learned several birds were found dead on Bernhard Avenue just outside of city limits in unincorporated Contra Costa County, prompting dramatic headlines about Richmond from several media outlets.
The story, which was first reported by ABC News 7, called the situation a “disturbing avian mystery.”
Birds dying at alarming rate in East Bay neighborhood: ‘Just horrifying’
A disturbing mystery is unfolding in a Richmond neighborhood, where state officials say there’s no evidence of electrocution from power lines after more than 50 birds have died, but residents are not convinced.
PG&E quickly disputed the idea that its power lines are killing birds in Richmond.
PG&E Spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian told Grandview Independent that after reviewing the incidents, both PG&E and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) do not believe these birds are being electrocuted.
“The power pole at issue is compliant with avian safe guidance, as established by the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee,” Sarkissian said.
Given the mounting concerns of the neighborhood, Sarkissian said PG&E sent yet another employee to the location on Wednesday, May 14. The PG&E employee confirmed that everything in the electric system at the location was operating safely and properly.
CDFW’s Wildlife Health Lab staff also found no signs of electrocution in the collected birds.
“The birds did show injuries consistent with trauma that could possibly have been caused by a pellet gun, BB gun, or a slingshot,” according to a statement. “CDFW also received photos of other dead birds found at the location that showed injuries consistent with trauma. The exact cause of the trauma to all of these birds could not be determined.”
Yet national and international media outlets were quick to report on the story.
British daily newspaper The Guardian led with “California town investigates mystery of ‘exploding’ bird deaths,” describing residents as “grappling with a disturbing mystery after multiple birds were found dead, with some appearing to ‘explode’ mid-air.”
California town investigates mystery of ‘exploding’ bird deaths
Richmond residents say 50 dead birds have been found, with signs of injuries maybe caused by BB gun or slingshot
Coral Murphy Marcos
People Magazine raised the stakes with “California Residents Mystified by ‘Inexplicable’ Exploding Birds Epidemic, While Authorities Suggest Foul Play,” using the term “epidemic” and the most predictable use of “foul” imaginable.
California Residents Mystified by ‘Inexplicable’ Exploding Birds Epidemic, While Authorities Suggest Foul Play
California residents in the Richmond Bay area have reported several birds appearing to explode, with multiple deceased creatures found on their streets. Per reports, authorities suggest the birds were shot, potentially by a BB or pellet gun
People Editorial Guidelines
Not to be outdone, Smithsonian Magazine went with “Birds Are Dying Mysterious, Violent Deaths in This Northern California Neighborhood—and No One Can Explain Why.”
Vice’s headline declared, “Birds Keep Exploding in California—and Nobody Knows Why,” while the article itself admitted there were “two possible culprits: a faulty power grid or a very stealthy neighborhood bird sniper,” with the second option aligning with officials’ statements.
Birds Keep Exploding in California—and Nobody Knows Why
By all accounts, Richmond, California, is a pretty chill Bay Area suburb. And then residents started finding “exploded” birds in their yards.
Luis Prada
USA Today reported, “50 birds die on one street in a California suburb, wildlife officials suggest foul play,” and quoted resident Mark Hoehner, who described witnessing the incidents: “I see the birds on the line, I hear that crack ... coming from where the bird is sitting on the line and then I look up just in time to see a bird just fall lifeless to the ground.”
50 birds die on one street in California suburb, wildlife officials suggest foul play
Residents of a neighborhood in Richmond, California reported to local outlets that they have seen dozens of birds die on a stretch of electrical wire.
, USA TODAY
The Independent, another British newspaper called it a “Mysterious exploding bird epidemic ‘horrifying’ Bay Area neighborhood” while noting that PG&E was investigating whether its power lines played a role – despite PG&E’s statement that the birds showed no evidence of electrocution.
Mysterious exploding bird epidemic ‘horrifying’ Bay Area neighborhood
PG&E, the regional power company, said it was aware of the issue and is investigating to determine whether or not its power lines are playing any role in the mysterious bird deaths
Graig Graziosi
CBS News featured a statement by resident Jeremy Hoehner Haele, who said, “My dad’s been seeing them, he’s been seeing a lot more than I have. Actually, he’s seen them appear to be fried on the wire themselves, like he’s said he’s seen that a couple times.”
Mystery surrounds dead birds found in Northern California city
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed they received two dead birds from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for evaluation, after several birds were found dead in a Bay Area neighborhood under mysterious circumstances.
Melanie Corry
Despite the inconclusive findings, media outlets like The Guardian, People, and Vice have run with dramatic headlines, turning Richmond into the center of a global mystery where even the birds aren’t safe.
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