WILDLIFE -- After reports of thousands of dead red-winged blackbirds falling from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas on New Years Eve -- along with reports of a massive fish kill in the same area -- raised eyebrows across the nation, another bird kill is being reported near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Reports the Baton Rouge Advocate:

State biologists are trying to determine what led to the deaths of the estimated 500 red-winged blackbirds and starlings on La. 1 just down the road from Pointe Coupee Central High School.

The discovery of the dead birds — some of which were lying face down, clumped in groups, while others were face up with their wings outstretched and rigid legs pointing upward — comes just three days after more than 3,000 blackbirds rained down from the sky in Beebe, Ark. ... In Louisiana, biologists with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spent part of the day Monday scooping up some of the birds in Pointe Coupee Parish to be sent for testing at labs in Georgia and Wisconsin.

Officials in Arkansas say the thousands of dead birds and fish discovered there over the weekend died of natural causes, possibly from shot as New Year celebrants touched off fireworks. As you might expect, others are insinuating that something more sinister is going on.