Here’s one to add to the list of hazards faced by migrating birds.
Thousands of migrating birds crashed throughout Southern Utah late Monday night, resulting in a marathon rescue and collection effort that is still underway.
Wildlife officials said thousands of grebes – a duck-like aquatic bird – were likely migrating toward Mexico and probably mistook the parking lot of the Cedar City Walmart and other areas as far south as Anderson’s Junction for bodies of water. Thinking they were landing to rest atop a pond or lake, the grebes plummeted to the ground.
Though thousands of birds were killed, wildlife officials and local residents have managed to save about two thousand survivors, now recuperating in a local pond.