Birds Are Exploding Mid-Air in California’s Bay Area, Leaving Residents and Experts Baffled

Tucked quietly along the eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay, the city of Richmond, California, has suddenly found itself at the center of a harrowing mystery. Known more for its maritime industry than paranormal news, Richmond’s normally blue skies have recently experienced the sight of something gut-wrenching. Dozens of birds are dying in violent, unexplained mid-air incidents, leaving the residents horrified, according to IFL Science.

Over the past months, residents of Richmond have reported hearing sudden popping sounds followed by the dropping of birds like mourning doves, European starlings, crows, and many more. Some have even described the phenomenon as the birds 'exploding' mid-flight. Mark Hoehner, a local marketing designer shared, "It sounded like a firecracker, and a black bird - a starling - just plummeted to the ground…I've been under the birds when it happens, and I know where the sound is coming from. It's coming from up on the pole," stated ABC7. Doorbell and security cameras have captured some of these weird moments, offering visual confirmation of the mystery. In one recording, a bird lands on a stretch of neighbourhood power line, a loud pop is heard, then boom, the bird drops lifeless to the ground.

Residents initially suspected the power lines might be the culprit. After all, the incidents seemed to center around a specific stretch of neighborhood wiring. PG&E, the utility company responsible for the lines, was called in to investigate. Their conclusion? They claim that the equipment is all good. In a statement, Pacific Gas & Electric Company asserted, "PG&E does not believe that there was an issue with our electrical equipment and agrees that these birds were not electrocuted. Neighbors have asked the Contra County Sheriff's Office to look into this situation. The pole at issue is compliant with avian safe standards, as established by the Avian Powerline Interaction Committee," stated ABC7.

Still, locals remain suspicious of this whole situation. An interesting point to note is that, to dive deeper, PG&E sent several dead bird samples to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Their Wildlife Health Lab necropsied two birds (a mourning dove and a European starling). The findings only thickened the plot. In a statement, CDFW shared, "CDFW's Wildlife Health Lab staff 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. CDFW also received photos of other dead birds found at the location that showed injuries consistent with trauma."

The theory of foul play is being entertained, but not everyone is buying it. Most importantly, the agency has not been able to pinpoint the exact cause. As the death continues and the mystery boils, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office has begun its investigation. Adding a layer of horror to this mystery, in 2022, a video from Chihuahua, Mexico, showed a bunch of yellow-headed blackbirds plummeting from the sky en masse, stated NBC News. Some recovered and flew off, but dozens were found dead. For this incident as well, there were no possible explanations. People speculated reasons from the inhalation of toxic fumes to impact with power lines, but nothing definitive has emerged there either. For now, Richmond residents live under constant fear and dread of when they will hear the next pop.