Dozens of dead birds found in Leland parking lot, local rescue says

A Facebook post by SkyWatch Bird Rescue said at least dozens of dead or dying "Grackles" were found Monday night in the areas of McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell and Piggly Wiggly in Leland, North Carolina.

Volunteers found the birds after someone called a wildlife hotline. According to SkyWatch, the birds are known to scavenge parking lots in flocks.

"Many were already dead, or in a catatonic state of immobility," the post read. "Some were dying but still mobile enough to be in the trees making small movements. Every now and then one would fall from the tree and not be able to move, other than blinking."

According to the post, almost none of the birds could be saved.

"They were already dying, died in our hands as we carried them to the car, or died during transport," the post read. "Only four are still alive at the clinic."

SkyWatch guesses the birds may have been affected by a toxin or poison, which is concerning, especially if other animals eat the dead birds.

"We found some birds had already been eaten by feral cats in the wooded area near a tree where many birds fell from," the post read. "Some birds were hiding by bushes and under cars, some were laying on rooftops."

If you find any dead birds, do not touch them with bare hands. Use gloves to put them in a plastic bag and call the hotline at 855-407-3728.

SkyWatch is working with regional wildlife biologists, who are collecting specimens to find out why the birds are dying. Some birds were also sent to the North Carolina State University veterinary lab for testing.