US hailstorm slaughters 11,000 birds in Montana park

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post


Matthew Cappucci
07:07, Aug 22 2019

Thousands of birds have been killed when a destructive hailstorm lashed regions northwest of Billings, Montana, US.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the supercell thunderstorm "killed and maimed more than 11,000 waterfowl and wetland birds at the Big Lake Wildlife Management Area west of Molt". Molt is about 20 miles (32km) west-northwest of Billings, Montana's largest city.

According to the release, biologist Justin Paugh estimates that roughly a quarter of the birds at the lake were injured or killed. About 5 per cent of surviving ducks and a third of living pelicans/cormorants "show some sign of injury or impaired movement".

The Storm Prediction Centre had already been calling for potential large, damaging hail as early as 12 hours in advance, outlining Billings in a narrow corridor of "significant severe" potential.



Read more: https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/115189400/us-hailstorm-slaughters-11000-birds-in-montana-park

[MontanaMama]

1. I didn't know anything about this!!

Guess the eagles will be feasting on injured birds...

[Leghorn21]

2. Aw jeeze, how awful

Don’t look at the video at the link unless you’re ready to see a terrible sight

[Judi Lynn]

8. You bet I won't. Thanks for mentioning it. So damned sad. n/t

[Dixc]

3. Notice the date in the post

Will this happen tomorrow?

[Dixc]

4. sorry

hail storm was on the 11th?

[Sapient Donkey]

12. New Zealand is known to have time travel technologies that they keep to themselves.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. Can we have the technology, if Trump buys the South Island?

It would be a dramatic place for a Trump country club.

And, should your drive land in the water, you can travel back in time for the Mulligan.

[SoCalNative]

5. If you look at the source link

the article is from a New Zealand site, so the date and time is accurate.

[Ptah]

6. New Zealand.

[Ptah]

7. Aug 16, 2019 - Thousands of birds found dead in Stillwater County following hail storm

Posted: 4:28 PM, Aug 16, 2019 Updated: 7:09 PM, Aug 16, 2019

BILLINGS — About 11,000 birds were found dead or maimed by state biologists at the Big Lake Wildlife Management Area west of Molt as a result of last weekend's hail storm.

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks biologists picked up carcasses this week of ducks and shorebirds with broken wings, smashed skulls, internal damage, and other injuries consistent with massive blunt-force trauma, the agency said Friday in a news release.

Thousands more dead or badly injured waterfowl and wetland birds were also found in and around the lake.

On Sunday, the communities of Molt and Rapelje were hammered by strong winds and two-inch hail that battered crops, homes, and vehicles.

https://www.krtv.com/news/montana-and-regional-news/thousands-of-birds-found-dead-in-stillwater-county-following-hail-storm

[Raine]

10. So awful

[Sapient Donkey]

11. Never really thought about what birds and such would do in that situation

when they don't have many trees or other places to find shelter in.

[ffr]

13. Butte, MT, had damaging hail Saturday before last (10th)

Talk about unprepared! What season are we in anyway? Dime & quarter sized hail in buckets.

[DemoTex]

15. Slaughters?

Slaughter: (v) Kill for food.

[elocs]

16. Bad choice of words because "slaughters" implies agency or intent.

A hailstorm is an act of nature and has no intent to do anything.

[Bengus81]

17. Quick,haul them over to a wind farm and then call the media.........