In Chile, the birds are dying, and no one knows why

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In Chile, the birds are dying, and no one knows why

 

 

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Chilean scientists are investigating three mysterious

ecological disasters that have caused the deaths of hundreds of penguins,

millions of sardines and about 2,000 baby flamingos in the past few months.

 

The events started to unfold in March, when the remains of about 1,200 penguins

were found on a remote beach in southern Chile. Then came the sardines -- tons

of them -- dead and washed up on a nearby stretch of coastline. The stench

forced nearby schools to close, and the army was called in to shovel piles of

rotting fish off the sand.

 

 

 

 

Farther north, thousands of rare Andean flamingos abandoned their nests on a

salt lake in the Atacama Desert. The eggs failed to hatch and, over a period of

three months, all 2,000 chicks died. The extent of the damage was discovered in

April, during an inspection.