BEEBE, Ark. (AP) — Beebe’s mayor says he doesn’t anticipate a fireworks ban in the city, even though the last two New Year’s Eve celebrations resulted in frightened blackbirds dying.
Mayor Mike Robertson says about 200 dead birds were removed by city cleanup crews after fireworks frightened roosting red-winged blackbirds and caused them to fly into buildings, trees and each other.
A year ago, thousands of the birds died after the fireworks frightened them.
Robertson told The Daily Citizen a large retail store is planned for the site where the blackbirds roost, so the potential for another problem may not exist next New Year’s Eve.
Police say someone intentionally shot small rockets into the roost but most people nearby stopped using fireworks once police asked them to Saturday night.
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