Pesticides Cause Birds To Fall Out Of Sky, Die In Millville, N.J.

MILLVILLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Pesticides are apparently to blame for the deaths of dozens of birds in one southern New Jersey town.

Some residents of Millville witnessed birds, including red-winged blackbirds and sparrows,  falling out of the sky and dying around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"You could see the birds just flying and crashing into trees and houses," resident Jim Sinclair said. "They'd fall on the ground and get up and try to fly. It was crazy."

A nearby farmer recently received a permit to use a granular pesticide to kill the birds because they've been eating his crops, the state's Department of Environmental Protection said.

Cumberland County officials said the birds are not toxic and more bird deaths are expected.