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Dead Birds Likely Killed By Truck

GEYSERVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- California wildlife officials say more than 100 birds found dead near a highway in Sonoma County were likely hit by a truck.

Department of Fish and Game spokesman Andrew Hughan tells the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa that necropsies of the European starlings showed they suffered broken necks. Investigators found no signs of gunshots.

California Highway Patrol officers found the dead birds Saturday near Highway 101 between Healdsburg and Geyserville. They called in state wildlife authorities to investigate.

Hughan says several birds will be sent to a state lab in Sacramento for further tests to rule out other causes.

The discovery in Sonoma County followed recent reports of other, larger bird deaths elsewhere in the country.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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