Hundreds of small birds were found dead near Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport last Friday, the Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA) Bali confirmed on Monday.
The sparrow-sized finches (Estrildidae), struck down by a freak lightning bolt, became an unusual yet natural casualty as heavy rains and thunderstorms swept the island.
kasihan ini burung-burung pipit ini lagi pada tidur malam,
— mayy (@hinata_hyugaa10) November 23, 2024
tiba tiba pohonnya tumbang.
info kejadian di dekat bandara ngurah ray bali.. pic.twitter.com/7kdZIeA8mi
“The tree where the flock was roosting was hit directly, breaking branches and killing the resting birds in an instant,” said Ratna Hendratmoko, head of the BKSDA Bali, during a press conference in Denpasar.
The incident was reported by airport groundskeepers and security officers, who first spotted the scene on Friday night, quickly clearing the area to ensure travelers’ comfort.
When BKSDA Bali investigated the site, they found just three remaining bird carcasses, decomposed nearly beyond recognition, making further testing unfeasible.
“The degradation was about 90 percent, so conducting a necropsy was impossible,” Hendratmoko noted.
The incident drew public attention after a video showing scores of small birds sprawled across the airport’s lawn went viral on social media Sunday, sparking concern about possible health risks.
However, officials have ruled out disease or environmental contamination, attributing the event solely to natural causes.
“This was an act of nature, and there is no indication of an outbreak or any other cause for public concern,” Hendratmoko assured. BKSDA Bali intends to continue monitoring the area and coordinating with relevant agencies to safeguard the local ecosystem.
