Scenes from a Snuff(leupagus) Film
The new images on the front page were sent to us from Chris Carson, a photographer who took part in the bird stunt downtown yesterday. He has more photos and information posted on his webiste.
Amidst the Avian Emergency downtown yesterday, the threat level reached Yellow, as Big Bird (played by Ivan Spaller of Floribunda) and a Hazmat worker (played by Kevin Witt of Three Jazz Collective) re-created the Terror on Congress. Carson was on hand directing the two costumed rapscallions as they took their performance art to the middle of the avenue. Still no word as to what led to the mass death of the birds, but it apparently cost downtown businesses thousands. While the incident seemed to be something taken directly from a horror movie, Adolfo Valadez, medical director of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Division, said, "Such bird die-offs are fairly common. I think we tend to lose sight of that, living in an urban environment."
Test will be done on the birds to determine the cause. Similar incidents in the past have been linked to poisoned bird feed. While we have absolutely no idea what could have led to these particular deaths, the scuttlebutt is that it could have something to do with a certain restaurant near Congress and 8th St. that has had a horrible time keeping the birds and their poop off of customers. Somebody get Earl Warren on the phone, stat!
Additional photos courtesy Brett Buchanan after the jump.
