Mystery: Federally protected birds found dead

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - It sounds like something out of a Hitchcock movie, birds falling from the sky.

A woman found more than half a dozen dead crows in her yard and whoever is killing the birds could face federal charges.

The woman believes the crows were poisoned. Crows are a protected species and now the hunt is on to find whoever is responsible.

The Northwest neighborhood near Second Street and Osuna is eerily quiet except for during the early morning hours when Kathleen Brem says she hears a terrifying noise.

"Screaming, they're rolling trying to I guess deal with the pain," Brem explained. "To me I could see they were being poisoned."

Brem says seven crows died in her yard in just seven days. She explained she watched them seize, struggle to walk then pass out.

In November of 2011 KRQE News 13 reported about a similar incident that happened near Uptown. Investigators determined those crows were poisoned. They died in the same way.

Crows are protected by the federal Migratory Treaty Act. Killing a crow is a federal crime, unless that person has a permit.

For Brem it's just hard to watch.

"It's painful to see it. There's no living being, no animal that deserves to have that kind of death," Brem said.

Now she's worried about side affects.

"If my dog gets curious or my cat does and these creatures are poisoned, I'm afraid that they might sicken or even kill my pets," Brem said.

The birds have to be tested to see if they are being poisoned.

The case will be investigated as an animal cruelty case by the city animal welfare department.

The city of Albuquerque told KRQE News 13 under no circumstances would they poison birds even if they're becoming a nuisance.

Poisoning a crow is punishable with up to a $10,000 fine and/or jail time.