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Flock of birds found dead in field A flock of approximately 100 birds was found dead in a field in central Indiana, United States. Necropsies were conducted on a small number of the birds and the results were inconclusive. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public's help in determining what may have caused the deaths of these birds. This isn't the first time that such a large number of birds has been found dead in one location. In late 2017, more than 5,000 blackbirds were found dead in Arkansas. Earlier that year, more than 1,000 ducks were found dead in Maryland. And in 2014, more than 3,000 grackles were found dead in Texas. It's not just birds that are dying en masse either – there have been numerous mass die-offs of mammals, fish and insects as well. In fact, scientists have been recording mass die-offs for centuries. So what could be causing all of these deaths? There are many possible explanations for mass die-offs, and it's oft

Maine farmers flock to organic egg production Organic egg production is becoming more popular in Maine, with more than a dozen registered organic egg farms in the state. Philip Conant of Freedom Farm in Clinton is one of the pioneers of organic egg production in Maine. He and his wife, Sue, have been raising chickens for eggs since the early 1990s. The vast majority of their eggs are now certified organic, and they sell them at local farmers markets and to restaurants. "We went organic not because we were looking to be different, but because it made sense to us from a health and environmental perspective," Phil Conant said. "The birds are healthier when they can forage for their food, and there are no artificial chemicals or antibiotics in the eggs." Most of the organically raised chickens in Maine are on small family farms like Freedom Farm. But there are a growing number of larger commercial operations as well. Green Mountain Feeds in Enosburg Falls is a