Blackbirds have fallen dead from the sky in a central Arkansas town for the second New Year's Eve in a row.

KATV showed a radar image that it said showed a large mass over Beebe a few hours before midnight Saturday. The Little Rock television station reported that hundreds of birds had died.

Beebe animal control worker Hearst Taylor told KATV the reason for the bird deaths isn't yet known.

Last year, fireworks were blamed for the deaths of thousands of birds. It wasn't immediately clear if year-end celebrations are again to blame.

Beebe police imposed an impromptu fireworks ban Saturday night.

Biologists said last year's kill was caused by the birds being rousted from their roosts and flying into homes, cars, telephone poles and each other.

Source: Associated Press