As a geologist, I know that movement of magma beneath the surface can affect the magnetic field. As well, pressure on rocks and minerals can generate energy affecting the magnetic field as well. Birds and fishes travelling in large groups need a "sixth sens" to syncrhonize their movement, taking a turn in armony and avoiding colisions. I believe that changes in the magnetic field may have affect comunication between individual and may cause them to crash again each other. Birds dying in Arkansas and Kentucky were close in time and space to small earthquake (see USGS web site). I can't say about those in Louisiana. However, in the eastern part of US, there are lots of near surface geological activities, expressed by hot spring, particularely abundant in Yellowstone. It is know that a huge magma reservoir held bellow the Yellowstone park and volcanoes may appears in this region in a short. The source of the activity is related to Western coast: the subduction of the Pacific ocean tectonic plate is sliding beneath the US and is remelted somewhere in the Eastern part... However, geological cataclyst can appen any time but can stop almost completely for several hundreds years. The correlation between earthquake and dead birds site is my best argument, however, a magma movement several km beneath the surface may not necessary produce perceptibles earthquake. Does all the dead birds and fish were found? Maybe others thousands died in forest or field far from civilization... Hollywood are sometime based (or partially) true strengh of our Earth. Story to follow! I'll be watching eartquake activities and other animals strange death!