Hundreds of birds are found dead on Rome street after being 'frightened to death by New Year fireworks'
Scores of dead birds found dead in Italy are said to have suffered heart attacks because of fireworks set off in the city centre.
Hundreds of the little feathered creatures' bodies were recorded in several locations around Rome, including its Roma Termini train station, by shocked passers-by.
Animal rights groups say the tragedy was caused by fireworks set off on New Year's Eve which scared them to death.
Hundreds of dead birds were found on the streets of Rome, Italy, with people blaming those who set off fireworks on New Year's Eve
The distressing scenes were captured on video by passers-by. Animal rights groups say fireworks made the little birds 'scared to death' in the grim scenes
A city-wide ban on displays by officials on December 31 to protect animals, people and property went largely ignored by Italians celebrating the end of 2020.
In one video shot by a shocked witness, the person filming is heard saying: 'This is the disgusting side of human nature.
'The fireworks. Hundreds of dead birds. Unbelievable. Look how many there are.'
Witness Diego, who was working as a taxi driver on New Year's Eve, told The Mail Online: 'I was on duty during the hours of my work when I was passing through via Cavour, a street near the central train station.
'I did not understand at first what was on the ground, later I realized that they were dead birds, and there were hundreds of them. A really bad scene. It was about 00.40 and the causes could be due to the fireworks, at least that's the first thing I thought.
'I'm not a scientist or a veterinarian, so I can't take responsibility for saying with certainty that that was the reason.'
The International Organisation for the Protection of Animals say the fireworks had been let off in a leafy neighbourhood used nearby by birds to roost.
Some people described the grim discovery as an omen for 2021
Fireworks explode over St Peter's Basilica on New Year's Eve, despite the government banning them to curb the spread of Coronavirus
Spokesman Loredana Diglio said: 'It can be that they died from fear.
'They can fly up together and knock against each other, or hit windows or electric power lines. Let's not forget they can also die of heart attacks.
She added each year fireworks displays cause distress and injury to both wild and domestic animals.
Several people online suggested the grim deaths were an omen for 2021.
Others blamed the city for not banning the fireworks years ago.