New Year's Eve fireworks may have frightened birds from roosting area, causing deaths and injuries during panic-driven flight, according to authorities quoted in news articles

Just one more reason to outlaw the manufacture, sale, possession or use of fireworks.
Often, large firework shows send dogs and other pets on long runs from which they never find their way home.
Obviously, urban wildlife of all species experience similar trauma. And human beings often call 911 when the big booms sound.
A sample of organized efforts to Ban the Bang.
College students with fireworks

Good list of reasons to ban fireworks.

Olympic committee may ban fireworks

Utah's ban on fireworks ignored by many

Rural county in Washington State considers banning fireworks

A PETITION signed by almost 75,000 people was delivered to Prime Minister Tony Blair's front door yesterday by the Animal Welfare Fireworks Coalition calling on him to ban fireworks because of the misery they cause animals and their owners. The coalition, which includes the Guide Dogs for the Blind This article is about the guide dog school in the United States. For the British charitable organization, see The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Guide Dogs for the Blind
..... Click the link for more information.,RSPCA RSPCA (in Britain) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

RSPCA n abbr (Brit) (= Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) → SPA f


..... Click the link for more information.,Blue Cross and the Dogs Trust list the following reasons for their ban:

1 Firework explosions can produce a blind panic in animals that can lead to serious injury,deep-rooted, debilitating fears,or even death. This is partly because the events do not last long enough for animals to become accustomed to the explosions.

2 Many injured or terrorised animals run away from their homes to escape the traumatising detonations of fireworks.

3 Animals who are too close to firework explosions often suffer significant burns and eye damage.

4 Fireworks generate a noise level which can cause irreversible ear damage in humans,let alone animals, which have much more sensitive hearing.

5 Research in Canada indicates that the combined responses to fireworks of panic and disorientation can result in wild birds flying into a building or heading too far out to sea.

6 Last year, a dog hanged to death when its collar got caught on a fence as it was spooked by a firework and tried to escape.

7 A horse, terrified ter·ri·fy
tr.v. ter·ri·fied, ter·ri·fy·ing, ter·ri·fies
1. To fill with terror; make deeply afraid. See Synonyms at frighten.

2. To menace or threaten; intimidate. by a firework, had to be put to sleep after breaking its leg.

8 A disorientated cat almost starved to death following a firework explosion.

9 Near Aberdeen, three calves died recently in a blaze on fire; burning with a flame; filled with, giving, or reflecting light; excited or exasperated.

See also: Blaze when a firework was thrown,possibly by youths,at a barn.