FACT CHECK: Does This Video Show A Large Group Of Birds Flying Over Kyiv?
A video shared on Facebook allegedly shows a large group of crows flying above Kiev, Ukraine in a sign of “the end of times.”
Verdict: False
This post is miscaptioned. The video originated from Houston, Texas in 2017, not Kiev.
Fact Check:
The U.S. and some allies in the European Union made the decision to send tanks to Ukraine to assist in the offensive against Russia, according to BBC. These tanks will “significantly strengthen” Kyiv’s combat capabilities, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, CNN reported.
A Facebook video appears to show several birds filling the sky above cars on a highway. The video does not clearly show any license plates or signs. “Huge ‘murder’ of crows reportedly spotted flying over #Kiev, #Ukraine,” the caption reads. “The end of times.”
The claim also gained traction on Twitter with 440 retweets. (RELATED: Does This Picture Show A Pigeon Sitting With A Man In A Jerusalem Hospital?)
This video is miscaptioned. A reverse image search reveals that the video was filmed in Houston, Texas in Jan. 2017, according to the Daily Mail. The birds, known as “grackles,” had appeared as early as 2016 in multiple areas of the city, including parking lots and on exit signs, Houston Public Media reported.
The original video, shown in significantly higher quality, was also posted to Instagram on Jan. 19, 2017. “Dreamy. #houstontexas #tweets #houstoncity,” the caption reads, confirming that it was filmed in Houston.
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This is not the first time misinformation involving Ukraine has spread since its conflict with Russia began. Check Your Fact previously debunked a claim that “dozens” of Russian ships left the Black Sea.
