Turks Suspect Bird Is Israeli Spy

A tiny bird triggered a peck of trouble in a Turkish village when residents became convinced the creature was an Israeli spy. The dead European bee-eater was discovered wearing a metal band stamped with the word "Israel." Investigating villagers determined that the cheeper's nostrils were larger than average, possibly large enough to carry a microchip to aid in espionage. A careful examination by agricultural ministry experts concluded the bird was safe, and that the band was a common tracking measure for migratory birds—though it was tough to convince local police, officials told the BBC. (More European bee-eater stories.)