My take on the birds dropping were that they were directly linked to Paul's powers manifesting.
I assume the birds weren't dropping before we begin the first episode, or at least not at a relevant rate. I kind of got the impression that life was seemingly normal up until the fades began physically attacking. Also my guess would be that Paul in himself is not powerful, he acts only as a conduit - his powers come into play only when the need arises. For example, when he is first confronted with the fades in the park (and Neil rescues him on the motorbike) he has sparks flying from his hands that he doesn't understand. When someone needs to reopen ascension/do something about the fades, he somehow has exactly what is required to do that task.
We only ever see the birds dropping when Paul was present, just a few at first before he had discovered his powers and then masses when he comes back to life. I think they are like a sacrifice in a way... or perhaps a conversion of some unknown form of energy following a law of physics that we haven't understood yet (in the same way that energy can never be created or destroyed). The birds are "collateral damage" for Paul accumulating more use of his powers.
reply
share