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Authorities in New York were investigating the source of a mysterious gas-like odor today that wafted over a large part of Manhattan, from Rockefeller Center through Greenwich Village.

In Austin, Texas, meanwhile, police shut down 10 blocks of businesses in the heart of downtown early today after dozens of birds were found dead.

Officials said preliminary tests showed no dangerous chemicals in the air.

The New York City Fire Department began getting calls about the odor around 9 a.m., said spokesman Tim Hinchey. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey temporarily suspended some of its PATH commuter train service between New Jersey and Manhattan as a precaution.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there was no indication that the air was unsafe to breathe, and he said sensors did not show an unusually high concentration of natural gas.

There was a small gas leak in Greenwich Village, but it wouldn't have been enough to account for the pervasive odor, the mayor said.

In Austin, as many as 60 dead pigeons, sparrows and grackles were found overnight along a main route through downtown. No human injuries or illnesses were reported.

"We do not feel there is a threat to the public health," said Adolfo Valadez, the medical director for Austin and Travis County Health and Human Services. He said preliminary air-quality tests showed no dangerous chemicals.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said there was no indication of terrorism and no credible intelligence to suggest any imminent threat to either city.