Giant Bird Spotted Over Pennsylvania
Wednesday March 19, 2008 8:37 AM
During the summer of 2001, something strange was repeatedly witnessed in the skies of Southern Pennsylvania that was likened to a centuries-old legend concerning a very big bird. What's so strange about a large bird, you ask? The alleged "Thunderbird," with a wingspan described anywhere between 12 to 20 feet, would be the largest predatory bird yet undiscovered if its existence can be proven. The largest identified birds are the Andean condor and the California condor, both possessing wingspans of around 10 feet, and the wandering albatross with a wingspan of 12 feet.
In 2001, a large bird was witnessed flying over cars and trucks on Route 119 in South Greensburg, PA. The witness saw the bird for about a minute and a half and even watched it land on a branch, which nearly broke underneath the weight of the creature. The site was searched after the report was received and no evidence could be found. More sightings followed in the same area during the same summer. A homeowner in Greenville was in her yard when she saw the enormous bird flying in the area for 20 minutes. Her neighbor described the creature as "the biggest bird I ever saw." A witness in Eerie County experienced similar sightings a month later.
The original Thunderbird stories originate from Native American tales out of the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions. According to these tales, the Thunderbird could shoot lightning out of its eyes (or mouth) and created a thunderous clamor when it flapped its wings. Many Native American stories use animals to explain natural phenomena or geographical features of the earth, in this case, lightning and thunder. The bird was apparently a protector of humankind. The stories evolved into more tangible descriptions, however. After white settlers reached North America, however, actual sightings of the Thunderbird were documented. Modern-day sightings have narrowed down the color, size and some habits of the bird. It's usually gray, (one witness described a black circle beneath the head) with a very narrow beak. Apparently, one of these birds grabbed a small boy in 1977 and carried him 20 feet before the boy slapped it hard enough that it let him go.
Supposedly a good picture exists of a Thunderbird, nailed to a wall with six men standing around it — but no one knows what happened to it. Several people remember seeing it, or holding it, and so forth. Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman has several photographs that might be something or might not be. Looks more like optical illusions to me. Plus, they're not even from Pennsylvania or the United States for that matter.
In the book " Unexplained" by Jerome Clark, most of the Thunderbird sightings of the past century are noted. Birds similar to the ones witnessed in Pennsylvania have been witnessed elsewhere in the world, too. There have definitely been some hoax photos as well — my favorite being the photo featuring soldiers proudly standing around a fallen pterodactyl shown with this post.
