Top Ten Animal Mysteries: The Thunderbird
By Nicola Currie
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| A 1950's poster from the now-defunct Cleveland Press (Click to enlarge) |
It is said to be up to eight feet tall with a wing span between fifteen and twenty feet, with the ability to lift considerable weight with its grasping feet.
There have also been thunderbird sightings in recent times. In the 1960s and 1970s, sightings of a large bird the size of a small plane were reported from Washington, Utah, and Idaho.
Among the most controversial reports is a July 25, 1977 account from Lawndale, Illinois. Two large birds approached and chased three boys. Two escaped unharmed, but the third boy, ten-year-old Marlon Lowe, did not. One of the birds reportedly grabbed hold of his shoulder with its claws and lifted him about two feet off the ground, carrying him some distance. Lowe fought against the bird, which released him.
Last sighting: 2002, Pennsylvania (read all about it)
Most likely: A combination of big birds and stupid people
More thunderbird information:
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Main image: Bald Eagle by Martin Walls
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