Quote:
|
Originally Posted by The Chap
Not to mention the Thunderbird myths of American Indians. There is a 'photo I recall seeing printed in Fortean Times of some pioneers holding the trophy carcass of a huge raptor. Possibly a hoax. Circa 1870. Eek indeed!
|
There have been reports up to the 1950's of some very large birds still existing in the western part of North America. One is suspected of causing a jet liner to crash when hitting the rudder and throwing the plane out of control. But there has been no official confirmation of that.
I know personally of one sighting that was a case of a camper with no knowledge of California fauna (he was from Minnesota) when he and his group were startled one evening by a huge bird hopping past their campsite. I grilled him for description details and the location of his camp and came to the conclusion that they sighted an extremely rare California Condor that was probably looking for a midnight snack of chipmunk or gopher.
Back in the late 19th century, the Tombstone Epitaph (of Tombstone, Arizona) supposedly printed a picture of a giant bird nailed to the side of a barn with several men with outstretched arms standing in front of it. Probably the same photo you mention.
Again, no official confirmation of that picture. But for every legend, there is something real that started it.