Raptor-like Bird Sightings – Thunderbird – Pteratorn – Monster or Myth
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Astonishing sightings of a massive flying creature have been reported as recently as six months ago in San Antonio. Is it a monster or myth, fact or fiction?
Photo Borderlinedemonic
Guadalupe Cantu III was working his newspaper route, when one flew straight over his car — an experience that still frightens him.
“We were afraid that it would come at us. So we stayed in the car till it passed this way.” witness Guadalupe Cantu III said. “This thing’s all feathers, all black. Much bigger than me. It looked at us. It had very stooped-up shoulders.” The beast has been spotted from the Rio Grande Valley to the mountains of New Mexico, reports My SA.
“(It) looked like what was possibly two people standing on top of a mountain up there.” said David Zander, who saw the monster in New Mexico. “Something that big … I guess it kinda makes you feel like it could come over and carry you off if it wanted to.”
San Antonio based Ken Gerhard wrote a book on these dark birds as large as planes, with wingspans from 15 to 20 feet.
Native Americans called them ‘thunderbirds’. Their flapping wings were said to cause explosive sounds.
“What’s interesting is that the reports of these giant, raptor-like birds do continue into modern times.” said cryptozoologist Gerhard, adding there’s solid evidence something is overhead.
“I believe there’s a good chance that a lot of large, prehistoric animals, if you will, remain undiscovered by modern science.” he said.
Some witness sketches resemble prehistoric creatures, like the prehistoric pteronadon. But Gerhard theorizes it could be a creature slightly less extinct — a pteratorn.
“These are the surviving ancestors of modern condors and vultures. They lived up until 6,000 years ago, we know for sure, in parts of North 
America.” Gerhard said. “In fact, over 100 specimens have been recovered from the La Brea tar pits in California.”
But critics chock it up to human error. “Was it really as big as he thought it was?” asks Ben Radford, editor of “Skeptical Inquirer” magazine. “When there’s enough information to come to a determination, I’ve always found an explanation for it.” Photo top Curious Expeditions, bottom NYC Comets
“Eyewitness testimony is very unreliable. And so it’s hard for a person to tell — even experts to tell — ‘Is that thing I’m seeing out there, is it small and nearby? Or is it huge and farther away?’ ” Radford said.
Three people gave similar accounts in another sighting, witnessing the same fly-by of a massive winged creature. In February 1976, three teachers traveling a deserted road had their cars “buzzed” by the monsters which made the papers. South Texas has chronicled the flying creatures for decades.
“The creature was large, at least 6 feet. I don’t know if I ever want to see another one. If I were outside there walking, it would’ve gone after me.” Cantu said.
Cantu believes most sightings go unreported because people fear the ridicule.
“I think if you do see it, then you might wind up missing.” Cantu said.
Further Sightings
D.L. Tanner writes on cryptofiction — a phrase coined in the last several years to describe stories written about cryptids, essentially animals out of place or time.
Author of Shadow of the Thunderbirds, Tanner writes on his research based on mysterious giant birds with massive wing spans. Sightings of ‘thunderbirds’ have been reported to this day.
A Pennsylvanian man contacted Tanner in September 23 2002, relaying an alarming account of an enormous bird sighting he experienced en route to work. The giant bird — about the size of a 6 foot man — strode across the road in front of him and other motorists.
He judged the bird to be 11 feet from tip of its beak to its tail, covered in slicked-down, dark oily feathers. As the bird took off in flight, he calculated its wing span to be as long as his Dodge Durango.
Thunderbird Legend
Thunderbirds, believed to have been extinct, have been reportedly sighted in both South and North America.
Their eggs are said to be the size of a bowling ball.
Thousands of cave openings — some deep tunnels — are said to be found on mountain sides throughout the world. Thunderbirds nest inside cave openings which may explain how they’ve been masters at concealment. Photo Ahisgett
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Now I thought Thunderbirds was a tv series, boy did I get that wrong
) Now I learn that it’s my ex, her mother and grandmother scaring the living daylights out of people as the wing on by……maybe the pentagon can shoot them down? What do you think hahaha
Oy, that’s a loaded one Colin. Had you been teaching them your magic skills to command wild beasts unto their charms?
Nooooooooo not me…..they are the wild beasts hahaha.
It is an amazing story though, along with sightings of Yeti, Bigfoot and so on….who knows what’s out there undiscovered as of yet?
I wasn’t calling you a wild beast Colin, I meant the birds, haha.
Sometimes things can seem too much to believe, but there are so many recent discoveries of new life that have been proven from trustworthy sources, one can’t simply discount them just because they sound unreal.
When you hear of similar sightings from sources that have never been in contact with one another, it’s time to take notice to investigate its accuracies or possibilities.
One of the more interesting posts I’ve seen lately, I love this kind of stuff! I famed you back, btw….
Thanks so much Jeremy, I really appreciate your kind words
And thanks for your vote! I’ll thank you publicly when I get back to the site.
I think it’s highly likely these birds exist! I’m going to add your blog to my Squidoo lens on alternate worlds for you have lots of great info here!
I agree with you Kuanyin, I believe there’s more to this than mere talk.
Thanks for adding me to your Squido lens. I’ve heard of it, but don’t really know anything about it. Sad eh?
That was a cool thingy mabober.
I thought that the legend of the thunderbird was in the sioux culture…
The summer of 2008 my wife and daughter saw large prehistoric looking birds 7 miles from our home in southeast Oregon. One was on the road eating a dead carcas. As they came upon it they noticed the large, human looking feet. The body was larger than a human and the wingspan wider than the Ford fullsize truck they were driving. They had to stop to avoid hitting it. It took off into the air slowly and soon the other one took off too. It’s face was humanlike although it had a beak that protruded and dropped over it’s ‘Chin’.It’s feathers were very thick and layered in dark colors.
They didn’t seem hostile. We are very familiar with what a Condor and Vulture look like. This was NOT either bird.
Please leave comments if anyone has an explanation. I looked on the internet when they first sighted these birds but found no answers.
Saw one on MONSTER QUEST about people who have seen giant birds Do you suppose this is where the THUNDERBIRD could have come from?
If i were that giant bird i certianly wouldnt want some goverment bioligists messing with me i would stay as far away from them as i could
yall dont belive this do you cuz i dont :p so ha
I’ve seen them. Four souring, one up close attacking me in my pick up. Unlike any discriptions on line. If you want to know more contact me. John