- As as result of my recent report on a possible
Thunderbird
sighting in Southwest Pennsylvania, I was contacted by Craig Heinselman,
a fellow researcher who has done some excellent work concerning
cryptozoological
matters. Craig advised me that he has received information on three other
possible Thunderbird sightings from the Keystone state of recent
date.
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- Craig has given me permission to share this information,
which is from a write up for a publication which he co-edits called The
North American BioFortean Review, http://www.herper.com/NABR.html.
Craig has also written a detailed article on the Thunderbird mystery which
can be accessed at: http://www.cryptozoology.com.
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- June 13, 2001- "A resident of the town of
Greenville,
PA reported seeing a large bird the size of a small airplane from his
living
room. Greensville is a small town that lies near the border of Ohio and
about half-way between Erie and Pittsburgh. The witness, Ray (Please note,
the witnesses actual name is not used as he has asked for anonymity) upon
futher inquiry during a phone interview on June 15, 2001, was able to flesh
out the report as. Ray described the bird as fully feathered a dark brown
or black color. The back of the wings was a grayish-black. The body was
not bulky and the overall appearance was not like any bird he had ever
seen. As the house lies near Little Shedango Stream and the house
overlooks
a small pond and woodlands, Ray was extremely familiar with the birds and
other wildlife in the area including bald eagles, vultures and
storks.
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- Ray stated that the bird flew in from the South at a
distance of 200-300 yards from the window and landed on a large tree
beside
the small pond. As it flew in he saw a shadow first and thought it was
an ultra light aircraft that are used in the area by some neighbors. The
bird landed and remained on the tree for 15-20 minutes, and then took off
again to the South. Ray estimated that the wingspan was equivalent to
some of the ultra lights he has seen in the area, around 15 feet of
wingspan
and upwards of 5 feet of body size.
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- Ray during the interview made a passing mention as well
of a neighbor that although not familiar with the wildlife of the area
reported to his wife about a large bird she had seen on June 14, 2001.
The bird was described as "the biggest bird I ever saw" and
bigger than a stork. Again the bird was a blackish color."
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- The third report comes from July 6, 2001 out of Erie
County. This July report came to Craig's attention from a letter printed
in the UK based magazine Fortean Times. Craig states in his article
"Although
corroboration from the witness has yet to be made and more details of the
report discovered, the basic description is similar to the Greenville
sightings
and suggests the same type of bird was seen. Robin Swope, the witness,
reported a large bird flying out from near a mausoleum as she cut the
grass.
It flew by some high tension wires and was estimated to be 15-17 feet
in wingspan." The color was described as: "...It was dark grey
with little or no neck, and a circle of black under it's head, Its beak
was very thin and long, about a foot in length..."
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- Craig Heinselman, cites the following sources in his
article from which this information was taken.
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- Hall, Mark, Natural Mysteries, 2nd Revised Edition, MAHP,
Minneapolis, 1991
- Hall, Mark, Thunderbirds-the Living Legends!, 2nd
Edition,
MAHP, Minneapolis,
- 1994
- Ray (anonymous name) interview June 15, 2001 and e-mail
correspondence
- June/July
- 2001
- Swope, Robin, Letter entitled Thunderbird Sighting?,
Fortean Times No. 148,
- August, 2001
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http://www.rense.com
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