In order for this Teratorn to sustain it's numbers, there would have to be several hundreds of them. A map from the nonprofit scientific organization shows the bulk of the reports came from Central Texas. My father didnt go that time, because he was sick with the flu. It's the stuff of story but mixed with a bit of fact. [8], The finger bones of the Teratornis were fused as in all modern birds; however, part of the index finger forms a shelf which aided in bearing the load of long and stout primaries, enabling the bird to utilize strong upcurrents in flight. It appears likely, therefore, that the average and maximum age reached by these creatures was fairly large possibly some 50-100 years; compare with ostrich at perhaps 60-70, and parrots at perhaps 80-120 at most if they were to mature and reproduce and replace members that had died young for whatever reason. Anyone with questions or comments feel free to email me at hedorah_85@yahoo.com. Teratorns are members of Teratornithidae, a highly diversified guild of large carnivorous flying birds that lived between 25 million and 12,000 years ago. [10][11] For the T.merriami, small prey such as frogs, lizards, young birds, and rodents were swallowed whole, while carrion would have been fed on in a manner similar to that of condors or vultures. About this time, several school teachers witnessed the strange bird, with a wingspan of at least 12 feet across. It flew directly over us, about twenty yards above us, and as I turned my inner tube along its path, it perched on a tree about fifty yards past us. Interestingly enough, the Rio Grande region on the south of the border has long had legends and sightings of a creature that seems very similar to what has been seen in Texas. Not all scientists are convinced that all species of pterosaurs must have become extinct long ago. Whether this span could have reached 7m (23ft 0in) appears uncertain per modern authorities. The true warrior enters the arena with all his powers at the ready. Residents At Myrtle Beach Report Encountering A Massive Bird Carrying A Shark 245,617 views Jul 2, 2020 Residents at Myrtle Beach report encountering a massive bird carrying a shark. Their fossil record is limited exclusively to North and South America. It is probable that it used thermal currents as well. The AMS received video . Is it a monster or myth? While this bird, sighted in the Rio Grande Valley in the 1970s, left no evidence behind other than sightings and one attack over a brief time period, there are theories. The climate of the Andean foothills in Argentina during the late Miocene was warmer and drier than today, which would have further aided the bird in staying aloft atop thermal updrafts. The largest land predators in Miocene South America were the giant, ground-dwelling "terror birds", the phorusrhacids. Whatever it looks like, if you ever find livestock with odd punctures and drained of blood, you can add the chupacabra to your list of suspects. Descriptions of the monster vary and range from some sort of wild dog-like animal to a hunched, walking reptile. Their fossil record is limited exclusively to North and South America. "It's just part of the environment," Isaac Veras said. ", Argentavis, the largest flying bird, was a master glider, "Physical limits of flight performance in the heaviest soaring bird", "Palaeoenvironmental and faunal inferences based on the avian fossil record of Patagonia and Pampa: what works and what does not", BBC News: Ancient American bird was glider, Secret of flight for world's largest bird revealed, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argentavis&oldid=1132779797, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from July 2020, Taxonbars with multiple manual Wikidata items, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Height: 1.5 to 1.8m (4ft 11in to 5ft 11in), This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 15:01. It is probable that it used thermal currents as well. Canceled | Southwest apologized for ruining Christmas. "That's their home.". but it made no sound. Additionally, it might have been the color of ashes. No, I think if teratorns still existed in the southwest in numbers sufficient enough to sustain them, they'd have been spotted by now or at the very least their amazingly huge nests would have been found.. it's not like the south west is covered in thick dense forest. I knew how to estimate distance and very good with the rifle. Updating the True Ghost Stories Page recently, I once again came across several reports of huge birds that I received around 2006. The first teratorn fossils were discovered in 1909 in famous La Brea Tar Pits in . This thing was huge, Im talking about 6 ft. tall. Since A. magnificens is known to have been a land bird, another good point of comparison is the Andean Condor, which is not too distantly related to Argentavis. "We were afraid that it would come at us. Other huge birds include storks, pelicans, the Andean condor, with a wingspan up to 10 feet, and the endangered California condor, which tops out at 9.5 feet across. Turns out that the mysterious blazing sky phenomenonwas a fireball. [15] Especially for takeoff, it would have depended on the wind. Your email address will not be published. About 20-30 miles from San Antonio in northern Atascosa County. But some remembered the Big Bird sightings and they continued to wonder about the creature. All Rights Reserved. [3] However, skeletal evidence suggests that its breast muscles were not powerful enough for wing flapping for extended periods. We were tubing [inner-tube] in the river, some time in the morning or early afternoon. The teratorns were a family of giant birds (now extinct) that lived in many parts of the world, but especially in the Americas. If you shop through our affiliate links, at no cost to you, we will receive a small commission and we will be very thankful to you for that! . I really don't think so. This dash camera video from John Callahan taken in front of Lake Belton High School shows just how fast and bright the fireball appeared against the dark Texas night sky. Alverico Guajardo spotted the creature and described it as looking like a bat. Mistaken identity does likely account for some of the sightings, but what of the giant birds seen taking off from trees? A good example might be the Spix Macaw. I just received another email regarding a pterosaur sighting in Virginia. One would delta-back the wings and dive for about five thousand feet before pulling-up and joining the group. A large number of fossil and subfossil bones, representing more than 100 individuals, have been found in locations in California, Oregon, southern Nevada, Arizona, and Florida, though most are from the Californian La Brea Tar Pits. Physical characteristics Currently accepted estimates: Wingspan: 5.8-8 m (19 - 26 ft) Wing area: nearly 7 m (75 square ft) Wing loading: c. 11.5 kg/m Length: 3.5 m (11.5 ft) Height: 1.7-2 m (5.6-6.5 ft) Weight: 60-80 kg (140-180 lb) For comparison, the living bird with the largest wingspan is the Wandering Albatross (3.63 m). Enormous birds have a place in many American Indian legends. Now extinct, this fascinating bird is reportedly the largest bird ever discovered. Herzog responded: "Seriously? While it is still considered the heaviest flying bird of all time, Argentavis was likely surpassed in wingspan by Pelagornis sandersi which is estimated to have possessed wings some 20% longer than Argentavis and which was described in 2014.[1][2]. In 1988, the springs dried up and the isopods died. Pterosaur: This is the primary theory. [8], Prior published weights gave Argentavis a body mass of 80kg (180lb), but more refined techniques show a more typical mass would likely have been 70 to 72kg (154 to 159lb), although weights could have varied depending on conditions. Another wrote that the fireball reportedly crashed in a field in Groesbeck. Anyway, we saw it several times. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. I remember towards the end of December I had decided to go hunting. . As the sightings continued, a radio station offered a reward for the creatures capture. As a rule of thumb, a wing loading of 25kg/m2 is considered the limit for avian flight. I went to my knees so that it would not see me. . In the mountains near Socorro, New Mexico is a natural warm spring that houses some of the rarest animals in the world. A trapper caught up to him about 60 yards north of Buffalo Bayou, according to Norvell. All reports of Giant Bird sightings came from the Rio Grande Valley in 1976. On Jan 10, 2011, themikeman from Concord, NC (Zone 7a) wrote: 2011 Introduction from James Gossard of Heavenly Gardens.Giant Teratorn (Rouge and Curls x Primeval Force). Anyways, my father and I fish and hunt all the time. had a long neck and wide wings just like in the movies or in books. I've made several posts about Thunderbirds on this forum and live in San Antonio and have never heard of any recent sightings. From Houston to Fort Worth, Texans across the state reported spotting a massive and bright light streaking across the night sky Tuesday. Investigating Reports of Living Pterosaurs, by Jonathan Whitcomb. Unlike extant condors and vultures, teratorns generally had long, eagle-like beaks and are believed to have been active predators. Required fields are marked *. Teratorn sightings in New Mexico and beyond Editor Mountain Voice 262 subscribers Subscribe 4K views 5 years ago Teratorn sightings in New Mexico and beyond. They were much higher than the Cessna-type small planes that fly around here. Condors fly by means of soaring on rising up-currents, generally weak currents that are subject to sudden changes in direction or strength. regression analyses or comparisons with the California condor. I have noticed that some sightings of apparent pterosaurs are on or near water. She said its wingspan appeared to be about as long as the creek was . New Mexico, youre creepy. It's the long extinct Teratorn we've been talking about they think. He was first spotted around 7:40 a.m. It was about forty feet high, behind my house and flying very slowly, with nothing remarkable about it except that it was about one in the morning CST and it was alone. From the size and structure of its wings it is inferred that A. magnificens flew mainly by soaring, using flapping flight only during short periods. Argentavis wingspan estimates varied widely depending on the method used for scaling, i.e. Although a creature such as the thunderbird may exist, its numbers are low and probably located in more unreachable areas. As of now, it's the largest species of flying bird ever discovered. I went to the front and I did not see it. Well, the temperature started dropping rapidly, clouds started to cover the sky, and a gentle (but cold) breeze settled in. See the Site Index for a complete list of articles available on this website. The first time was like in 2001. If the thunderbird were the giant extinct teratorn Argentavis, this is how it would compare in size with a human [with illustration], Legal terms and conditions for using this site, Why a pterodactyl sighting should be reported. In addition, Peter Beach, a biology professor, has searched for bioluminescent pterosaurs that may be flying regularly over a river in Washington state. "He's a little embarrassed with all the attention out here!" It's easy! the thunderbird closely resembles a family of bird called the Teratorn that existed between the Miocene and Pleistocene periods. I think it would be safe to assume that the Teratorn would have similar slow and unpredictable breeding habits. I was only 17 at the time. He's huge! http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forumc=73746&hl=, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. All put together, we have over half a century of experience in the birding space. The AMS received video footage from Ring doorbells and dash cameras that show the extremely bright fireball traveling rapidly toward earth. New Mexico is a beautiful state with lots to do and see, but a lot of it is wilderness and with wilderness typically comes some creepy crawlies. We couldnt see its face, though. It may never be known what this strange flying creature was because it seemed to have completely disappeared. Sign up for a new account in our community. If that is a picture of the same speciman i'm thinking of. It was around 5:40 p.m. when something behind the feeder caught my eye, about 150 yards away. it was a dinosaur. A television station broadcast a picture of an alleged bird track that measured about twelve inches long. To keep the little hamsters fed (who, in turn, run tirelessly to keep the lights on), we partner with trusted brands as their affiliates. Another form, "Teratornis" olsoni, was described from the Pleistocene of Cuba, but its affinities are not completely resolved; it might not be a teratorn, but has also been placed in its own genus, Oscaravis. Their story made . Published May 30, 2009. Mothman: Americas Most Famous Winged Monster. The ability to fly is not a simple question of weight ratios, except in extreme cases; size and structure of the wing must also be taken into account. commented Jessica Coleman. Assuming that a large bird couldn't carry a big goat or COW? Thank you! Its wing loading was not much larger than a Californian condor's, and Merriam's teratorn should have been able to take off by simply jumping and beating its wings under most circumstances. The family dog stayed inside of its doghouse, leaving only to go into the house for dinner, then had to be forced back outside. However, a solid amount of reports came out of the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. [6] For comparison, the living bird with the largest wingspan is the wandering albatross, averaging 3m (9ft 10in) and spanning up to 3.7m (12ft 2in). [6][7] Argentavis had an estimated height when standing on the ground that was roughly equivalent to that of a person, at 1.5 to 1.8m (4ft 11in to 5ft 11in), furthermore its total length (from bill tip to tail tip) was approximately 3.5m (11ft 6in). If there is a major disaster around the area where it was seen, that would confirm it. Beautyofbirds.com is a labor of love. Teratorn, an even larger bird would be hard pressed to sustain itself in modern times. Vinegaroons (also called whip scorpions) got their common name because of the vinegar-smelling acid they emit when attacked. Driving a car may be the most common human activity during a sighting, but water activities, including fishing and boating, keep coming up in the reports. [9] Thus, Teratornis may have primarily inhabited cliff terrain, where it could take off and soar through the air easily. It was the subject of jokes and concern. I saw this damn thing July 27th, 2007 @ night in York, PA while on the phone with a friend! The furor faded when sightings ceased. A closely related genus, Aiolornis, was about 40% larger and lived at an earlier time; it was formerly known as Teratornis incredibilis, but is distinct enough to be placed in its own genus. ", Stargazing | A bright green comet not seen since the Ice Age visible in HoustonSpacecraft | NASA satellite crashes on Earth after orbiting our planet for 38 yearsClimate | NASA says 2022 was among the hottest years everand it's getting worseRoundup | The 10 most important things that happened in space in 2022. It soon took to the sky, spreading its 20-foot wingspan. No legend here. According to description of 1945, Teratornis merriami had a wingspan of around 3.5 to 3.8m (11 to 12ft) and a wing area of 17.5 square meters, standing an estimated 75cm (30in) tall. However, skeletal evidence suggests that its breast muscles were not powerful enough for wing flapping for extended periods. Its wing span was huge and it stood about four feet tall. It was cloudy and the sky was all orange so all I saw was the shape, but it was the same size because the wing span was about my height. . To get their powers, though, the shapeshifters must murder someone close to them. It intrigued me enough to go searching for more information. This is seemingly true as well of Argentavis but other teratorns were likely far less ponderous considering the substantial size differences. The most obvious feature was the diamond or spade tipped tail, I have not found any creature that compares. Maybe I should look up more often. To: obiwan@ghosts.orgSubject: WWW Form SubmissionDate: Sunday, May 07, 2006 11:10 PMName: LupeEmail: LITTLElulu17@aol.comLocation: Amarillo Texas. Well, theyre mythical for a reason, right? Related to New World vultures like our own black and turkey. It was gliding, with an occasional slow, smooth flap. Skeletal remains show that this relative of the vulture had a wingspan of more than 20 feet and weighed over 120 pounds - large enough to snatch a small child. Thunderbird: Open to speculation because these birds, most often sighted from Pennsylvania to the northern Midwest, have been said to resemble teratorns and pterodactyls. For news updates, follow Chaz Miller on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fort Bend County Pct. For the latest and best fromChron,sign up for our daily newsletter here. Its believed they became extinct sixty-five million years ago. I would not have believed it unless I saw it. Its breeding habits are so slow and unpredictable, and it pretty much can't sustain or repopulate it's own numbers even with nearly 200 of them left in the wild. It had no feathers . You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Argentavis may have used mountain slopes and headwinds to take off, and probably could manage to do so from even gently sloping terrain with little effort. Unexplained-Mysteries.com From: Jusluckytoo@cs.comTo: obiwan@ghosts.orgSubject: HUGE Birds Flocking of appx. This is when the Teratorn flew the skies of North America. St. James Hotel, 617 S Collison Ave, Cimarron, NM 87714, USA. The condor is nearly extinct. These magnificent animals were doing that in a playful way. From the size and structure of its wings, it is inferred that A. magnificens flew mainly by soaring, using flapping flight only during short periods. The majority of reported sightings came from the Central Texas area. . Quadrantid meteor shower: How and when to see it. Your email address will not be published. . Argentavis territories measured probably more than 500 square km, which the birds screened for food, possibly utilizing a generally north-south direction to avoid being slowed by adverse winds. The American Meteor Society (AMS) said it received 146 reports about a fireball seen over Texas and Oklahoma around 6:45 p.m. CT Tuesday. 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