Joe Conger, KENS 5 Eyewitness News | Must be sweeps week. |
Strange sightings of a huge flying creature have been reported as recently as six months ago. Is it a monster or myth?
| "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary ..." |
"(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's Ken Gerhard has written a book on these dark birds as big as planes, with wingspans from 15 to 20 feet.
Native Americans called them thunderbirds: depicted in their art, their flapping wings were said to cause explosive noises.
"What's interesting is that the reports of these giant, raptor-like birds do continue into modern times," said Gerhard, a cryptozoologist. Cryptozoology is the study of and search for legendary animals to prove their existence.
He says 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.
| Laugh but it got him quoted on TV. |
| Since that's about all they know how to sketch. I'm waiting for a TV station to provide us with an 'artist rendition'. |
| "What do they look like?" "Well, they're all covered with tar." |
| Always a spoilsport out there. |
But in one sighting in San Antonio, three people gave similar accounts, witnessing the same fly-by of a huge, winged creature. A trio of South Side teachers traveling a deserted road had their cars "buzzed" by the monsters, and it made the papers in February 1976.
In fact, for decades papers throughout South Texas have chronicled the flying creatures. In the age of the Internet, the reports continue, like this one from a recent sighting near Huebner and Babcock roads. "The creature was large, at least 6 feet," the report reads. "I don't know if I ever want to see another one."
"If I were outside there walking, it would've gone after me," witness Cantu said.
Cantu believes most sightings go unreported because people are afraid of the ridicule they could face. However, he says a face-to-face encounter with the creature would be much worse. "I think if you do see it, then you might wind up missing," Cantu said.
| Quoth the Raven: nevermore. |