The Thunderbird
FRIENDS OF FOLKLORE
CH. 1 Thunderbird
As legend has it, a bird of gigantic size, capable of causing the sound of thunder with each flap was seen flying over America in 1890. Newspapers documented it. People submitted reports. A mayor even did something about it to protect his town. A North American legend, ranging from New England to the Pacific Northwest. In drawings throughout North America, a simple X was all that was needed to symbolize this monster. Of course we are talking about the Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird is a gigantic eagle in North American mythology that creates thunder and lightning with a flap of its massive wings. In some legends it controls the upper world. The underworld is controlled by the great horned serpent. This bird is vicious, delighting in fighting and deeds of greatness. Some see them as protectors well some see them as dangerous enemies.
In the contemporary world, historians believe that the Thunderbird legend was based on pterosaur fossils. It is also interesting to note that in some legends they are a migratory species, travelling with other birds in the Winter and Spring. Other fossils such as those of the Teratorn, a prehistoric gigantic bird have also been discovered and connected to the legend. These birds had wingspans up to 16 feet in length and were likely around when early man first began his journey.
April 26, 1890. A story was circulating about two ranchers having killed a winged monster that was said to resemble a huge alligator 92 feet in length. The newspaper, the Tombstone Epitaph, did indeed print this story, however saying it was captured not killed. Outside of the story however, little to no historic corroboration on the event has ever occurred. During the 1800’s however, tall rales did makes the pages of newspapers, adding further doubt to the story.
April 10, 1948. Three individuals in Illinois spotted what they thought to be a plane. This plane soon became something more, something very different, especially since it’s wings appear to be flapping. A few weeks later in Illinois, a man and his son saw an enormous bird like creature, commenting on its unusual body shape to reporters and authorities. It’s shadow was around the same size as a small passenger plane when the bird was just 500 feet in the air. Around the same time in St. Louis Missouri, citizens wrote concerning letters to the mayor demanding the city do something about these birds. The mayor, being a logical man, commanded that traps be set to catch one of these creatures. Nothing but blue heron tracks were discovered.
In the 21st-century, reports ranging from Alaska to Texas came in about gigantic birds being seen in the sky. Since the Jurassic Park movies were in the frontlines of popular culture at the time, the sightings were described as being something out of the movie. Paranormal reality shows like SciFi Channel’s Destination Truth, travel to these sites in search of the creature. No evidence was ever found.
In our home state, author Benjamin Radford wrote a book called Mysterious New Mexico connecting many sightings of the Thunderbird to large birds such as condors.
In Native American mythology the Thunderbird is so large that one feather from their wing would have had to be folded in half to fit in an arrow quiver. These birds could easily carry a whale in their talons. The anger of a Thunderbird is fearsome to behold and should be avoided at all costs. It was known as an enforcer of justice and morality, punishing those Who have done wrong and has been said to turn entire villages to stone for their wrongdoings.
In some legends, the Thunderbird seems to be one of the key deities of many tribes, being a creature of extreme intelligence and intrigue and for the roles they play.
The Thunderbird is also known to give life by nurturing the earth and giving it the necessary rains to survive. Their distructive power comes in the forms of wins, floods, droughts, and fire. All across the world, legends of the Thunderbird exist. Depending on who you talk to, the Thunderbird can be a single entity or become an entire race, even marrying into human families by shape shifting into a humanoid form, removing their feathers as though removing a robe or blanket.
In Menominee legends, The Thunderbird is the messenger of the Great Sun and is the enemy of the great horned snake.
In Ojibwe legends the Thunderbird was created by one of the cultures hero figures, Nanabozho in order to be a defense against underwater spirits.
The Winnebago people believe that the Thunderbird can grant people superhuman abilities and that any man who has a vision of the Thunderbird during a fast will one day become a war chief.
In the Sioux tribe, this creature was the defense against reptillian monsters.
The Arapho legends tell of the Thunderbird being the creature of summer, balancing and opposing the white owl, the creature of winter.
The Algonquin people believe the Thunderbird had a great part in the creation of the universe. Through all of these legends and stories, the Thunderbird is a great force in the universe, a balancing force, a near god like being.
The Shawnee legends claim the Thunderbird can indeed shape shift, appearing as boys but could be identified by their tendency to speak backwards.
Legends of their origin vary from warriors wanting to find the origin of thunder, to great fights with whale gods, to being the master of life and death, but one thing is consistent, this beautiful, gigantic creature may be hiding in the skies, keeping us from harm and punishing those who want ill on others.
I hope you have enjoyed this short article, and the first of Friends of Folklore. I wanted to test the waters, so the saying goes, so this one may be shorter than the others. if you have any suggestions for future tidbits or perhaps you have a sighting to share, please email me at friendsoffolklore@gmail.com
