Animation Source Forums

While I believe in most crypitds I'm kinda on the edge of belief when it comes to Thunderbirds. I can't say I'd be surprised if they were real but I also wouldn't be too shocked if they weren't.

Here's an article on Thunderbirds that gives a pretty good description of them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbird_(cryptozoology)

Yeah, and even their association with thunderstorms makes sense. Birds of prey often ride on thermals, or updrafts. Obviously a biggerbird would want a bigger thermal, and what could produce a bigger thermal than a bolt of lightning, which is hotter than the surface of the sun? That, plus the presence of strong winds to produce lift, would be ideal soaring conditions.


I've read that article, and I've also seen some fairly convincing footage on Animal X, so I'm willing to assert that there are giant birds out there somewhere, somehow. One advantage I've found to believeing in cryptids is that it's a lot harder to prove that something is real than that it isn't, so you're less likely to end up looking dumb in the end.

Quite true.

I also agree, if zoologists actually put a lot of money into finding Cryptids instead of writing them off with the 'logical' explanation, there'd be more proven Cryptids and the scientists would look less stupid for denying their existence in the end. Think how dumb the people that said Gorillas didn't exist felt when proven wrong.

Your theory with Thunderstorms makes sense, also it fits the legend the migrate with thunderstorms, since there are wind currents that occure at certain times of the year that cause large number's of thunderstorms. Many scientists think Thunderbirds are rare and migrate, making them more eleusive than most think they should be. Its possible that they have some adaption to tell them where thunderstorms are likely to occure. I think of all the Cryptids, the proof for the Thunderbird is one of the most compelling as it all seems perfectly logical when you get right down to it.

The adaptation theory makes sense; most animals have at least some ability to tell what the weather will be. So much so that for thousands of years, people all over the world have used animal behavior to determin everything from storms to earthquakes. Some examples:
* If you see a lot of bats out at night (this will depend on your area), there's likely to be clear weather tomorrow. But bats don't like the high winds that precede a storm, so fewer will come out if there's a storm on the way.
* Cattle lying down in the fields is often a sign to farmers that rain is coming.
* Most animals will go absolutely nuts if an earthquake is on the way.

Correct, so an animal that has learned as species to use a certain type of weather adapting to detect that type of weather, is very plausable. And because of their dark feathers, all depictions of thunder birds I've seen have them with dark coloring, they'd be difficult to see in the dark clouds of a thunderstorm, thus allowing them to remain unseen by humans but more likely, by their prey. Since I brought that up, what would theses things likely eat? My guess, other birds or they're scavangers, which is probably as a thunderstorm would certainly drive off most other scavangers.

I don't think they learn it, I think it's just instinct. For example, dogs sometimes whine before storms, and experts think it's because storm winds produce an ultrasonic noise that hurts the dogs' ears.

Good point, though in somecase, animals react the way they do because a long time ago one member of the species learned something that works, they pass it on and eventually it becomes instinct. Anyway, lets discuss another part of theses creatures, what do they eat? That's an importent fact because stuff like that is commonly used to critize Cryptids.

Well, whatever they did eat would have to be pretty big and there would have to be lots of prey for it. It all depends on the area but I'd say deer,wolves,pets(unfortunately),bears?, and just about anything that they could get their hands on.

Not neccessarily instinct, but a common behavior, yes. For example, humans are not born with the instinct to read and write; they have to learn that from the previous generation. Instincts are inherent knowledge on is born with, such as "When you are thirsty, drink water. When you are hungry, eat. When you are no longer hungry, stop eating."
What you're describing, I think is more along the lines of the macaques in a certain very cold part of Asai, which jump into hot spirngs to warm up. The theory is that one macaque long ago fell in, discovered how much fun it was, and showed the others (or else it was a little rascal who wouldn't come out when mommy said to). Either way, the others found out, and it was ultimately passed down from generation to generation ona basis of, if you'll pardon the pun, "monkey see, monkey do."
As for diet, that's a good question. Into the Unknown (either that or Animal X) once told a story of a kid who was almost carried off by a giant bird until his mom grabbed his legs as it flew past the porch. The bird couldn't lift both of them, and obviously the lady was not about to let go.

I've heard that too. Its safe to assume that Thunderbirds are capable of carrying rather large loads, like a human 12 year old in one occurence simular to that, so that could tell us what they're food source probably is at least smaller than that. I'm assuming a deer would be close to that size. An obvious question is how do they reproduce without being discovered? Well Condors nest on high cliffs, Teratorns are realted to them and the assumed migrations of them would bring them around high mountains during part of the year, so its likely that is were they lay their eggs and raise their young.

And about the learning thing, that's kinda what I was thinking about.

I have more than a hunch we're talking about the same incident. And yes, nesting grounds would be an obvious question. I think it would have to be mountains somewhere, although the obvious questions which arise are where they are and how they stay hidden.
And yes, I thought that's what you meant. But when you present it as a "learned instinct," you step into a notion which has been largely discredited.

May assumtion is they nest in a mountain area where certain wind currents would be avaliable, so they could easily take off, certain rock formations would make theses as well as make the area high inaccessable to humans, poor climbing area and the powerful wind currents.

Good thinking. Now, which area might suit such a purpose?

The Rockies and Appalations are both areas with mountains like this, most very high and are areas where sitings have occured sense precolonal times.