Thunderbird Spotted Again by Remote Control Plane Operator

Judging size at a distance can be a little tricky – a bird, for example, can look huge without some point of reference and end up being a mere eagle or smaller. That’s why when folks claim to see the legendary Thunderbird roaming the skies we’re a bit skeptical.

A recent report, though, addresses the credibility issue of size by providing an excellent reference point, a remote control plane, flying at the time of the sighting.

Clifford McLure was flying his remote control airplane 400 feet off the ground on March 10th at around two p.m., near his home of Adairsville, Georgia. Suddenly, Clifford saw a large bird fly from the tree top, heading north, at the same altitude as the plane. Scared by the model aircraft, the bird screamed and abruptly turned west. Clifford got a good look at the bird.

The wingspan of Clifford’s plane was 14 inches. In comparison, the bird’s wingspan was easily 6-7 times wider, taking a full second to complete a stroke. Clifford said the bird had a long, straight neck and black feathers, with an 11-inch beak.

Thunderbird sightings are on the increase. Recently, sightings of large, unidentified birds were reported in Michigan and Nevada last year. For those familiar with the cryptid, Thunderbirds are creatures from Native American folklore often described as a reptilian bird leading some folks to argue the creatures are pterosaurs.