Really Big Bird!

[tn_junk]

Was driving along Hwy 90 here in North West Florida yesterday. Several cars were parked alongside the road. I stopped, curious. Asked what was going on. One of the guys said there was a "Huge Big Ole' Black Bird" flying around the swamp about 100 yards off the road. I waited for a few minutes and this really big bird came out of the swamp, made a couple of circles and went back into it. I've seen about every bird around these parts, and have never seen anything this big. I am guessing that it had a wingspan of about 10 or 12 foot with a big body. Looked to me to be more dark gray than black. We all waited around for about 15 minutes, but it never showed it's self again.
Anybody got a clue as to what this thing might have been?

alan

[Graybeard]

Condors are the largest birds in America. Don't think their wing span is quite that large but close. But the largest of them are in California not FL. The only thing I can think of it might have been is an eagle or buzzard. You guys down there do get a LOT of illegally imported stuff that then either escapes or gets turned loose so it might be something not even native to the US.

[Brod_Man]

could be a trick. might have been a kite, or a fake bird. if it was real, i havent the slightest clue.

[pastorp]

alan, you should join the Audubon Society. Then get a couple of birding books. Graybeard is right there are a lot of things running around those Florida woods that were not there when I was a kid growing up.

A fellow over in the Swanney river area told me he saw some kind of big reddish ape running through the woods a few months ago. What with the hogzillas and saltwater crocs and 20'boas I'd be afraid to go in the woods if I ever came home again.

All we have up here are those brown bears and such. There was a bigfoot sighting over on POW island last year though. Regards, and keep those guns loaded!

[bilmac]

Sounds like a vulture to me.

[huntswithdogs]

I'd second the Audobon folks. They're usually a little more likely to at least ask questions and possibly even come out. Most State Wildlife Depts are so strapped for funds, they're doing all they can.


HWD 

[borrowed time]

Had forgotten about it until I read this, but about 2 years ago I was walking out the door of my cabin in northern Wi and saw a very large shadow on the ground of a large flying bird. Turning around and looking up I expected the creature to be not far above me, according to the size of the shadow. It was quite far in the air, eagle-like but much bigger. Also a grey color. I have seen many eagles up here, not this bird. Looked into a few bird books, nothing like it.

[phalanx]

Bill is right ,Condors are so large that at times they get swept into the Jet Streams occurring all over this planet.
They have been found as far away from their native environment as northern Canada.
They also prey on small dogs.

[streak]

Several years ago, if memory serves me right, there were sighting`s of big enormous birds in Missouri!
I never heard as to what they were are what they were doing in Missouri! They supposedly were very large birds!