Big Bird

OK there are reports and sightings of a giant bird that inhabits the northwestern region of the American continent. The Indians have many legends of this giant bird. Eyewitness accounts have stated that a bird with a 30ft wingspan was seen snatching an eagle out of the air.
If this legendary bird does exist, then there are not many of him left, possibily less then 50. This is something that Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, hinted at in his novels about the giant birds. Tolkiens world is a parrallel to our own.
Does anybody else have anymore information about this creature and the myth surrounding it?

Are we talking the pheonix? Or does it look like a regular bird, but HUGE? I have heard stories of the pheonix and it taking pets and possibly small children.

it sounds like you're talking about the Thunderbird. Does that sound right ?

Dangit, thats it, the thunderbird. Isn't it an old American Indian belief or something like that?

heres a few links i found...sorry its not really any "new" info but here it is anyways

Giant Bird in New Guinea from 1875 sighting
The natives state that it can fly away with a dugong, a kangaroo, or a large turtle. Mr. Smithurst states he saw and shot at a specimen of this wonderful animal, and that "the noise caused by the flapping of its wings resembled the sound of a locomotive pulling a long train very slowly." He states that "it appeared to be about sixteen or eighteen feet across the wings as it flew, the body dark brown, the breast white, neck long, and beak long and straight."

here is a link about the native American legends of the Thunderbird...

The Giant Bird
There was the sound of a mighty wind and a dark shadow crossed over the land. The Bird of Thunder dropped lower over the edge of the herd and a young calf was lifted into the air. Soon other shadows dropped near the earth and more of the young calves were taken. Lightning streaked across the sky and the voice of Old Man Thunder spoke with a vengeance. The Mighty Birds that brought the storm disappeared in the distance as Mother Earth opened her arms to receive the rain. The herd returned to their grazing now that the danger was past. Again the Mighty Thunderbird had stolen from the herd and loosed another storm upon the land. Everything was as it should be, the herd had grown too large and Mother Earth had needed the rain.

heres is an article about the most recent sighting...from 2002

Mystery giant bird spotted in Alaska
A bird the size of a small airplane has been spotted flying over south-west Alaska, puzzling scientists, the Anchorage Daily News reported this week.

[Edited on 6-10-2003 by Creepy]

Thunderbird....you are correct. Beware, as there are some awfully convincing hoaxes and photos out there (such as civil war soldiers pictured with a downed pterodactyl, etc.)