Thunderbird

I'd like to Thank my friend, Cynthia, for today's topic. The story of Thunderbirds has always fascinated me. The Thunderbird appears in the stories of many First Nations' peoples.  Admittedly though, I have only really heard the stories from the West Coast Nations.  I'm sure that the Eastern Nations had similar stories, I just have not heard of them.


I have often wondered from time-to-time whether Thunderbird was a Pterosaur (i.e Pterodactyl or similar large bird from the Pleistocene era).  I posed this question to one of the staff members at the Lil'wat Cultural Centre last year.  I knew immediately that I was wrong by the way she looked at me.  She was not rude about it, all that she said was that there were Thunderbirds still living in Alaska. There are other possibilities as well, was Thunderbird a very large Eagle? Please bear in mind that when settlers first started arriving in the Americas that the flora and fauna were different.  (Some animal species have disappeared such as a species of very large 300 lbs. Beavers.  This particular species of Beaver was hunted to extinction for its fur). With that in mind, it is not a stretch to think that there were birds of prey (perhaps a species of Eagle) that grew very large. But then I read what my friend Cynthia had to say about it this morning and she shared this link www.weirdus.com/states/washington/bizarre_beasts/thunderbird/index.php  I realize that this link is more of a pseudo-scientific article but it has some interesting ideas.  Of course, for me, what stood out was the part where Thunderbird has been spotted in Alaska just as the woman at the Lil'wat Cultural Centre had mentioned to me. 


For those of you wanting a fitness update: I went to Athletic Step with The Boot Camp Queen last night.  As I was working out I noticed that my right knee was becoming sore again.  I took some time after class to speak to my instructor, Michelle.  Michelle showed me a few knee-strengthening exercises that I can practice at home.  After doing some of knee exercises last night my knee feels better already.  Thank you, Michelle!!