For the Birds: Glowing Bellies and Evil Owls

[Richard]

Regan Lee

UFOlogy has several theories to explain what we see, what we think we see, what some think we think we saw. . . well, you know.

Among them are the theories ("theory" used loosely here to include hypotheses, speculation, and irrational rationalists) that tell us we didn’t really see what we say we saw, we saw something else entirely, we’re just too ignorant to know otherwise. So someone comes along, often years later -- decades later -- after the sighting, and, after a few weak interviews and tromps through the scene of the sighting, offers up an explanation.

One theory is the LBT: luminous bird theory. This is the theory that birds glow, either from reflected light on bird bellies, or glowing The glowing stuff sticks to the feathers of birds that perch in trees, emitting eerie light; that makes the rest of us freak and think "Space aliens! Run for your lives!"

An example of this theory in action is the 1951 "Lubbock Lights" UFO sightings in Lubbock, Texas, explained by some as nothing more than light bouncing off the white bellies of seagulls or plovers.

Probably the most interesting example is that of persistent skeptic Joe Nickell, who has decided that the famous Mothman case (1966, Point Pleasant, West Virginia) was merely a matter of an owl. Others have suggested sand crane, or some other kind of bird, but Nickell has a real thing for owls. He’s also told us that it was an owl that was mistaken for a "monster" or alien in the classic Flatwoods Monster case. (1952, Braxton County, West Virginia) Nickell’s loves owls, it seems, for he’s also solved another case: the famous Kelly-Hopkinsville entity case, where several "aliens" terrorized a Kentucky family back in 1955. Yes, you guessed it: owls, in this case, diminutive owls. But evil terrorizing owls nonetheless.

Nothing so far has surpassed the infamous "swamp gas" theory of vintage UFOlogy, but a few have come close: the "mating hedgehogs" theory is one: that’s the one that explains away crop circles as being caused, not by UFOs, but by horny hedgehogs at the height of mating season. Mating hedgehogs do get crazy; look it up on YouTube. (It’s research, what can I say?) But really. Mating hedgehogs? Creating crop circles? Crop circles? Like this one???!! (see image above.) You really have to ask if these people are conducting some sort of gullibility study on society. or if they aren’t truly pathological after all.

Owls have an interesting history within UFology. They figure in a lot of abduction accounts. Whitley Strieber discusses owls in his writings as well as other UFO researchers. Animals, including owls, sometimes appear to witnesses during, or just before, a UFO event of some kind: an abduction, encounter, sighting. Are the owls and other animals aliens, disguised as animals that are familiar to us? Or are the animals used in some way, or are they images projected into our minds?

In 1976, in Cornwall, the now classic "Owlman" case occurred. This was the sighting of a giant "owl man" type creature that was seen in the area. There are some parallels to the Mothman story here; strange weather related events and highly weird animal behaviors:

The weather unseasonably fluctuated between droughts and floods, heat waves and cold snaps. There were reports of women being tapped in their homes by flocks of birds that beat themselves to death on the windows, and of feral cats that kept one lady incarcerated in her house. There was also an increase in dog attacks, and reports of some dolphins attacking swimmers while others rescued them from drowning. Local farmers reported that cows were being ‘teleported’ out of their fields only to be found in different locations. Added to all this was an increase in the number of UFO sightings, together with reports of cryptids being seen. (Kithra’s Krystal Cave: Cornish Cryptids 2004.)

I’ve just scratched the surface here regarding owls and the paranormal. It’s clear owls have some kind of occult connection with Fortean events, including UFO accounts, and that includes the "scofftoid" theories of owls and other birds to explain these strange occurrences away. In fact, the very theories presented by debunkers, skeptics and the irrational rationalists only add to the Trickster like aspect of the weird; not explain or resolve it.

http://www.binnallofamerica.com/tr9.17.7.html

[crystalsun]

Yeah, this is an interesting one Richard. How many times have we heard of strange animals being associated with UFO sightings or areas of anomalous activity?

Huge black cats, dogs with eyes that burn like hot coals, hairy man-beasts, etc.

So are they the real thing brought along by the UFO occupants? Have they slipped through a dimensional doorway by accident? Are they holographs generated to keep any curious human away from something that must remain undiscovered?

Obviously, the owl explanation is not viable for most things. Certainly not the mothman! But as an interesting aside, a scientist friend of mine has been studying barn owls, particularly in drought times, and is almost sure that they probably have the ability to "bio-luminesce" in tough, dry times.

Bio-luminescence is the ability of the creature to "glow in the dark" so to speak. In this case, he believes the owls do this through their feathers to attract insects at night. But that they only do this in times of extreme drought when food is short.

In northern Australia, there is an area famous for the "Min Min Lights". Seemingly random balls of light seen following cars, or flying by campfires, etc. People have been spooked by them for decades.

This guy thinks that maybe it's the barn owls following the car lights to eat the insects which are attracted to the lights.

Interesting stuff though.

[Astrojewels]

I can tell you that the owl theory is not a theory, but truth, and personally can share many events where the owl is present before an abduction or event. It is like the owl has a frequency to allow entities into the physical realm, it is strange and has happened so often that it can not be called a ‘coincidence’.

[Polly]

Karen, can you describe one incident?  I've not had this happen but I will have to think more on it just to be sure.

[Polly]

I was specifically referrring to an owl showing up before an event or abduction.  I was thinking back to the times I have seen an owl, which aren't that many, and don't recall anything unusual happening but that does not mean something didn't.  I have heard more owls than seen them.  I often hear great horned owls dueting in late winter when they begin to court and nest.

[Astrojewels]

I think this question is better sent to cliff, yes the owls are always here when something is going on and we have a large glass sliding entrance door and one was sitting on the step once, which was weird and freaky. He is the one who first connected the owl’s presence with the abductions, so do you mind if I put it into Q&A?

[Polly]

Karen, of course I don't mind.  :-)

[Astrojewels]

The owl represents many things in the paranormal; I myself have had many encounters with owls. The mysterious Owl is an observation bird that has very little to say except WHO… (I SAY WHO’S NEXT TO BE ABDUCTED)

When people are being subject to witch craft through the Masonic order the Owl will always be around the victim prior to Masonic / Templar ritual. Also when the Greys are doing there random abduction and implant scanning the Owl is always around the home prior to this event, most of these owls are holographic.

I do know from living in the country for many years that all other species of bird life do not get along with owls, also the owl is the only bird that can emit an infrared light from its eyes to capture insects so it can eat with out moving form its perch, it is the laziest bird in the bird life, you will very seldom see the owl hunting.

Also several times a year many people are subject to ritual / death under the 40 ft owl Moloch at Bohemian Grove.

Cliff.

[Polly]

Cliff, I had the impression that the owls which appear before the kinds of events you described might be holographic in nature.  You verified that for me in your response.