Posted on 06/24/2015 10:11:31 AM PDT by Red Badger
A new phenomenon is sweeping across Sparta as more and more students come forward claiming to have encountered the flightless Dodo bird. Caught somewhere between a pigeon and a dove with its gray feathers and unmistakable yellow scowl, the Dodo bird stood at an intimidating one meter tall back in the 17th century when it became extinct--barely a century after its discovery.
The Dodo bird was not known for its impact on this planet while it lived, but, rather, remains a point of contention and activism because of its death. The extinction of this bird has been overwhelmingly attributed to human intervention, including the hunting of the Dodo, the introduction of invasive species, and the destruction of its natural habitat. Now, six Sparta students have come forward to share stories of their encounter with this lost creature.
Victoria Vatter, junior, was driving from her AP History test when she saw a bird, maybe 30 to 40 pounds, passing through bushes along 517. “I saw a bright yellow face on this huge bird digging around under this dead tree. I called my mom to tell her and when I looked back to where it was, I couldn’t find it.”
Vatter says later that day she looked through dozens of pictures of birds to come to the definite conclusion that it was the Dodo bird she had spotted.
Matt Hastings, junior, tells a similar tale. After a long bout with his AP Psychology exam, Matt headed home only to find an unrecognizable animal walking aimlessly behind his shed. Hastings could not get a perfect view of the bird, but corroborates Victoria’s recollection of a distinct yellow face. After doing his own research, Matt came to an identical conclusion about the mysterious scavenger.
Sean Lowery, sophomore, and Elena Insley, 2011 graduate of SHS, both spotted a similar yellow-faced creature after their AP Biology exam near what is now the Job Lot, saying the animal was digging around the Salvation Army bins when it wandered off out of sight.
Jamie Barker, teacher of English, claims to have seen Big Foot, but not the Dodo bird.
Sophomores Liam Armstrong and Will McKenna were picked up by Liam’s mom after an AP Chemistry test. As they passed over the train tracks, both were in awe at what was standing down the tracks. Will, an avid bird watcher and amateur ornithologist, stated, “I’d spot the Dodo bird anywhere-- it is the archetype of endangered species. It looked directly at me with its glaring yellow face and I looked back at the shamed history of human insensitivity towards the natural world.”
Though the Dodo bird inhabited the island of Mauritius, the mounting stories of this creature stir fear, criticism, and confusion. While these six students cling adamantly to their memories, the public still remains skeptical.
“The hope I have in sharing my story is that others will be brave enough to share theirs,” said Victoria Vatter. And, as the evidence builds in proportion to the skepticism, a flightless bird lost 400 years ago may be walking the streets of Sparta popping its head on AP test days, waiting for people to take notice.
Looks like good eatin’!
This is Madness!
a very tasty bird
Obviously the Dutch sailors of the 17th century thought so , too!.................
Tastes like chicken......................
The last one was spotted going into the White House disguised as Obama.
Resurrection possible? Even in jest democrats are scared to death.
An obvious victim of global warming.
Let me get this straight: Chemistry students spot the “extinct” Mauritius Dodo in New Jersey? Who’s their instructor? Walter White?
Seen only after taking exams? Huh?
There’s dodos in Sparta, NJ, but they just aren’t the bird variety.
Sparta where?
“Chemistry students spot the “extinct” Mauritius Dodo in New Jersey?”
And not one of them had their smart phone at the ready for taking pictures or shooting video???
They might be bird brained.
Funny how none of them have a cell phone camera handy, isn’t it?
I’m not sure which looks stranger: the dodo bird reconstruction, or Homer Dill.
Note I attached to the story...and sent to a fellow retired
secondary teacher:
I remember a conversation between two secondary teachers being trained to prepare AP...Advance Placement students.
The two teachers were being trained at Rice University in Houston Texas during the 1990’s.
Rice University is considered to be one of the top Universities in America...
” It is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the U.S. and the top 100 in the world.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University
After grading some practice tests...and then presenting the results in class....Spud said to Bubba....
“You mean to tell me that all they have to do is structure an argument, present no evidence...and they are top students...”
Bubba said, “Yep.”
end of story
I think about this when new species are discovered. God is still creating or in this case recreating. There was the discovery of a supposed extinct woodpecker last year.
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