This week I delve into the cryptozoological mystery of the Bird of Washington, a sea eagle first described by famed American ornithologist John J. Audubon in 1826. Is it real, or is it a hoax, and if it is, why would one of America’s most beloved naturalists lie about its existence?

Show Notes:

• The Lochness Horror Trailer (YouTube)


• John James Audubon (Wikipedia)


• Substantiating Audubon's Washington's Eagle


• Kyle Blaney's Townsend's Finch Photos


• Matthew R. Halley's Website


• Audubon's Bird of Washington: unravelling the fraud that launched The birds of America


• American Birding Podcast feat. Nate Swick and Matthew R. Halley


• Pee-Wee Herman "Knitting" (YouTube)


• The Bird of Washington by James G. Clark

This episode of Mount Molehill was written, produced, and edited by Chris, with music by Chris and Alex Bainter / CC BY. Any voices featured on the podcast are computer generated unless otherwise noted. This podcast features materials protected by the Fair Use guidelines of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. All rights reserved to the copyright owners.

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