The witness said that after some reflection he is more accepting of the idea that a potentially known animal might serve as an explanation for his sighting, although he cannot be certain of what he saw.

"As time has passed, I am still uncertain of what exactly I saw," he said. "Certainly none of the birds I typically see flying are similar, but I am increasingly more accepting to the idea that this could have been a very large migratory bird."

"While not amazing, still pretty spectacular from a nature perspective," he added.

Wayland said he was grateful that the witness came forward, regardless of the outcome, because all reported information is useful in investigating the mystery.

"I love nature, and even if this is 'just' a large heron, I still think it’s really cool—and it’s an integral part of solving the mystery," Wayland said. "The attention given to this phenomenon has caused many other modern and historical unexplained sightings to be shared, and that has proven to be invaluable to our work."

This string of flying creature sightings around Lake Michigan ostensibly began last spring, but more historical accounts are being reported as more people become aware of the phenomenon. Most of the sightings have taken place near the lakefront in Chicago within a few miles of Lake Michigan, although there are some reports coming from the suburbs surrounding Chicago and even farther afield. The sightings generally take place in the evening or at night, often in or near a park, and around water. Witnesses consistently describe a large, bat or bird-like creature, although in a small number of cases the creature was described as insect-like; and humanoid features such as arms and legs are often reported. Many of the sightings are also of something seen only briefly or are described only as a flying creature with few details, which leaves open the possibility that a large bird or bird-like being could explain some encounters.

To report a sighting, reach out to us directly at The Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

You can view a timeline of the sightings so far here, and an interactive map here.