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Description
Thunderbirds live in wooded areas and grassland environments. Due to their impressive size, they prefer more open habitats that will let their bulky bodies pass through with ease. Though not suitable for thick forests and jungles, they still require trees to be present in their environment, but just in lower densities. Despite their giant bodies and imposing appearance, thunderbirds are herbivorous. They are browsers that feed on a variety of fruits, grasses, roots and leaves. Their large claws and powerful beak allow them feed upon even the most stubborn plants. Roots are easily dug up with their claws, while their arms stretch upward to snag branches and pull them to mouth level. Tough rinds and shells are zero match to their strong beak, which can practically bite through solid rock. This incredibly strong beak is what led to them gaining the name "Thunderbird." Within the range of this species grows a large tree species known as the "hydralith" This big, stout tree can easily be spotted by its thick branches and rock like bark. One of its more famous features is the large nuts that develop on its limbs. These fruits grow larger than a person's head and are protected by a practically impenetrable shell. With these giant fruits growing on its thick branches, one can easily see why the tree has earned the name "hydralith." These nuts are quite infamous for their durability and thick shell, and the stories attached to them are practically endless. Needless to say, many people have tried to make these nuts edible, but the sheer amount of work it takes to crack one open is never worth it. People find more use for them by shooting them out of catapults. This is different for the Thunderbird, however! Their powerful beaks are capable of cracking these thick shells and feeding on the fruits within. It takes a good, focused bite to crack one open, but the thunderbirds always prevail. What results, though, is a loud crack that can be quite startling when on the quiet plains. Many have mistaken the sound as thunder, so the name of them naturally formed from that.

With the thunderbirds being one of the only species able to crack these nuts efficiently, they are an integral part to the hydralith's live cycle. The fruit within the nut contains dozens of smaller seeds, which can survive the journey through the digestive tract. The seeds are then scattered by the roaming thunderbirds, planted in the ground with a nice healthy dose of feces! From there the seed can attempt to sprout, and hopefully, live long enough to become a big, sturdy tree like its parents! Interestingly enough, the seeds seem to require this trip through the thunderbird's gut. All attempts to plant hydraliths by hand have resulted in failure, so some think that something occurs during the eating process that triggers them to sprout. If this is the case, then these two species are more bound to one another than we originally thought!

It should be obvious to anyone who looks at a thunderbird that this species has very few predators. No self-preserving carnivore wants to mess with such a large, well armed beast. While some think that a predator for such a creature should be much bigger and meaner, it is often the smaller, faster beasts that have a better chance besting one. Thunderbirds are slow, and their large size means a bigger target. Nimble foes can attack from the sides, and even hop on the back in an attempt to down the large avian. Thunderbirds, though, have ways to protect themselves. Unlike their flying counterparts, their feathers are much denser and stiffer, lacking the softness that most other feathers have. Their rigidity acts as a simple, shallow armor, making it harder for predators to bite through. It even makes them hard to grab onto, as the feathers keep claws from sinking into flesh, but are not solid enough to support one's weight. Climbing onto a thunderbird is like trying to scramble up a set of stairs made of extremely thin wood. Quite the struggle! Their thick muscles also aid in shrugging off attacks, allowing them to take large amounts of damage before they actually effect their movements. These defensive measures are all aimed towards giving the thunderbird time to mount a counterattack, which can be quite devastating. Their tough claws and powerful beak make for deadly weapons, and any enemy caught by either of them will not last more than a few seconds. I have heard my fair share of tales that speak of their power! One instance was when a thunderbird stumbled between a mother bear and her cubs, and was promptly attacked for the intrusion. The mother bear roared in anger and charged at the avian, all before its head was knocked off by a powerful swipe of its claws. Numerous hunters have lost rookie hunting dogs that have stupidly chased down a thunderbird. Regardless if the young pup is caught by the claws or by its beak, their owner will be carrying its body back in two pieces. Needless to say, not many mess with thunderbirds.

Like other birds, thunderbirds are egg layers, laying up to four eggs at a time. These eggs are placed into nests made of twisted grasses and branches, which are mainly used to keep them in one place. The female will stand guard over these eggs, hiding them beneath her bulk. This is a time for fasting with the female, who will not move until the eggs have hatched. Once they do, the young will follow the mother until they reach the right age. These young chicks will always travel beneath their mother, who will be extra hostile to any being who gets too close to her. Thunderbirds let out loud, booming calls to communicate to one another, which adds to their moniker. It is recommended that anyone who lives near thunderbird territory purchase ear plugs for nightly use.

While thunderbirds are impressive creatures, they can be quite the nuisance at times. Farmers that grow fruits and vegetables may have their crops destroyed when a thunderbird wanders in for some food. Towns and villages can experience the same if they have a well stocked marketplace. Even homes that are positioned next to hydraliths may experience an unwelcome guest, as they move in during the fruiting season. Thus it is always important that landowners build proper fences to keep these birds out. Though they are big and strong, thunderbirds can be kind of lazy. They do not like to exert too much energy getting over an obstacle, so if they are faced with a tall sturdy wall, they will just turn around and head elsewhere. Many landowners that live in this territory often build their fences and walls well before actually constructing their homes. For those who live near hydraliths, it is recommended that they gather any fallen nuts and throw them far away from their homes. It also doubles as a hefty workout! Thunderbirds are also a problem for dryads, which may come as a shock to some. Everyone assumes that since we are "ones with nature" that we are friends to all animals. Well the problem comes from the fact that they eat plants and we are plants. Humans and other meat species complain about bears and wolves, imagine our fear when one of these things busts into our village! We do our best to deter them just like the other villages, but the sheer amount of vegetation that grows in our towns can be too enticing at times. Not to mention that they find us as tasty morsels as well. The head cap or head flower of a dryad is a thunderbird's favorite part, and their strong beaks do well in acting like organic guillotines. Nomadic dryads make sure to never let their guard down in thunderbird territory, and usually never stop to camp in those locations. Some villages even use thunderbirds as ways of executing fellow dryads, tying to them poles set in the grasslands and leaving them as tasty snack sticks for any thunderbird that comes by. I can't imagine a more horrifying way to go! Well, there is burning to death, but I would say getting decapitated by a thunderbird comes in close second.

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

---------------------------------------

I am aware that thunderbirds are giant, flying birds that sometimes occasionally shoot lightening, but I really couldn't make something out of that (which sounds weird, saying out loud). Instead, lets have a parrot fuse with a giant ground sloth! It may seem cheap putting the name thunderbird on something that isn't strictly a thunderbird, but we do stuff weird around here! And also I was originally going to call this species "Psittatherium" but you can imagine how well that flows off the tongue.

Description
Thunderbirds live in wooded areas and grassland environments. Due to their impressive size, they prefer more open habitats that will let their bulky bodies pass through with ease. Though not suitable for thick forests and jungles, they still require trees to be present in their environment, but just in lower densities. Despite their giant bodies and imposing appearance, thunderbirds are herbivorous. They are browsers that feed on a variety of fruits, grasses, roots and leaves. Their large claws and powerful beak allow them feed upon even the most stubborn plants. Roots are easily dug up with their claws, while their arms stretch upward to snag branches and pull them to mouth level. Tough rinds and shells are zero match to their strong beak, which can practically bite through solid rock. This incredibly strong beak is what led to them gaining the name "Thunderbird." Within the range of this species grows a large tree species known as the "hydralith" This big, stout tree can easily be spotted by its thick branches and rock like bark. One of its more famous features is the large nuts that develop on its limbs. These fruits grow larger than a person's head and are protected by a practically impenetrable shell. With these giant fruits growing on its thick branches, one can easily see why the tree has earned the name "hydralith." These nuts are quite infamous for their durability and thick shell, and the stories attached to them are practically endless. Needless to say, many people have tried to make these nuts edible, but the sheer amount of work it takes to crack one open is never worth it. People find more use for them by shooting them out of catapults. This is different for the Thunderbird, however! Their powerful beaks are capable of cracking these thick shells and feeding on the fruits within. It takes a good, focused bite to crack one open, but the thunderbirds always prevail. What results, though, is a loud crack that can be quite startling when on the quiet plains. Many have mistaken the sound as thunder, so the name of them naturally formed from that.

With the thunderbirds being one of the only species able to crack these nuts efficiently, they are an integral part to the hydralith's live cycle. The fruit within the nut contains dozens of smaller seeds, which can survive the journey through the digestive tract. The seeds are then scattered by the roaming thunderbirds, planted in the ground with a nice healthy dose of feces! From there the seed can attempt to sprout, and hopefully, live long enough to become a big, sturdy tree like its parents! Interestingly enough, the seeds seem to require this trip through the thunderbird's gut. All attempts to plant hydraliths by hand have resulted in failure, so some think that something occurs during the eating process that triggers them to sprout. If this is the case, then these two species are more bound to one another than we originally thought!

It should be obvious to anyone who looks at a thunderbird that this species has very few predators. No self-preserving carnivore wants to mess with such a large, well armed beast. While some think that a predator for such a creature should be much bigger and meaner, it is often the smaller, faster beasts that have a better chance besting one. Thunderbirds are slow, and their large size means a bigger target. Nimble foes can attack from the sides, and even hop on the back in an attempt to down the large avian. Thunderbirds, though, have ways to protect themselves. Unlike their flying counterparts, their feathers are much denser and stiffer, lacking the softness that most other feathers have. Their rigidity acts as a simple, shallow armor, making it harder for predators to bite through. It even makes them hard to grab onto, as the feathers keep claws from sinking into flesh, but are not solid enough to support one's weight. Climbing onto a thunderbird is like trying to scramble up a set of stairs made of extremely thin wood. Quite the struggle! Their thick muscles also aid in shrugging off attacks, allowing them to take large amounts of damage before they actually effect their movements. These defensive measures are all aimed towards giving the thunderbird time to mount a counterattack, which can be quite devastating. Their tough claws and powerful beak make for deadly weapons, and any enemy caught by either of them will not last more than a few seconds. I have heard my fair share of tales that speak of their power! One instance was when a thunderbird stumbled between a mother bear and her cubs, and was promptly attacked for the intrusion. The mother bear roared in anger and charged at the avian, all before its head was knocked off by a powerful swipe of its claws. Numerous hunters have lost rookie hunting dogs that have stupidly chased down a thunderbird. Regardless if the young pup is caught by the claws or by its beak, their owner will be carrying its body back in two pieces. Needless to say, not many mess with thunderbirds.

Like other birds, thunderbirds are egg layers, laying up to four eggs at a time. These eggs are placed into nests made of twisted grasses and branches, which are mainly used to keep them in one place. The female will stand guard over these eggs, hiding them beneath her bulk. This is a time for fasting with the female, who will not move until the eggs have hatched. Once they do, the young will follow the mother until they reach the right age. These young chicks will always travel beneath their mother, who will be extra hostile to any being who gets too close to her. Thunderbirds let out loud, booming calls to communicate to one another, which adds to their moniker. It is recommended that anyone who lives near thunderbird territory purchase ear plugs for nightly use.

While thunderbirds are impressive creatures, they can be quite the nuisance at times. Farmers that grow fruits and vegetables may have their crops destroyed when a thunderbird wanders in for some food. Towns and villages can experience the same if they have a well stocked marketplace. Even homes that are positioned next to hydraliths may experience an unwelcome guest, as they move in during the fruiting season. Thus it is always important that landowners build proper fences to keep these birds out. Though they are big and strong, thunderbirds can be kind of lazy. They do not like to exert too much energy getting over an obstacle, so if they are faced with a tall sturdy wall, they will just turn around and head elsewhere. Many landowners that live in this territory often build their fences and walls well before actually constructing their homes. For those who live near hydraliths, it is recommended that they gather any fallen nuts and throw them far away from their homes. It also doubles as a hefty workout! Thunderbirds are also a problem for dryads, which may come as a shock to some. Everyone assumes that since we are "ones with nature" that we are friends to all animals. Well the problem comes from the fact that they eat plants and we are plants. Humans and other meat species complain about bears and wolves, imagine our fear when one of these things busts into our village! We do our best to deter them just like the other villages, but the sheer amount of vegetation that grows in our towns can be too enticing at times. Not to mention that they find us as tasty morsels as well. The head cap or head flower of a dryad is a thunderbird's favorite part, and their strong beaks do well in acting like organic guillotines. Nomadic dryads make sure to never let their guard down in thunderbird territory, and usually never stop to camp in those locations. Some villages even use thunderbirds as ways of executing fellow dryads, tying to them poles set in the grasslands and leaving them as tasty snack sticks for any thunderbird that comes by. I can't imagine a more horrifying way to go! Well, there is burning to death, but I would say getting decapitated by a thunderbird comes in close second.

Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian

---------------------------------------

I am aware that thunderbirds are giant, flying birds that sometimes occasionally shoot lightening, but I really couldn't make something out of that (which sounds weird, saying out loud). Instead, lets have a parrot fuse with a giant ground sloth! It may seem cheap putting the name thunderbird on something that isn't strictly a thunderbird, but we do stuff weird around here! And also I was originally going to call this species "Psittatherium" but you can imagine how well that flows off the tongue.