Picture this, you having a calm stroll through the forest and then you see an animal the likes of which you’ve only seen in horror films. It has big, red, shiny eyes, sharp claws, and can fly like an owl at night. This is not fiction from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, but an actual myth from Cornwall, England – the Owlman.
The Legend Begins
The legend of the Owlman began in April of 1976, when two young sisters, June and Vicky Melling were on a family camping holiday in the village of Mawnan. They went around to investigate the old, abandoned church which they thought was pretty haunted. As they strolled, they then heard a loud squeak of a monstrous fowl flying over the church tower. The girls said that it was a man with the face of an owl including wings, sharp claws, and big eyes. They were scared and went back to their parents as any child would do if they were scared.
Their father, Don Melling, was so upset by the event that he turned to a local paranormal expert named Tony “Doc” Shiels. This signaled the beginning of the so-called Owlman sightings. Shiels recorded the girls’ stories and started looking for more details about this sinister spirit.
More Sightings
When the word spread, others had their own stories of encounters with the Owlman. For many years, others stated that they have also seen the creature, most often around the now abandoned Mawnan Church. People who claimed to have seen it had similar things to say about it; the creature resembled a large owl, but had features of a human being. Most of these sighting were at dusk or at night which further amplified the fears associated with the creature.
Theories and Explanations
Thus, what could the Owlman be? There are several theories. Some say it may have been a bird of prey, such as a large owl which inhabit the region. Owls are also characterized by large eyes that emit light at night, hence, people refer to them as having ‘glowing eyes’. Their low flying and the eerie sounds they make can also be so shocking.
Some believe that the Owlman could be due to mass hysteria and other’s imagination as more sightings were reported after the first story. When people listen to a horror story, they are likely to see things out of their imagination based on their fears or expectations.
However, there are still those people who are completely convinced that the Owlman is a real cryptid, an animal that is still unknown to science. Like many other legendary creatures such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, the Owlman evokes people’s interest as it is something that people cannot explain.
Cultural Impact
Whether the Owlman is actually real or just a product of someone’s imagination it has now become a part of folklore. The story of the Owlman has been covered in books, documentaries, and has also been used as artistic theme. It is one of the interesting stories from Cornwall’s history that captures the interest and the fear of the people up to this generation.
Conclusion
The Owlman is still an enigma to this day when it comes to cryptids. Despite the fact that the bird was perhaps misidentified, or the event a phenomenon of mass hallucination, or that the animal was perhaps never seen before, the legend lives on. Such stories make one wonder how much of the world is yet to be discovered and the strength of our creative minds. Thus, the next time you get lost near Mawnan Church, you better look up to the sky, who knows what you might come across!
