| Big Critters |
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| OTHER BIRDS | ||||
| Booming Prairie Chicken Rothsay, MN |
Wren Topeka, KS |
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The Booming Prairie Chicken was built in 1976. It is made of concrete on a metal frame and is 13’ tall by 18’ long. Rothsay claims to be the Prairie Chicken Capital of Minnesota with large numbers of them roaming the prairies in the area. In early spring, the male prairie chicken performs a mating ritual called "booming" during which he spreads his wings and tail feathers, inflates the orange sacs on either side of his neck, struts, and makes a booming sound. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [photos thanks Mark Comstock]
The Giant Wren was built in the 1930s from concrete and wire mesh. It was originally installed on top of the WREN radio station in Lawrence, KS. The station moved to Topeka in 1947 and the bird came along. It was restored and moved here to this former fountain in 1993. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [photo thanks Glenda Campbell] |
| Giant Pheasant Huron, SD |
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| The Giant Pheasant stands on the roof of a building previously used by a liquor store (now vacant). The bird is 28' tall and 40' long. The ringneck pheasant is made of steel and fiberglass and was erected in 1959. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Giant Eagle Wall, SD |
Giant Eagle Nanaimo, British Columbia |
Giant Eagle Park Falls, WI |
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The Wall Eagle has stood in front of Wall High School since 1992. The eagle is the school's mascot.
The Nanaimo Eagle statue stands in a rest area. It was created in 1990. For more, see this website. [photo thanks Mark Comstock] The Park Falls Eagle is installed in front of the City Hall as a Veteran's Memorial. This statue of "Old Abe" seems to be a replacement of an earlier version. Old Abe was an eagle that was caught near Park Falls by Native Americans. Named after Abraham Lincoln, he became an army mascot during the Civil War. For more, see this website. |
| Swan Head Russells Point, OH |
Giant Swan Elk Rapids, MI |
Flamingo Motel Wisconsin Dells, WI |
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This giant Swan Head is on the property of the Villa Chalets. I wonder if it came from the Sandy Beach Amusement Park that closed in the 1970s and was just down the road. This could be a duck, goose or some other bird - I'm open to correction!
The Giant Swan is 15' tall. It was built in 1966 to carry Miss Elk Rapids in the Cherry Festival and Harbor Days parades. It was used in various parades and public appearances in the 1970s and then installed permanently outside the Chamber of Commerce building. The Flamingo Motel features this gigantic flamingo. It was produced by FAST. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 2. For other giant Dells animals, see this page. |
| Pelican Pete Pelican Rapids, MN |
Giant Pelican Pelican Rapids, MN |
Roadrunner Albuquerque, NM |
Roadrunner Alamogordo, NM |
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Pelican Pete is about 15 1/2' tall and was built of steel and cement in 1957. He is supposedly the world's largest pelican and overlooks the Pelican River. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 2. [photo thanks Mark Comstock]
The other Giant Pelican in town is located at the Pelican Motel. [photo thanks Mark Comstock] The Albuquerque Roadrunner stands in front of Ex-El Co., a spray foam roofing specialist. It appears that this Roadrunner is made of this spray foam material. This statue was evidently inspired by Looney Tunes' Road Runner cartoons. For more, see their website. The Alamogordo Roadrunner is apparently made of recycled metal. It was created in the early 1980s. The sculpture is installed in front of a recycling center. |
| Roadrunner Fort Stockton, TX |
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| This Giant Roadrunner, aka Paisano Pete, is 11' tall and 20' long. A wreath is placed around his neck during the Christmas holiday season. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Giant Robin Kalkaska, MI |
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| The Giant Robin is perched right next to Kalkaska's Giant Trout. The Trout was originally installed in 1966 so I assume the bird was placed there at the same time. The robin is Michigan's state bird. |
| Giant Cardinal Bowling Green, KY |
Giant Cardinal Darlington, WI |
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The Bowling Green Cardinal stands in front of the Cardinal Motel. The cardinal is Kentucky's state bird.
The Darlington Cardinal was carved from a tree in someone's front yard. The cardinal is Darlington High School's mascot. |
| Giant Raven Ravendon, AR |
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| The first fiberglass Giant Raven was erected in 1991 but was destroyed in a fire set by vandals. A second one was also destroyed by fire. This, the third one, was created with fireproof material. For more, see this website. |
| Giant Vulture Pomona, CA |
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| The Pomona Vulture appears to be made of foam. He stands in the parking lot of the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center. Does anyone know more about him? |
| Penguin Park Kansas City, MO |
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| Penguin Park is a children's public playground. It has been here since at least the 1970s and features a 23' tall penguin and a 26' tall kangaroo. There is also a penguin water fountain, an elephant slide and a giant giraffe. The giant penguin was once a slide but has been modified. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
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More Giant Penguins:
Cut Bank, MT Lyon, France Hokkaido, Japan |
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More Giant Birds:
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Geese & Ducks |
Roosters, Chickens, etc. page 1 |
Roosters, Chickens, etc. page 2 |
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Giant Animals Main Page |
Links |
| [Main Roadside Page] |
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