Nope! I think he got the bird! SOB!

It was a fowl day to be riding a rollercoaster

If I said it once I've said it a thousand times, we need stronger bird control laws.

Dang, beat me to the punch. I love the video of Fabio getting hit by the bird at Busch Gardens!!

I was trying to figure out a money angle in this, but I'm not sure if there is one.

Aw, he should get a free pass to re do the day for him and some guests.

Well, if he killed the bird, I hope he ate it. Otherwise it is a waste...

The title is incorrect, it should say Boy hits Bird, the bird did not hit him, he hit the bird, the bird was doing what he (she) does naturally, ya know flying in the air stuff, the ride killed the bird

Let's all just hope he doesn't now become known as "The Bird Boy". For Land's sakes, life is tough enough as it is. Poor little feller.

It's a strange day when you have something in common with Fabio...

This reminds me of a similar incident years ago when the male model Fabio while on an amusement park roller coaster was hit in the face by a goose. The story headline read ....

"Duck! Duck! ...Goose!

:-)

Since it's happened more than once, when are amusement parks going to have the sense to put a clear shield at the front of the coaster to protect that first row of unsuspecting bird killers? I would die if a bird exploded on my face! OUCH! And feathers in the mouth...sick. Put up a shield on every coaster, it will never happen again.

Will PETA have the ride operator prosecuted or hound the boy individually?

I bet the bird was a Republican.

Sorry...couldn't resist.

I heard many bird-brained stories in my life, but this is the first brain-birded story I've ever known of.

Waiting for the lawsuit to be filed.

Waiting for the lawsuit to be filed.

Against the bird?

This just in PETA is organizing a mass demonstration, complete with all the trappings, outside the kid's home. I am sure they are going to want to storm his house, confiscate his old goose down winter coat, and spin it that Adam was out to use the pigeon to restuff his winter apparel.

Rumor also has it that this pigeon was in fact from mexico. Passengers in the adjoining cars reported hearing the pigeon scream AYE CARAMBA moments before the incident. Local ICE officials state the bird was NOT on the terrorist watchlist, but was on its way home from watching the new Batman Movie. The White House will soon have signs posted 10 miles around the theme park warning americans that they should not enter the area just like they did in Arizona. El Presidente Fox will be boarding the next flight from Mexico City to the US where we can expect another Apology from Obama, to be followed up by Fox's visit to Congress, where he will attempt to alter our National Perspective on Immigrant Birds.

It is also rumored there will be a NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER coming out of the Oval Office including Veternary Services for the highly touted Affordable Health Care Act. A spokesman for Dr. Doolittle states the good Doctor does not discriminate against those that can't afford to pay anyhow. He often accepts little trinkets from his "patients" in payment for services rendered. A former patient, a Squirrel, said the care he recieved was excellent, but the guy is nuts, so he paid him in kind. 4 Acorns to be exact... Additionally, this new executive order will also open up "educational" opportunities for wayward birds. "inner city avains have the highest rate of traffic fatalities acrossed the board. The only way to prevent such tragedies and ensure our avians have an opportunity for a brighter future is through tax payer paid educational opportunities". When asked how this program would be paid for, White House spokesman stated, "who cares! It's an election year, and we need better polling numbers. Our Grandchildren's Great Grandchildren can pay for it, thanks to loans from China."

Also churning in the rumor mill is a soon to be released statement from the American Civil Liberties Union over statements referring to the deceased avian as a Pigeon. Pigeon is considered derrogatory slur in our current Politically Correct Socialist Society. From now on, they need to be referred to as Avian-Americans, not to be confused with Asian-Americans. Though I am sure, as of this hour, there will be another referrendum condoning the hyphanated referrence and some special interest group will start petitioning the government to include these avians on the Endangered Species List.

A Bird in the Face is better than two in the Bush...Just a warning to the Ladies on the high speed roller coasters....

Re Lawsuit - his father even said it was a "freak accident" - doubt if the amusement park would be held accountable (and it shouldn't). Hopefully the park or its law firm has saved this article in some place safe.

I recall reading that a pigeon can fly at 60 mph. That's why they're vlnerable to hawks that can dive at well over 100 mph. If the coaster can get to 128 mph, then there is an inherent bird hazard and yes, the operators of the ride should be held liable. Furthermomre, if the ride continues to be operated this way, it is inevitable that this kind of collision will happen again, however far off that day may be and maybe next time, the human consequences will be worse.

, the operators of the ride should be held liable.

And this would pretty much ruin every rollercoaster in the country.

This just in PETA is organizing a mass demonstration, complete with all the trappings, outside the kid's home. I am sure they are going to want to storm his house, confiscate his old goose down winter coat, and spin it that Adam was out to use the pigeon to restuff his winter apparel.

I know you are just making a joke, but this is the kind of thing that gets passed around in e-mails and then people (almost always right wing conservatives) start spouting it off as "fact"

Glad the kid wasn't seriously injured.....and The story for the most part was interesting. What disappointed me was the headline. I guess the new NBC is more laid back than the old MSNBC was. then I would have expect a headline to read "Boy eats live bird while coasting high at amusement park"......Film at Eleven....

bird bird bird is the word...ahpopahmmmmowlmalhahpopahmmmolmaol...

Never happened before. Maybe not in PA but "Apr 1, 1999 – Supermodel Fabio suffered a one-inch cut on his nose after a bird hit him while riding the new Apollo's Chariot roller coaster (at Bush Gardens Williamsburg VA.). ... officials said the incident was an unpredictable freak accident that has never occurred before."

Moral: DO NOT ride in the front of a coaster unless you do not mind getting a bird in the face.

dan - or liberals start thinking it's a good idea.

Yes, I am poking fun at the long list of idiocy that runs rampant in our country these days. With that said, if someone passed it around as fact, I could only say it proves my point. Almost as idiotic as believing the internet thing about Obama passing out free chickens for every pot.

At Patsy - it isn't feeling sorry for myself by any stretch. I feel sorry for anyone who buys into such idiotic notions that it is perfectly ok to post signs telling Americans that they can't walk on land in their own country because the government FAILs to SECURE THE BORDER. Think it is a great idea to target programs directed at 1 minority group, when the problem is universal (i.e. education and the failures of providing ALL students to get the help they need, instead of playing racial politics). That it is perfectly ok to spend money we don't have, and put the responsibility of paying those loans off on future generations, and think it is perfectly ok not to live within our means. That this country is NOT SEEN these days as an institution of strength, but one full of apologies - thanks to our great divider, and are willing to have some other government - who can't control their own population to dictate to us OUR POLICIES. Though, this is pretty hypocritical really, since we do the same thing to everyone else. And finally, since apparently you miss the allegatory, that we are more worried about identifying ourselves by some hyphanated, racial identity, rather than call ourselves what we are, Americans, and put some pride in THAT identity. Yes, I am also poking fun at the liberal, tree hugging special interest groups, and the pointless garbage they do... But you should also get the message, that in an election year, promises will be made to bullsht you to buy your vote, when common sense and expectations of that candidate should prevail. And we sheeple are more concerned about the party affiliation than the right man for the job.

So my apologies to those of you who DIDN'T get the message delivered through my attempt of humor with the blatantly obvious WAKE UP AMERICA message...

HA! Dinner and a Show............... Bazinga!

dan - The only reason this would be believed by anyone is because history tells us that 3L's (Loony Liberal Left-wingnuts) would think this was a good idea.

StackDat

I bet the bird was a Republican.

Sorry...couldn't resist.

It had to be. It wasn't in its nest sitting on its fat butt living off government assistance expecting everything to be handed to it. It sure wasn't a Democrat.

bob, i'm sent these stupid "pass it along" e-mails from more conservative friends all the time, including birther nonsense, "secret muslim" nonsense, "communist out to destroy america" nonsense, etc. as well as nonsense stories about how peta, the epa, or whatever did such and such improbable thing , which upon research, never happened. but their conservative targets believe it lock stock and barrel

not that the left doesn't send some pretty far-out e-mails too, but the right has the prize for most outlandish

LOL @ Will

Patsy... Relax, it was a joke, and it was pretty funny. Sadly, it was also pretty true.

No worries here on this end Dan. I didn't take your initial reply negatively, but took the opportunity to try and teach through parody the recent laundry list of outlandish BS that seems to dominate the propaganda machine.

It is really no secret that both sides of the aisle fail the American People, either through the party politics game, or the "my congressional seat has been bought and paid for by..." game. We see it all the time. What is truly upsetting to a combat vet, like myself, is to watch my fellow countrymen go at each other they way they do, when they believe the propaganda that rolls out of Washington and take it as gospel. Nothing could be further from the truth, we only need to see and WATCH how our representatives actually do their supposed jobs of representing us. I am sure your state congressmen and senators frequently fail to act in the best interests of their constituents, but sure as hell either walk, lock step with the party or rally around the cause of who pays the most in their campaign coffers.

Yes, I poked fun at the current state of affairs this country is in. And to be quite honest, I am almost ashamed to call myself an American these days because of how corrupt, misguided, and truly ignorant our current administration (to include both sides of the aisle) have become. And that in and of itself is a disservice to our great defenders of OUR democracy who are serving today. Love of the country is what should guide us. Love of money and power IS what is currently driving us. And the only ones that suffer are not the ones driving us into the hole, but the poor bstrds that are passengers in that train wreck.

I for once, would love to see a representative host a $5.00 wienie roast, so ALL the people they are supposed to represent could meet, greet, and chat with THEIR standard bearer. Instead all we have is the $25k dinners, that only the well to do and corporate exec types can attend, and push their agendas, backed by the almighty buck. Right and Wrong don't mean squat in politics these days... But certainly GREED, and FOR SALE are the beacons that eminate from ANY Candidate for office today.

dan - I'm sure you get these e-mails, just as I am sure that 3L's are quite capable of demanding outlandish regulations in response to anything they deem "hazardous" regardless that they will only increase costs and do nothing to increase safety.

Go to YouTube and search "Jumping carp". The Water Patrol has nets in front to prevent operators in the boats from getting hit by a ten pound fish. Imagine going 30 mph in a boat and getting hit by a fish that big.

This was a wild story!

No Bush didn't do it. Neither did Obama. Liberals and Conservatives got no place in this. Not everything relates back to politics. You people are obsessed.

Let's just hope that nobody tries to turn this into a discussion about religion vs. atheism....

10tacle,

It still amazes me the misconception of party affiliation. Please do your homework before spewing nastiness. Registered democrats, as a whole, have higher educations, and higher earnings than their counterparts on the party affiliation wheel. I lived in a rural township of PA, with a republican party affiliation of about 70-80% of the population. I would have to guess that approximately 75% of the population was on some sort of welfare/government assistance program. You do the math. Typical, that people want to complain about supporting such programs, but aren't complaining when it comes to using them. You might want to research the socio-economic group that benefits the most from such programs, and then "typically" what their party affiliation is. You may be surprised to find that the majority of ones sitting on their "butts" are republicans, and the majority of the ones using these programs....republicans, and the ones complaining about supporting these programs....republicans. Hmmmm, what's wrong with this picture?

On topic....glad the boy was ok...bummer day for the bird tho!

Right and Wrong don't mean squat in politics these days... But certainly GREED, and FOR SALE are the beacons that eminate from ANY Candidate for office today.

true enough, and anyone with actual ideals is soon enough corrupted...

Luv, Interesting proposal. It might be supported by those that call for cuts in government programs, but don't touch my Medicare, or those that preach smaller government, but support government control over women's health issues and whom should be allowed to marry.

If I were to speculate however, I would guess that intelligence, education level, and those that partake in government welfare programs plot out pretty much like a bell curve across party lines. I might assert that the majority of individuals that regularly use government assistance have no real party affiliation, but might claim one or the other in ignorance.

Traditionally only about half the eligible population votes at all. These non-voters may have a definite political opinion, but frankly they don't count if they are not willing to put up.

NAHHH the bird was a dumbocrat, too STUPID to get out of the way without someone to tell him!! and a govt agency to support the bird minders, your taxes at work!!

That was crazy, but then so is the Big Unit!!

I'm sure it's happened more than a few times in the past 10 years (around the U.S. or even around the world. look what happened to Fabio, same thing. I even almost got scewered in the eye from a really fast, small bird at disneyworld years ago. Missed me by inches. So the idea someone suggested of having a shield on the front seat, is not so bad, if it can be done.

So the idea someone suggested of having a shield on the front seat, is not so bad, if it can be done.

safety glasses for the front row

How about we simply accept that life has risks rather than spending millions of unnecessary dollars putting up shields that will change the aerodynamics of the ride and spoil the fun that thousands of people have every year riding in the front of rollercoasters. We really do not have to have big brother protect us from every little risk.

I think it happens aviary once in awhile.

How about we simply accept that life has risks rather than spending millions of unnecessary dollars putting up shields that will change the aerodynamics of the ride and spoil the fun that thousands of people have every year riding in the front of rollercoasters. We really do not have to have big brother protect us from every little risk.

Or...if these incidents continue to happen at an even greater frequency, which seems to be the case(per rider, statistically speaking), then fewer and fewer riders will be willing to ride up front. And eventually, if no one is riding in front, then no one is riding at all. Then the ride simply goes away. Now, wouldn't that also "spoil the fun"? Just a theoretical, alternative viewpoint to consider.

Make no mistake, bird-related, roller coaster safety measures are coming. And for the better.

Well then John, that's just sad. While I can find no reliable statistics on the number of roller coaster riders in the US, more that 300 million people annually go to amusement parks. In a quick google search I found exactly 3 reports of people being hit by birds while on coasters dating back to 2009. I would imagine that would place the risk of a coaster bird strike in the tens of thousandths of a single percent. If the government devotes one single minute or spends one single penny to this "cause" they are (again) stealing and wasting our money.

at Jerry-1903677

Oh, P.U.!! LOL.

The FAA documentsand test the effectsof ird strikes - and compiles the data. There are lots of bird strikes on military and civilian planes.there are few deaths because of the efforts of this government agency.

The aerodynamics of the coasters, sleds has been changed greatly over the years. Take a look at the lead car on a modern coaster, it is designed to direct the air flow - above - the heigth of a sitting patron in the car. We do the same thing with modern vehicles; from cars on up to 18-wheelers, buses and High-speed rail cars . works great 99% of the time. The shape of thecar is actually better at diverting impact, rather than surviving a strike.

Don't lay the problemon the government.It is so weird that the people who blame "THE Govenment" for being too wasteful - are the first ones to ask -why they let things happen? ITs a private business to build coasters. These conservatives are the ones who want to trim FAT out og government. Well some of that FAT - is "wasted" on silly things - like shooting birds at wind screens to see if there are ways to make them stronger and working with Air plane manufactorers to use the shape of the plan to use air flow to prevent a bird from impacting a plan in flight. Their work has provided our planes and air ports to be the model others build to match.

Look boy just keep calm it might be like the Demon Pigeons that attacked in the chariot race ... ( see Stymphalian birds) the next time just try to get some of that music Chiron used to have in the Big House ( to confused them) and be surrounded by some apollo kids ( good archers-they can shot them down) hahahhhaahah. Trust me it works.. Hope some of you understand this ... If you dont well... Mortals..

I think the government should create a new department for this issue, birdhouse security or something of that nature.

safety glasses for the front row

or a motorcycle helmet

That's just Kingda Ka hair

it was probably a sparrow, but he called it a pigeon. By this time next year - it'll be a whole flock of Canadian Geese - flying in formation. :)

full face helmets ... anyone?

Stop! Dont give the Government any ideas.

No need for eye protection, a sturdy windshield or bird deflector on the front the coaster would do the trick.

@Mo.... Why would you expect the government to be telling you to protect your eyes, that is just stupid. I don't wear my seatbelt because it's the law I wear it for my safety. Just like riding a motorcycle, when I used to live in the USA I lived in CO where there is 'no helmet' law..... but I wore a helmet for my best interest. If you're one of those that are always putting down the government then perhaps you should move to another country. I'll challenge you to move here where I live, Thailand, and then we'll see what you think of the USA government.

Yes - dingdongrb, I was recently in Colorado and I too wore a helmet because until they have a "no idiot" law, no one is safe on a motorcycle. However, the US government will, at the behest of the liberals, almost certainly try to protect us from life and most people's stupidity.

Glad the kid is OK.

They should rename the coaster Kingda Kaw-Kaw-Kaw.

Kinda coo coo

Troll! I smell a troll!!!

20 comments plus associated replies and you are the first to bring it up.. keep on projecting!

You'll get a more thrilling ride the further back you sit anyway. That's a characteristic of all roller coasters.

con men and democrats call their marks "PIGEONS" for a reason