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Video Captures Moment Bird Falls Down Gigantic 'Glory Hole' In California

Video Captures Moment Bird Falls Down Gigantic 'Glory Hole' In California

We can't rule out fowl play

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Incredible video footage has emerged that shows a lonesome bird being sucked into a giant 'glory hole' in the middle of a reservoir.

No, it's not what you're thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Actually, put your mind back into the gutter, as that's sort of what this hole is.

Let me explain. The video was shot at a place in California called Lake Berryessa. In the middle of this lake - it's not actually a lake - is a huge spillway known as the 'Glory Hole'. It's a 200ft drain that is meant to catch water when the reservoir starts to overflow.

The footage was captured by Rick Fowler, who is the water resources manager for the lake, in Napa County. He spotted that the hapless bird was floating closer and closer to the huge, swirling hole and started filming.

Fowler managed to capture the moment that the bird went over the edge and disappeared down into the gaping vortex.

Here we go...
Tori Junes Fowler/Rick Fowler/Storyful

The video has since been shared on social media by Rick's cousin Tori, who captioned the video: "Duck took a wild ride but did make it out on the other side!"

Now, not everyone is entirely convinced that the bird did eventually make it out the other side. After all, even being able to fly might not be enough to save you from a plummet down a swirling whirlpool hole (hole-pool, perhaps?).

Despite that, Fowler insisted that the bird flew off after the ordeal. It simply went to the bottom of the 200ft dam, emerged on the other side - presumably feeling a little flustered - composed itself and flew off.

An aerial shot of Lake Berryessa.
PA

Fowler told the Guardian: "Thwack - it shot out of there like a bullet.

"It looked like a rag doll - like it was dead."

He continued: "Nobody ever thinks of anything going down that thing and being able to survive.

"But he survived, alright. I watched it."

Well, that's OK then. I guess we'll just have to take his word for it. However, that doesn't give you the green light to go trying something like this.

The likelihood is that you will not manage to go through this gigantic washing machine unharmed.

Seriously? Think you'd make it?
PA

Either way, it's a cool video, made even better by the knowledge that no animals had to die in the making of it.

Incidentally, while the video claims that the bird is a duck, Fowler actually thinks that it could have been a cormorant. They're famously good at diving to deep depths. In fact, up to 150ft has been known.

Does that include a sheer plummet down what is essentially a gigantic storm drain? Apparently so.

Featured Image Credit: Tori Junes Fowler/Rick Fowler/Storyful

Topics: News, US News, Weird, Animals

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