GW [OT] Ghostly accident

Zooming away at 100kph, and suddenly a bird (a crow? a seagull? a magpie?
something decently sized, not a sparrow or finch) decided to fly low across
the road. Didn't even have time to react more than to say "No!", and
swerving or braking would have been more dangerous to us (Joel & Cary were
in the car too) than just accepting the inevitable.

I heard the sickening THUD! then the crunch crunch as its poor body went
under both driver's side tyres. I felt horrid, sick, guilty.

And yet, I didn't see any sort of remains in my rear view mirror. I stopped,
got out, and still could not see any evidence of the bird. Not being very
brave, I got Joel to check *under* the car in case the remains of the bird
were stuck in the wheel cavities or something. Nothing. No hint of bird at
all.

There is a remote possibility that perhaps the bird made it to the other
side of the road and I didn't hit it after all. But what was that sickening
THUD crunch crunch that seemingly coincided with what I thought was the
impact?

Did I hit the bird or not? Should I be mourning it and putting up a small
memorial somewhere or should I be rejoicing that one member of our wildlife
escaped from almost certain death?

Now confused as whether I should be feeling sad or happy.

Yowie

Did I hit the bird or not? Should I be mourning it and putting up a small
memorial somewhere or should I be rejoicing that one member of our wildlife
escaped from almost certain death?

Now confused as whether I should be feeling sad or happy.

Yowie

Hi Yowie,

Check under the car's bonnet, and make sure it didn't become lodged in your
car's air cleaner. I had a similar thing happen, but didn't find anything
until a couple weeks later when I took my car in for an oil change. They
checked the air filter and found it full of feathers! I had them clean it
out and I replaced it the next day. I felt sorry for the poor little bird!

Patti

Did I hit the bird or not? Should I be mourning it and putting up a small
memorial somewhere or should I be rejoicing that one member of our wildlife
escaped from almost certain death?

Now confused as whether I should be feeling sad or happy.

Yowie

Hi Yowie,

Check under the car's bonnet, and make sure it didn't become lodged in your
car's air cleaner. I had a similar thing happen, but didn't find anything
until a couple weeks later when I took my car in for an oil change. They
checked the air filter and found it full of feathers! I had them clean it
out and I replaced it the next day. I felt sorry for the poor little bird!

Patti

Did I hit the bird or not? Should I be mourning it and putting up a small
memorial somewhere or should I be rejoicing that one member of our wildlife
escaped from almost certain death?

Now confused as whether I should be feeling sad or happy.

Yowie

Hi Yowie,

Check under the car's bonnet, and make sure it didn't become lodged in your
car's air cleaner. I had a similar thing happen, but didn't find anything
until a couple weeks later when I took my car in for an oil change. They
checked the air filter and found it full of feathers! I had them clean it
out and I replaced it the next day. I felt sorry for the poor little bird!

Patti