Flying Rods: Elusive Sky Phenomena

Flying rods, sometimes referred to as skyfish or UFO rods, are mysterious, elongated objects that have been captured in still photographs and videos at least since the early 1990s, and perhaps as early as the 1970s. Described as cylindrical, often with undulating fins or wings that give them a distinct, wavy motion – hence the name ‘skyfish’ – they’re said to move at incredible speeds and be invisible to the naked eye. What’s more, they’ve been baffling amateur and professional photographers, scientists, and the UFO community for over three decades.

But what are these perplexing paranormal rods? Can the skyfish mystery be easily explained? Are they, as some have suggested, an undiscovered phase of matter or an entirely new lifeform? Do they belong to another world? Let’s explore this ocean of obfuscation in an attempt to shed light on the seriously spooky skyfish mystery.

Flying rods, as they have become known, were first widely reported in the early 1990s, when camcorders and surveillance equipment became more common, leading to an increase in sightings. Since then, they’ve become a subject of fascination in UFO and cryptid communities, sparking debates about their nature and existence.

It’s believed that one of the first major instances of this phenomenon being observed was in 1994. Filmmaker José Escamilla was attempting to capture a UFO on video in or near Roswell, New Mexico, coincidentally – or not – the site of the planet’s most famous alleged UFO incident. Some versions of the story say that he was filming a skydiving event, but whatever he was doing, he unwittingly recorded bizarre, rod-like objects, setting off a thirty-year quest for the truth that remains as elusive today as it did then.

The footage of these strange UFO rods led to an explosion of interest and speculation into this flying rod mystery, with people all over the world reporting similar sightings, mainly in video footage captured outdoors. Some cryptid enthusiasts consider the skyfish mystery to be a modern-day enigma, categorising them alongside other elusive creatures like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Proponents argue that their consistent appearance in footage, often in remote or unpopulated areas, suggests a yet-undiscovered lifeform that remains hidden from scientific detection. Others think they’re nothing more than insects creating motion blur at low shutter speeds.

José Escamilla was convinced he’d stumbled across something out of this world.

From his ‘discovery’ of flying rods in 1994, José Escamilla, a ufologist and filmmaker, was certain they were a real unexplained phenomenon, despite scientific consensus suggesting otherwise.

Initially, Escamilla had been interested in capturing UFO footage, but what he recorded that day was something entirely unexpected. In his footage, he noticed strange, elongated objects moving rapidly through the sky, which seemed unlike any known aircraft or natural phenomenon.

Convinced he’d captured evidence of something extraordinary, Escamilla began promoting the idea that these paranormal rods were a type of unidentified flying object, possibly, but not certainly, of extraterrestrial origin. He produced several documentaries and gave interviews to the media and UFO communities, asserting that these rods were not insects or birds, but rather some type of lifeform or advanced technology that existed, but remained hidden from mainstream scientific scrutiny.

His films, such as Roswell Rods, contributed to the popularisation of the skyfish mystery, and he quickly became the leading voice promoting their existence as genuine cryptids or UFOs.

It’s worth noting that Escamilla did not always firmly claim that they were extraterrestrial. His stance was open to various interpretations, including cryptozoological or natural explanations. He viewed them as an anomaly beyond simple insect blur but did not exclusively associate them with aliens.

With Increased Interest Comes Increased Scrutiny

As interest in the flying rods grew, so did the analysis of Escamilla’s claims. Experts, including photographers and video analysts, investigated the phenomenon and concluded that the rods were likely nothing more than optical anomalies caused by the combination of insects or birds moving quickly, and the limitations of video cameras at the time.

The slow shutter speeds in consumer-grade camcorders of the 1990s were known to create motion blur, which could easily explain the appearance of fast-moving objects. Despite this, Escamilla remained certain that these UFO rods were otherworldly.

While his theories have largely been debunked within scientific and photographic communities, his role in popularising the flying rod mystery has left a lasting legacy. His work helped create a niche topic in cryptozoology and UFO research, one that continues to intrigue a small but dedicated group of committed enthusiasts.

The Science

Studies and experiments have demonstrated that the phenomenon is due to camera artefacts created when fast-moving insects or birds are recorded at low shutter speeds. The resulting motion blur creates the rod-like shape with undulating ‘fins,’ which are, in fact, wing movements. This has been consistently reproduced in controlled environments, leading to a near-complete consensus among scientists and videographers that this explains the skyfish mystery.

Despite this consensus, theories surrounding the existence of skyfish or flying rods nevertheless vary widely, with explanations ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. The most prominent theories are divided into two broad categories: scientific or rational explanations, and paranormal or cryptozoological ones.

Insects or Birds

The most widely accepted theory is that these so-called paranormal rods are optical illusions caused by insects or birds moving across the camera’s field of view. Low shutter speeds create motion blur, making the creatures appear as elongated, rod-like shapes with wavy limbs. This has been reproduced in controlled experiments, showing that the phenomenon is due to camera limitations rather than UFOs.

Interdimensional Beings

Some believe these UFO rods are interdimensional beings or extraterrestrial in origin, visible only to cameras due to their speed or frequency of movement. This theory connects to broader UFO and alien hypotheses, suggesting these entities could represent advanced technology or lifeforms existing on the outer edges of human perception.

Undiscovered Aerial Lifeforms

Another theory suggests that flying rods are a species of undiscovered lifeform. It has been argued these creatures are invisible to the naked eye due to their speed, altitude, or unique biology.

Plasma-Based Phenomena

Some suggest flying rods may be related to plasma, a state of matter formed during atmospheric electrical events like lightning. Plasma-based phenomena could create the illusion of structured, moving objects in the sky. While intriguing, this theory remains speculative and no concrete evidence has been provided to link the flying rod mystery to naturally occurring plasma events.

While the scientific consensus favours the insect or bird theory as the most likely explanation for flying rods, a dedicated community of enthusiasts continues to explore alternative ideas.

While extraterrestrial evidence is limited, the persistence of the flying rod mystery continues to captivate those interested in cryptozoology and unexplained phenomena.