The Ugly Chickens by Harold Waldrop

Edwards's Dodo, painted by Roelant Savery in 1626

A chance encounter with an old lady on a bus sends a University of Texas ornithology teaching assistant on a wild goose chase (ahem, wild dodo chase) to track down a possible sighting of this extinct bird. If the rumor proves true, it would be a discovery of a lifetime, launching him into scientific stardom and worldwide acclaim. But first, he has to follow a winding trail of clues deep into the rural American South, where the truth is as elusive as the Dodo themselves.

The Ugly Chickens by Harold Waldrop has a great premise (what if the Dodo never fully went extinct?) with offbeat humor and plenty of historical nuggets, which I found to be more interesting than the actual story. While the narrative meanders and does take a few detours (perhaps more than necessary), the whimsical charm of the story makes it worth the ride. 

This adventure becomes more than just a scientific scavenger hunt but a journey of self-discovery for the protagonist as well. He isn’t just chasing an extinct bird; he’s pursuing a lifelong dream, willing to stake his entire academic reputation based on a hunch. As he follows a decades-old trail, each new clue brings him closer to uncovering a forgotten piece of history and perhaps something even more extraordinary. Waldrop hooks the reader with anticipation, utilizing a mix of dry wit, historical asides, and an underlying sense of wonder to keep the narrative momentum going, even though it loses steam near the end. 

You can read this story HERE.