A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found • Hacker News Board

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#11

Post by antonvs » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:30 PM UTC

ghgr wrote: post #5

They weren't "missing": GPS-tagged red-footed falcons revealed that they migrate to a tiny communal roost in central Angola (“Falcopolis”) each February–March. There, saved you a click (disappointed on National Geographic for that clickbaity headline).

> disappointed on National Geographic for that clickbaity headline

I don't think there's a single name brand from "before internet" that has survived without turning into a clickbait chaser of ad revenue above all else.

The term for this is "late stage capitalism".

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#12

Post by ericpruitt » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:35 PM UTC

patall wrote: post #4

EngCanMan wrote: post #2

https://archive.is/V29Pq

The article seems to be free for me (with adblock?). Also, the link does not work.

I have uBlock installed, and I got an overlay wanting me to enter my email address to read the article.

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#13

Post by cj » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:36 PM UTC

antonvs wrote: post #9

Do falcons have no right to privacy?

But what do they have to hide?

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#14

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:45 PM UTC

throwup238 wrote: post #7

ghgr wrote: post #5

They weren't "missing": GPS-tagged red-footed falcons revealed that they migrate to a tiny communal roost in central Angola (“Falcopolis”) each February–March. There, saved you a click (disappointed on National Geographic for that clickbaity headline).

They were missing. Then they used GPS tags to locate them. That’s why the article is titled “ A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found ”. Something was unknown, then we used sensors to solve the mystery. Wild, isn’t it?

[deleted]

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#15

Post by markdown » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:46 PM UTC

antonvs wrote: post #10

throwup238 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They were missing. Then they used GPS tags to locate them. That’s why the article is titled “ A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found ”. Something was unknown, then we used sensors to solve the mystery. Wild, isn’t it?

According to the dictionary definition of "missing", they were not missing. At best, our assumptions about where we expected to find them were wrong.

So my keys have never truly been missing, eh?

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#16

Post by bogzz » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:46 PM UTC

The falcons were found congregating on an obscure German forum from the early 2000's.

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#17

Post by jstanley » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:55 PM UTC

markdown wrote: post #15

antonvs wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to the dictionary definition of "missing", they were not missing. At best, our assumptions about where we expected to find them were wrong.

So my keys have never truly been missing, eh?

So everyone else's keys are missing materially all of the time?

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#18

Post by throwup238 » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:56 PM UTC

antonvs wrote: post #10

throwup238 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They were missing. Then they used GPS tags to locate them. That’s why the article is titled “ A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found ”. Something was unknown, then we used sensors to solve the mystery. Wild, isn’t it?

According to the dictionary definition of "missing", they were not missing. At best, our assumptions about where we expected to find them were wrong.

What dictionary are you using?

I just looked it up and MW’s definition of “missing” is “absent” or “lost” or “needed or expected but not included”. Dictionary.com says “absent, not found, or lost” and “lacking”. Wiktionary says “Not able to be located; gone, misplaced”, “Not present when it (they) should be”, and “Of an internal combustion engine: running roughly due to an occasional lack of a spark or other irregular fault.”

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#19

Post by toast0 » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 6:59 PM UTC

throwup238 wrote: post #7

ghgr wrote: post #5

They weren't "missing": GPS-tagged red-footed falcons revealed that they migrate to a tiny communal roost in central Angola (“Falcopolis”) each February–March. There, saved you a click (disappointed on National Geographic for that clickbaity headline).

They were missing. Then they used GPS tags to locate them. That’s why the article is titled “ A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found ”. Something was unknown, then we used sensors to solve the mystery. Wild, isn’t it?

I wish I could put gps tags on things after they go missing...

Re: A Million Falcons Went Missing. Here’s How They Were Found

#20

Post by brianpan » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 7:04 PM UTC

ghgr wrote: post #5

They weren't "missing": GPS-tagged red-footed falcons revealed that they migrate to a tiny communal roost in central Angola (“Falcopolis”) each February–March. There, saved you a click (disappointed on National Geographic for that clickbaity headline).

Is this actually clickbait? The title is in the form of many clickbait title, but I'd argue it delivers; the article is more interesting than the title.

I suggest readers spend the click and the five minutes.