CHARENTON-LE-PONT (94) 10.10.2020

On Saturday 10 October 2020 at about 20:20–20:25, a witness outside with their spouse saw a swarm of small orange lights fluttering and wheeling in a circle that stayed in place, like phosphorescent birds. A few isolated individuals, perhaps two or three, approached from the southwest and left again. The bright group then began moving north, northeast/east, dimming and disappearing into the few distant clouds. No photograph, video or sketch accompanies the account. Only one account was collected. Two hypotheses were retained for consideration: sky lanterns or birds. The observation fits sky lanterns in several respects: - Appearance: small orange or white, phosphorescent-looking lights. - Movement: fluttering and wheeling. - Duration and disappearance: 2 minutes is compatible with a lantern flight; burners going out, possibly gradually, could explain disappearance. A witness might mistake this for entry into clouds, although clouds are generally above lanterns' maximum flying altitude. - A Saturday evening. Three elements nevertheless argue against lanterns: - No application for permission to release lanterns had been made to the prefecture. - No other report was found by GEIPAN or online, although so many lanterns in a densely populated area should have attracted other observers. - The north, northeast/east movement. Wind is a key factor because lanterns are released in light winds and follow them. Three weather stations—Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Jussieu and Montsouris—reported average winds of 6–11 km/h, consistent with light wind (see weather document). The source first places the stations 5–6 km east of the observation site, then describes them as west of it. Their respective winds were directed east, southeast and south, seemingly conflicting with the UAPs' northeast/east movement (see Google Earth document). However, weak wind in an urban area can change direction substantially. The investigation therefore considers that this apparent mismatch may not be meaningful, since wind direction from those stations may be an unsuitable reference under these conditions. Birds also fit the observation: - Appearance: small orange or white, phosphorescent-looking lights. - Paths: fluttering and wheeling, then moving together northeast/east. - The witness made a very similar observation at the same time the following week and identified that second sighting as birds (see the witness's letter). - Numerous streetlights in a densely populated urban area could explain their illuminated appearance. - Disappearance could result from changes in lighting between the areas they crossed. - The Île-de-France bird-protection association, contacted during the investigation, suggested starlings or possibly rose-ringed parakeets displaced by bird-scaring operations. However, Charenton town hall said no such operations had taken place. A group of local birds unrelated to any scaring operation remains possible, particularly given the proximity of the Bois de Vincennes. GEIPAN classifies the observation B: probable misidentification of birds.