Science Saturday I: Is That an Alien In Your Gut?

As if bird flu fears weren't enough to make ordinary waterfowl suddenly seem creepy, now there's an x-ray of a duck with what looks like a space alien hiding in its gut.

Workers at the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield, California, took the x-ray while treating a mallard with a broken wing.

The scientists were surprised by what they saw: a head snarling at them from within the bird's gizzard. (See lower right of photo.)

Said rescue center executive director Jay Holcomb:

We're a 35-year-old organization, and we've seen a lot of things -- bullets, fish hooks -- but this is the first time anything like this has shown up.

The center's experts say there's no telling for sure what created the eerie image. Holcomb said he suspects it was caused by grains of food in the duck's digestive system.

This indeed was the case. The duck died from its injuries soon after the x-ray was taken and an autopsy revealed grain in the bird's belly and not much else.

The duck didn't die in vain: The rescue center has put its x-ray up for auction on eBay, with all proceeds benefiting the center's bird rehabilitation program.