Puranas-a bunch of lies?

I am a member of some online groups discussing Hinduism.
In such groups, sometimes I find some half baked "scholars" who claim
that they know everything in Hinduism.
Such "scholars" falsely assert that only the Vedas are true, the others
like the Puranas and Itihasas are just fiction.
Accounting for distortions and misinterpretations that might have crept
into them along the millennia through which Hindu works have existed, we
can definitely say that they are not just a "bunch of lies".
I can go on giving examples proving the authenticity of such wonderful works,
but I will just give one-this one convinced me long long back that the Puranas
are indeed true.
Near Chennai in Tamilnadu, there is a place called Thirukazhukukundram
(also known as Thirukazukundram) having a Siva temple. The Devaaram (an
ancient Tamil text) says that 2 Rishis come here as eagles to worship
Lord Siva. This is also mentioned in the Sthala Purana of the temple.
While the exact date of composition of these Puranas cannot be
ascertained, even Leftist historians (who have a habit of proclaiming
that everything that is Hindu suddenly sprang up only 1500 years ago)
would agree that they are atleast a few centuries old.
Now, the fact is that the eagles had been coming to the temple until
very recently. Everyday, they would come and accept rice from the
priest. What's more, the eagles were TWO in number, as mentioned in the
Puranas, and this had been happening for centuries! I will not accept
conspiracy theories here. These eagles weren't pets, they just came from
somewhere at midday and then left after having the offering. Moreover,
nobody advertised the coming of the eagles to make money. In fact this
temple is not that famous when compared to the Madurai Meenakshi temple,
Srirangam temple,Rameswaram temple,etc.

I am convinced. I am a Hindu and don't need "miracles" and ordinances
from a central body declaring that such a person is a "saint" and need
to be worshipped. No points for guessing what I am referring to. :)

PS: For the past 10 years or so, the eagles have not been coming
(but the priest still waits with his offering for the eagles at midday,
hoping that they will come).
Plausible reasons suggested for this are:
1. The eagles have been killed due to the use of pesticides in the region.
2. The painting of the temple in gaudy colours (repelling the eagles) by the atheist
Tamilnadu government, which is notorious of destroying many priceless ancient
paintings in temples across the state by just painting/whitewashing the walls with scant regard to the existing paintings.

This explains the desperate need for protecting our religious heritage from destruction.