Feathered Friends by Sherrie Versluis
October is the month of Halloween and that entails a time of mystery and magic. In the world of nature there is no creature more magical than that of a bird. Some of the most ancient cultures celebrated or honoured birds with many of them having their own version of a bird goddess. Many of the earliest artifacts ever discovered were carvings of birds or a bird goddess, which was a female body with a bird head. The Pagan and Wiccan religions along with the Native Americans, Druids, and ancient Greeks all have fascinating histories of how they honoured and adored our feathered friends.
American Crow
Crows have a reputation of being one of the smartest creatures with their abilities to use tools and work together to problem solve. In early times, the Greeks thought of crows as messengers of the gods holding wisdom and secrets. Hindu legends speak of the crows gift of being able to deliver messages and offerings to ancestors. In India, seeing a crow perching in a tree near you is a sign of good luck to come. In Celtic lore, the goddess Morrigan was represented by crows and ravens and was said to warn of approaching enemies and, to carry the souls of the dead to the after-world after battle.
American Robin
One of the most well known birds is the American Robin and it is most revered as being a true symbol of the arrival of spring. In folklore, robins were said to be present at funerals to sing last rites. It was also believed that when you saw your first robin of the year perching in a tree, you could make a wish and if you made it before the robin flew away it would come true. English legends call the robin a bird of good fortune and to kill or harm one would bring bad luck for the rest of your life.
Mourning dove
Known for their soft cooing sounds, the mourning dove earned its name from their mournful call. Doves were first domesticated by the Egyptians in 2600 BCE and have since been a part of history and mythology as a symbol of peace, divinity, and spirit. Greek mythology says that doves carried messages for Zeus and, goddesses Atargatis and Astarte were always adorned in doves. The dove is recognized widely as being a sign of peace, so it is hard to believe it could ever be associated with anything dark but, in medieval Europe, this was the case. Some believed the devil could take the form of a dove and mislead people unknowingly to the dark side. This belief eventually changed as it was insisted the dove was so pure the devil could never do such.
House wren
This tiny bird has more history to it from more cultures than any bird I researched! Wrens meant much to the Druids. It was said to behold magical powers and was often called the ‘sorcerer bird’, so powerful a bird that most Druids wore a wren feather as an amulet to protect against magic spells. In Rome, it was said that a wren predicted the murder of Julius Caesar through its oracular powers.
The Greek writer, Aesop, wrote how a wren outwitted an eagle to become the king of all birds. He wrote of a great avian assembly that chose the smallest and largest bird to compete to determine who would be their sovereign. The bird who could fly the highest would win. It was generally assumed the eagle would soar above the tiny wren and the eagle would then hold the highest power. As the eagle gained in its flight high into the sky the tiny wren jumped out of the eagle’s feathers, where it had hidden. It climbed even higher into the sky and became king.
Birds have played a role in the lives of humans as far back as history can show us. They also presented us with the beauty of music and the inspiration to take flight. They are truly a creature to be honoured and respected. Sadly, climate change, habitat loss, and overuse of chemicals has resulted in a steep decline in bird populations in the past 40 years. Hopefully changes can be made to keep the magic of nature and all its creatures alive and well for future generations to enjoy too.
Sherrie Versluis owns the Preferred Perch and is an avid birder.