Illustration

Crows

For Indian Hindus, crows represent the souls of deceased family members and friends. Every year on the anniversary of a loved one's death, the family will put out rice balls on banana leaves for the crows. If the crows come and eat the rice, it... More

Illustration

Geese

In Ancient Rome in 390 BCE, sacred geese of Juno kept in her temple courtyard warned the city of intruders by honking loudly. The birds warned the city of the intruders before they were even visible, and before even the dogs started barking. The... More

Illustration

Hummingbirds

For many indigenous cultures in southern Arizona and Mexico, hummingbirds are known as a bringers of rain, because they led the rain and wind spirits back to their ancestors during a drought. In this story specifically, the hummingbird wraps a... More

Illustration

Kiwis

According to Māori legend, the kiwi was the only bird who agreed to live on the forest floor to eat the insects and save us from them. In this legend, Tanemahuta is walking through the forest with his brother Tanehokahoka. Tanemahuta explains to... More

Illustration

Loons

In many Canadian Indigenous communities, the loon is valued for helping shamans connect with the spirit world. The loon acts as a valued spirit animal to assist the shaman in reaching the lower world, often compared to the subconscious, because of... More

Illustration

Ostriches

The Ancient Greeks kept ostriches as pets, and it is thought that jockeys raced them. Some historical artifacts feature images of jockeys on ostriches, suggesting that it was a sport at the time.

Illustration

Parrots

Around the 13th and 14th century, medieval Catholics saw parrots as pure and representatives of the Holy Family, and thus were valued pets for Popes. Parrots' feathers are unaffected by rain and the bird was seen as impeccably clean. At the time,... More

Illustration

Peacocks

In Ancient Egypt, the peacock was involved in the worship of the sun god Amon-Ra, represented the all-seeing eye, wisdom and watchfulness, and was sacred as a poisonous snake killer. The peacock was also associated with the Phoenix.

Illustration

Pigeons

Messenger pigeons have been used for thousands of years to deliver messages from one place to another. Some of their uses include delivering messages between homes, and during war to bring messages back and forth from soldiers. Pigeons have... More

Illustration

Starlings

Mozart had a pet starling that he purchased because of its ability to mimic sound, and it is rumoured that the bird inspired one of his musical pieces. It's also said that he purchased the starling because when he went to the store where they were... More

Work by

Gillian Goulet

Illustration

“Feathered Friends looks at how humans have benefitted from birds through our history, mythology, and present day, to show the strange and complex ways that people try to connect with creatures unlike...” [More]