Avian illuminations a cultural history of birds

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates.
They have three characteristics that distinguish them from other animals: feathers; hard-shelled eggs; and hollow bones.
Like mammals, birds are warm-blooded, meaning that their body temperature stays the same no matter how hot or cold it is outside.

Avian Illuminations examines the many roles birds have played in human society, from food, messengers, deities, and pets, to omens, muses, timekeepers, custodians, hunting companions, decorative motifs, and, most importantly, embodiments of our aspirations.

How did our ancestors use birds as a means of divination?

Our ancestors relied on these in their daily lives

For example the flight patterns and timing of migrating bird flocks were often used as a method of divination

Here are brief descriptions of the spiritual significance of a number of popular birds

What is avian illumination?

This is what I call an ‘avian illumination’ – an intense identification of a person, or group of persons, with counterparts among birds

The difference between human being and animal begins to fall away, if only momentarily, and the person may then sadly realize that he is grounded

Why is avian diversity important?

The origin of avian diversity reveals some greater truths about evolution over long timescales, namely that major living groups have a deep history, underwent long and often unpredictable paths of evolution, and were given unexpected opportunities to radiate if they were able to survive mass extinctions that decimated other groups

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