I Love You, and I Want You To Be My Bird

The eagle evokes patriotism, the pigeon evokes squalor. Storks spread new life, poultry spreads influenza. A single white dove is peace itself, a state almost contrary to nature—and humans have determined the innocent creature carries that impossibility in its fragile wings. We idolize, we demonize—sing songs of birds near and far, actual and mythical, dinosaur and not. And when four birders travel too deep into the feathered minds of their avian encounterees, humanity unravels, becomes beaked and buoyant—then soars. To the call of the carrion crow every life perpetually marches—but before reaching the bird, we can sing along.