It's Friday which means Folklore Friday from Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary! Today's folklore is all about birds!
There are many superstitions associated with birds. Many birds bring good luck, others foretell birth or death. If a bird poops on your head it is a sign of good luck. It is good luck if a blackbird makes a nest on your house. The purple martin is thought to bring good luck to any house where it nests and rears its young. Whatever you do to a robin will happen to you, so be kind! A kingfisher brings good fortune and luck. Sparrows carry the souls of the dead, it's unlucky to kill one. When a swan lays its head and neck back over its body during the daytime it means a storm is coming. Having a wren around will prevent one from drowning. A bird that flies into a house foretells an important message is coming. However, if the bird dies, or is white, this foretells death. Storks deliver babies. Storks were sacred to Venus in Roman mythology. If a stork builds a nest on your roof, you have received a blessing and a promise of never ending love from Venus. Aristotle made killing a stork a crime. The meaning and origin of the expression "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" refers back to medieval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey). It is better to be happy with the things we have rather than risk everything in order to get more. The ‘bird’ we already possess is far more valuable than the ‘two’ we could possibly get. Being that Corkscrew is one of the best places for birding, you should have no trouble finding at least 2 birds in the bush. #CorkscrewSwamp #FolkloreFriday
