Heading out on the first day of Spring, I came upon a pair of birds at an intersection near home. They would not budge. They almost stared into my windshield as I approached. I ended up going around them.
Photo credit. Sequoia Hughes.
I had to look them up. They were Mourning Doves, male and female. Since doves mate for life, I took it as a good sign.
There is an ancient practice called Ornithomancy, used by Greeks and Romans to identify omens associated with bird sightings. One legend associated the first bird seen on Valentine’s Day as a forecast for the type of soul mate you could expect.
A few examples:
Bluebird: They like to make people laugh, e.g. a comedian or clown.
Duck: Your relationship will be homey and stable.
Sparrow: They work with the land, e.g. a farmer or geologist.
Dove: Your marriage will be happy.
Canary: They’re involved in healing, e.g. a doctor or masseuse.
Turkey: They love nature and are passionate about the environment.
Swan: They’re creative, e.g. a writer or dancer.
Eagle: They will be powerful, maybe even a bully, e.g. politicians, business leaders.
Blackbird: They will have great kindness, spirituality, charity.
Goldfinch: The yellow color reflects wealth.
Not sure how accurate these forecasts turned out to be for most ancient couples, but it was an interesting find.
And if I had better luck with Youtube videos, I’d include my favorite Prince song here, “When Doves Cry”.
Have a wonderful Spring.
vanbytheriver 
I heard this song on the radio yesterday.
Interesting post, especially about ducks, as we are surrounded by them! I love to watch the birds, they make me feel humble as they survive in the most adverse conditions, yet still have a beautiful song to sing. Two woodpigeons have made a nest on top of the CCTV camera here. It happened last year too as the camera is nice and warm, so just right for keeping the eggs snug! Also, the birds keep peering into the lens!
We have Canadian geese as permanent residents here…they never leave ! Interesting about the camera warmth. Sweet bonus for the birds.
We have the Doves here. I love listening to them at any time. I also love the song by Prince.
They make a sweet sound, as does Prince. Thanks, Ron.
Is this it Van? ❤
Diana xo
This seems to be a cover of the song, Diana. I found some live versions, but of poor quality. Even when I do find a good version on Youtube, it gets eliminated for copyright issues. Thanks for the effort.
ohh sorry ’bout that!
No worries, Diana, he might have had tight control over his stuff, and maybe now, so does his estate. I look forward to when they release his reported volumes of unpublished material.
Sooooo…I will never see Goldfinch around me.
Ha ha…not sure I’ve ever seen one myself, Vic.
ah me, aren’t birds so wonderful – it’s that flying thing that makes them otherworldly…
Yep…that flying thing.
I love mourning doves. Embedding youtube videos into WP blog posts? It’s an aquired skill. 😉
Lots of mine on older posts have a way of disappearing…very frustrating. Mostly about copyright issues, I’m told.
A curious assembly of meanings for the birds but a fun read
Thanks, Bernadette. Curious, for sure.
Interesting – but no Robins? My best friend Robin – no longer alive – used to ride his bike all over NYC until he sighted his first Robin – every first day of spring (but he and my family consider 3/21 the first day – also my brother’s b’day). Sadly, still cold and rainy where I live.
I’ll tell you, if I thought for a moment that Valentines Day sighting was prophetic I’d stay in or keep my head affixed firmly to the ground to avoid seeing an eagle. I can’t imagine trying to share life with anyone with those qualities and would probably even move to a new state to avoid falling in love with one. [“They will be powerful, maybe even a bully, e.g. politicians, business leaders.”]
Love the song – have since first hearing.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
Never thought about that robin…maybe not a fixture in ancient Rome ? Laughing about your eagle avoidance…Thanks, Madelyn.
Yuck, yea?
hmmm – maybe there is something to this bird stuff – after all the eagle is our National Bird, and look at our politics – especially NOW. Could there be a better example of all three? Doesn’t bode well IMHO.
xx,
mgh
Yep, regal birds of prey…with long talons.
And balding on top – bad hair. 🙂
I was so surprised you didn’t know they were doves, but then, I have a story for that… sometime. I think we must have a lot more doves, or maybe it’s because there are a lot of birders in our family and I’ve never had the pleasure of not knowing which birds are which.
That is a fun tradition, and I’d never heard of that. Course, I don’t remember what bird I first saw on Valentine’s Day, but it was probably a songbird, because that’s what my trees house. My husband definitely isn’t a ground laborer so maybe a swallow or a wren…
Can never go wrong with Prince ❤
So many Valentine’s Days where I wasn’t looking for birds or a soul mate, but if they were there…I’d bet they were pigeons !! How fun that yours is a birder family. Prince…one of a kind.
excellent post!
Thank you, Robert.
Both at our current house and our last, there were periods of time when we had doves tucked away each year under one of the eaves by our front door. It’s been a long time since we had their visits. I miss them.
We’ve had them visit the yard, not sure they ever took up residence, King. Maybe they’ll be back for you.
Happy Spring, Van. 🌸🌷💗
And the very same to you, Julie. (Finally ?? )
Oh, I love that, Van! Yesterday I was sitting on my patio trying to listen to a video… no chance… lol! The birds were so loud. Most of all one. I think it was a blackbird and now I have its message. Thank you!
We have very aggressive blackbirds here, Erika. The robins are often chased away. Glad you enjoyed the post.
Oh, how can they dare to… Yes, I absolutely enjoyed it 😊
💘
💖💖
Van, I totally love this post!
I’d never heard of this stuff, found it trying to i.d. those doves. Thanks, Sandra.
Love ❤️ and esp the Prince close
Thanks, DK. That song was my takeaway from Purple Rain, always loved the message.
We had a collared dove whose mate was killed by a raptor. It didn’t leave the spot for days
Mates for life, there was no doubt. Sweet testimony. Thanks, Derrick.
Happy Spring, Van. Birds are smart, I say.
Thanks, Mark. It surely seems so.
I hadn’t heard about the Valentines forecast, but a spiritual healer told me about animal totems – mine is crow, apparently.
Here’s what I found online about doves and their meaning:
If Dove has flown into your life;
She may be reminding you that in order to soar, you must know when to move your wings and when to allow the wind to take you to new heights. If you were to sit on a branch looking to the sky and hoping the wind will simply pick you up, you would never move. You must surrender and allow the wind support your wings. Get moving… and experience the exhilaration of flying higher and higher.
Alternatively Dove could be letting you know that you need to simply stop and take a few deep breaths. Let go of the turmoil that is currently surrounding you and find peace within you. Know that what you see right now is reality shifting in ways you never thought possible and that what you are truly looking for is just around the corner. The most chaos happens just before your dreams come true.
If Dove is your Spirit Animal Totem;
You are truly one of the most gentle and giving persons on the planet. You have a sense of innocence that attracts that attracts many people to you. You sometimes have difficulty with others as the tend to take advantage of your pacifistic ways and the calm and serenity that is natural to your being. You are a natural nurturer and make an excellent parent.
Oh, my. So much to digest in this comment. I was especially moved by the concept of chaos and reality shifting as I came to grips with some issues recently. Thanks for all that, Maggie, I could write a post or 2, or 3. Inspired.
Looking forward to your writing. I always do. ❤
💕 Honored, Maggie.
I wonder what Cardinals bring? They are one of the most beautiful birds in the feeder. The turkeys? Not so much. My dog starts barking incessantly each morning when he hears them coming down from their roost.
I’ve always heard that cardinals show up as a reminder of folks you have lost. It happened to me quite a few times over the years. Turkeys..not so sure. Thanks, Rob.
It’s interesting how we love omens of the future, especially around love. Great list, Van. The only one I take exception to is Ducks. The ducks I know are in a constant state of frantic commotion. They’re hysterical, but I wouldn’t want to marry one. 🙂
Ha ha. We used to go to a park with our kids that featured terrorist ducks…avoided them always.
I know. Geese are even worse!
We have some that block our road, all the time. Proprietary !
Ha! I sense a future post.
I’ve got the Prince song in my head now.
Me too, Vinnie. But that’s pretty okay by me.
Exactly, it’s a stellar song.
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Thanks so much, Rob. 💖
Beautiful post, Van. I’ve always loved Mourning Doves, their call is so distinctive. I find them to be calming out in the yard. And those are very interesting facts about birds.
We’ve had the same Mallard duck couple come to the yard for years now in the spring to build a nest. Every year it’s heartwarming to witness their return and watch while they pick just the right spot for the nest. Have to keep an eye on Ruby though, so she doesn’t scare them away!
Saw my first Robin just a couple of days ago, now they seem to be everywhere! I think that’s a good sign. Hope you have a lovely week. xo
After that snowstorm last week, I saw my first robin, perched on top of a plowed snow pile, staring out onto a grocery store parking lot. After the tease of Spring, I wonder what it was thinking ??
Cold worms! Maybe frozen, right?! lol
Of course…wormsickles !
Hahahaha!!! Love it! But not the image that just conjured! lol
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The first time around I think I must have seen a vulture.. we have doves in our garden and they enjoy the seed that the blue tits throw out of the feeder.. picky devils.. I would say it was a good omen seeing them.. and glad you went around them… hugs xx
Your vulture…I remember the stories. Thanks, Sally. 💘
Beautiful.. Its lovely to see the blackbirds in our garden at the moment gather up and make a nest in our tree.. 🙂 Wishing you a Happy Spring.. xxxx
Thanks, Sue, enjoy those blackbirds.
I do… we have had families in our garden for years, and its great to see offspring from last year making nests.. We have one in the evergreen bush near our patio, and one in bushes down the bottom.. We call one white patch and the other drop wing as one has a white area pigment around one eye and the other his wing doesn’t sit right back.. They are quite used to us and know we feed meal worms etc when the nesting season starts.. 🙂
Pretty amazing, Sue. Thanks for sharing.
🙂 ❤ my pleasure
This was a lovely post, the photograph is beautiful and full of warmth and fascinating to read about Ornithomancy. I just hope I wouldn’t spy an Eagle! It might have been a bluebird as we are lucky enough to have many of these in our garden and my husband is rather funny – by accident!😀
You’re not the first to be wary of that eagle. We have an abundance of bluebirds as well, and humor has saved us both over the years. Thanks for the visit and comment, Annika. 🐦
I bet you can tell that I love birds from my screen name.
We had a sweet pair of mourning doves nest on top of our rose arbor a few years ago. We could see the squabs from our second floor window. They were wonderful!
For any American Eagle lovers there is a pair in Washington D.C. right now 3/17 sitting on their eggs. You can see a live cam at http://www.dceaglecam.org/
Loved your post!
Great screen name. I was watching the eaglets in DC that hatched last year…fun to see their progress. Thanks so much for the visit and the link.
I think they didn’t move because they’re not very bright. I’m well acquainted with mourning doves and I *do* like them but they’re not the sharpest birds on the wing. They have two gears: stock still and FREAKING OUT.
Ha ha….I had no idea. Thanks, Colette.
Love this van xx
Thank you, Lynn.
Birds just remind me of spring & it can not come soon enough.
It has been a while!
Amen to that. It hasn’t been a rough winter here, just long ! Thanks, FC.
Van, I did not know Doves mated fro life. We have Mourning Doves (so many!) all the time in our backyard. Hmmmm …. happy marriage. No wonder there are so many working over time with me. LOL I love to hear them coo and for reasons when I just watch them, they bring such a sense of Peace to my Heart. Thank you for this information. I’ll carry it in my Heart now. 🙂 ❤
Glad you notice them, and appreciate their healing presence, Amy.
I love knowing what different things mean. Thanks for sharing this list…I find it fascinating!! Love Prince’s song too! 🙂
My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by, Deb.
It’s been too long between visits!! Hope all is well with you.
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Interesting legend. I’ve never heard of that one before..:)
Neither had I, George. Thanks.
Lovely post Van. A pair of doves on the first day of Spring. I’d definitely take that as a good sign.
I’d like to believe that too, Miriam. Thanks.
Now I shall keep my eye’s peeled to spot a pair. Interesting legend.
I thought so, Jacqueline. Good luck with the birdwatching !
One year, on my late mom’s birthday, a mourning dove perched on a nearby fence and ‘watched ‘ my daughter and I as we swam.
Van, that dove then flew down and stood quite near us; it actually allowed us to walk up to it and take a picture! Amazing!
Either it was my Mom or one of her representatives from heaven.
Here’s something funny. Lady J, a huge animal lover is the one who identified what type of bird it was.
Amazing. I’d be convinced there was a connection to your mother, G. What a sweet encounter. Thanks for sharing.
Everything but duck and sparrow. I must be a complete weirdo. LOL! 😀
Ha ha…not so much !
Thank goodness!!
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🕊️ 🕊️ Thanks, Jacqueline.