When we want to go birdwatching or appreciate birdsong, we usually head out into nature – a forest, perhaps, or a park. Yet birds live everywhere. In fact, there are plenty of them right beside us in the city. In winter, people hang feeders for tits; sparrows boldly try their luck with the croissant you absent-mindedly left on your plate; crows never miss a chance to investigate an open rubbish bin; and pigeons… well, pigeons have simply become part of the city itself. In Vilnius, birds perch not only on tree branches but also on sculptures and building façades.
For centuries, birds in mythology and folklore have symbolised the link between earth and sky – the soul, and the idea of freedom. Different birds carry their own meanings. The eagle symbolises power, courage, and liberty. The nightingale is associated with creativity, poetry, and love, while the swallow heralds spring, renewal, and hope. In the sculptures and architecture of Vilnius, these and other birds take on their own special meanings. Sometimes they seem to chirp about the city and its history. Sometimes – about us.
This route is not an ornithological one. Instead, it tells the story of how birds became quiet symbols of Vilnius, connecting nature, myth, history, and everyday life in the city.
‘Plenty of pigeons in Ukmergė,’ sang Vytautas Kernagis. But what do you think – which birds will you meet while following this route through Vilnius?
