As a child, my late Granny taught me that animals, and especially birds, that appear to us/near us, on friendly terms, are our "sign" and that animal, in this case, bird, is to be thanked for its presence and help as this was sign of special favor by that bird. My bird sign is the owl; my animal sign is the snake. Now, it happens that I am old woman, raised in swamps and back woods so maybe that animal/bird sign doesn't happen anymore. So I know that happens to Native peoples but don't know what to make of its happening to a man born in Germany. Regret lack of clarity, but I know not how else to explain. Fran Chinquapin