Fledglings

The presence of white feathers can be symbolic in so many ways. During WW1 and WW2 women were drafted to issue these to men who were not in uniform to symbolise a lack of courage, with the aim of shaming them into joining up. In more recent times they are often seen as an effigy of the presence of an angel or a loved one we have lost, but who is close by and is a source for comfort. In their literal state, they are a remnant of a young bird, leaving the nest and starting their journey into adulthood and independence which itself is a metaphor for a moment of significance which anyone who has experienced the departure of a loved one, whether it be a child leaving home, or a death, can relate. It is a highly personal experience and one we can share with nature whilst out in the landscape.