Weaverville, North Carolina

Fantastical Birds and Where to Find Them:  They are in a cemetery, but they are not dead. They are full-figured, but they are not granite sculptures. They are denizens of New Jersey, but they are not confined by bricks and mortar. They are wild turkeys, and their presence illustrates the role of the cemetery not only as an aviary, but also as a wildlife preserve. Cemeteries help keep cities green. West Memorial Park. [2012]

Kirkwood, New York

Fantastical Birds and Where to Find Them:  If you have even a small yard, set up a bird feeder, and watch throngs of fantastical birds appear. As I write this post, I am looking out the window at our feeder, which is filled with fantastical: goldfinches, cardinals, woodpeckers, and sparrows. A few months ago, we even saw one very rare visitor, a painted bunting. Kirkwood Cemetery. [2017]

Woodstown, New Jersey

Fantastical Birds and Where to Find Them:  You can be sure this couple valued the wetlands that so characterize South Jersey. Cat-o-nine tails symbolize the marshes along the Delaware, and ducks come with every marsh. Just as this duck has "flown the coup," the soul departs earth for heaven above (hopefully)! Lawnside Cemetery. [2015]

Augusta, Georgia

Fantastical Birds and Where to Find Them: Is that a bird house hoping to attract a new resident? Or, a waystation at heaven's gate hoping to serve a wayward soul? Westover Memorial Park. [2015]

Glen Castle, New York

Fantastical Birds and Where to Find Them: Go looking for those garden flags in cemeteries, and you might just find some birds. If they are as colorful as the goldfinch, they might even compete with the flowers for attention. Glen Castle Cemetery. [2017]

Milford, Delaware

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  Speaking of ducks, here's the standard bearer: Yellow Duckie. Beloved in life; beloved in death! Don't you just wish you could add a little color, though? What does Rubber Duckie symbolize? Perhaps mirth, charm, and playfulness. Milford Community Cemetery. [2017]

Williamsburg, Ohio

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  Seagulls always seem to steal the show, no matter where they are. In this case, they are hundreds of miles from the coast. The seagull symbolizes freedom and resourcefulness; very opportunistic and very chatty they are. Perhaps the appearance of seagulls on tombstones is correlated with the publication of Jonathan Livingston Seagull in 1970. Williamsburg Cemetery. [2016]

Salisbury, Maryland

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  From the wetlands of the Delaware to the wetlands of the Chesapeake, ducks are popular components of headstone design. These look like wood ducks. Nevertheless, like all ducks, they symbolize decisiveness and the ability to leave the past in the past. Parsons Cemetery. [2017]

Port Penn, Delaware

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  Mallards are all over the Delaware River estuary: nothing unusual, just a part of the landscape. It is no wonder that their images, seemingly in full motion, would appear on tombstones throughout the region. Mallards, like ducks in general, are symbols of decisiveness. Hickory Grove Cemetery. [2013]

Pennsville, New Jersey

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  As a coastal state with lots of wetlands, New Jersey should have a fair share of water fowl in its cemeteries. So, it is no surprise that people who have seen herons, egrets and cranes on a daily basis may choose them for their headstones. The heron is a symbol of poise, tact, and elegance. St. George Episcopal Church Cemetery. [2013]

Cynthiana, Kentucky

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The words are by Civilia Martin (1905), but the inspiration comes right out of Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew. There is no more ordinary bird, yet the sparrow's value is no less than any other. Battle Grove Cemetery. [2015]

Earlville, New York

The Cemetery as an Aviary: Owls are not cute, not graceful, and not flirtatious. They often get bypassed in the race to choose a symbol for the ages. Yet, the owl has its devotees. It stands as a symbol of wisdom, learning, intelligence, status, and wealth  Maybe surprising it is not seen more often in cemeteries. Wilcox Cemetery. [2017]

Pine Grove, Pennsylvania

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  Wild turkeys are not a common component of tombstone art, but when you have an avid turkey hunter, they are exactly what you need to define your life for those who may not have known you personally. The turkey is a symbol of abundance, blessing, satisfaction, and community. It should not be surprising that Benjamin Franklin wanted to make it the national bird. Jacobs Lutheran Church Cemetery. [2017]

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Cemetery as an Aviary: The eagle is mentioned 34 times in the Bible. Probabably the most famous verse is from Isaiah, who tells us that those who serve the Lord "shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be  weary, and they shall walk and not faint." What a promise! And, what an explanation for the eagle's frequent appearance in cemetery art. However, we all know that most eagles in cemeteries are there because the eagle is the secular saint of American patriotism. On gravestones, the eagle is often used to symbolize patriotism, freedom, pride, and the power of dreams. Olivet Cemetery. [2013]

Beckley, West Virginia

The Cemetery as an Aviary:  The dove may have deep and resonant Biblical roots, but not the hummingbird. These flower-suckers makes no appearance in the Bible, yet their popularity in tombstone art has risen steadily. Is it because the hummingbird symbolizes busy-ness (hardly a hallmark of cemeteries)? Or, is it because hummingbirds are so common in the suburbs where most Americans now live? Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. [2014]