Many of the stories about flight involve birds. The eagle, or thunderbird, was a figure of power in many native American stories. He was associated with the sky, the sun, thunder and lightening.

Many cultures consider people with special powers to be connected with bird spirits. In China, the mountain men were thought to be able to fly. In India, one of the gods flies around on a wild goose. And in Egypt when a person dies, they believe that person's soul leaves the body in the form of a bird.

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Last modified: Tue Jul 1 13:30:15 PDT 1997