7 Photos of Birds and People Beautifully Bonding With Each Other

If you love birds, it might be hard to explain to others why you enjoy their company so much. After all, cats and dogs are much more well known for being companion animals than birds. And even if folks don’t own a cat or a dog, many of them are still likely to interact with a pup they see on the sidewalk or a kitty sitting on a friend’s couch. But people and birds have long shared a connection — and it’s no surprise that it’s still going strong for some of us today.

Relationship Between People and Birds

According to Project Beak, people have cared for birds as pets since as early as 2,200 B.C. Evidence shows early depictions of royals in ancient China receiving falcons as gifts. Today, falcons are known mostly for being hunting birds rather than pet birds, but since hunting with falcons didn’t actually begin until the eighth century B.C., we can only imagine how those princes spent their time with those powerful birds all those centuries ago.

Today, most bird owners bond with species like canaries, parrots, and finches. Not only are these birds absolutely beautiful, but they also make cheerful feathery members of the family to have around the house. Even people who have never owned a bird would have a hard time denying how captivating one can be — even when you’re only viewing it from a distance. According to NPR, millions of Americans say that they consider themselves birdwatchers, or “birders” for short. But birdwatcher Jonathan Rosen, author of The Life of the Skies ($18.98, Amazon), argues in his book: “Everyone is a birdwatcher, but there are two kinds of birdwatchers: those who know what they are and those who haven’t yet realized it.” Judging by these lovely photos of birds bonding with humans — both indoors and outdoors — we find it tough to disagree with that. Who knows? Maybe these friendly birds are “watching” us too!

Scroll below to see some of the most beautiful photos of birds with people, then click on the circular buttons below your favorite one to share it instantly with friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest!