Guest Author - Lisa Shea

Whether you've just found your true love or you've been together for years, it's always inspiring to think of the loyal birds who mate for life. Which are they?

Doves
The most famous bird of love is the dove. Doves have been associated with love and marriage for thousands of years. Their loyalty to each other and their joint care for their family is legendary.
More about the History of Doves

Canadian Geese
It wasn't that long ago that the Canadian Goose was an endangered bird. Now it's extremely populous and can be found just about anywhere in the eastern US and Canada. Canadian Geese are extremely loyal and if one of a pair is injured, the other will stay with the injured bird and guard it until it's better. Both will actively protect and care for their young.
More about the Canadian Goose

American Bald Eagle
Bald Eagles have come back from an endangered status and have rebuilt a stable population. Eagle pairs mate for life and build a large nest together high in a safe location. There they tend to and raise the few chicks they hatch each year, training the young eagle in the difficult task of carving a living out of their harsh environment.
More about the Bald Eagle

Swans
Swans are large birds with long lives, and they are aggressively loyal. They defend each other and their young chicks fiercely, taking over a pond or lake and making it theirs. One of the more famous swans in the US is the Mute Swan, which was introduced in New York in the 1800s.
More about the Mute Swan