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Bernie Sanders Greeted in Portland by a Friendly Bird

“That bird is really a dove asking us for world peace."

By Aaron Mesh

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders' return to Portland today included a surprise guest: A bird landed on his lectern at the Moda Center.

“I think there’s some symbolism here,” Sanders said. “I know it may not look like it, but that bird is really a dove asking us for world peace.”

In fact, the bird appeared to be a sparrow. It was displayed on the Moda Center jumbotron, leading to a flurry of social media photos that will probably become memes by the time we finish this post.

UPDATE, 5:54 pm: Audubon Society of Portland conservation director Bob Sallinger says the bird is a house finch.

birdjumbotron

UPDATE, 3:40 pm: The memes have begun.

Screen Shot 2016-03-25 at 4.16.50 PM

There's a GIF, and it's not unpleasant to watch.

We made this one:

birdie

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Aaron Mesh

Aaron Mesh

Aaron Mesh is WW's editor. He’s a Florida man who enjoys waterfalls, Trail Blazers basketball and Brutalist architecture.