Oddly enough, the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, which are among the few sources of news of events in the 600-1000 period, spends considerable ink on describing unusua

Oddly enough, the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, which are among the few sources of news of events in the 600-1000 period, spends considerable ink on describing unusual actions of flocks of birds. That and ecclesiastical events. You do get the occasional account of wars, kings, land deeds, etc. but the frequent mention of birds is odd. Perhaps they were seen as portentous?