Not necessarily about creating a fantasy creature but about fantasy and animals nonetheless, and you might have good thoughts on this, how would you go about having a bird carry something without impeding its flight? I’m working on a fairy who can’t fly and has a songbird (probably a new world sparrow if that makes any difference) acting as a service animal of sorts, so it needs to be something safe for both creatures here
but like, I don’t think you can just put a saddle on a bird and call it a day
I think it would be similar to the harnesses people use for pet birds!
How do you put an aviator flight harness on a parrot? My harness barely fits my Cape Parrot so I have developed a technique for sliding his
(image description: Three birds wearing little harnesses with a leash attached at the chest. End description)
(image description: sketch of a small bird wearing a harness with a little saddle on their back. a tiny person sits on the saddle, and notes point out the steering mechanism, which is just vaguely drawn handlebars, and the saddle's raised back to prevent falls. end description)
don't know that reins would work, since birds don't really lead with their heads! but they do kinda roll their bodies when they turn, so steering by leaning to the side is probably effective enough. an additional strap that goes under the tail could also help keep the saddle steady.
