The killing is definetely no 'impulsive act'.
Look up for cross (mention the symbolysm, by the way...)-bows. At the supposed timeset for the journey (at about 1500) simple shotguns were already invented. Moreover, the act of loading a cross-bow needs strength and time as it never has been carried loaded.
I wouldn't agree with amy-lepore, because the mariner was blessed as well as punished by the other seamen for killing the bird.
So I agree with thedra: killing the bird isn't central; it's what follows (even if birds are creatures who -by nature ;-) - live between earth and heaven).
But what follows isn't a 'godly punishment'. No. Nature is spiritualised before 'God' comes into play.
Does 'nature' punish the mariner? Does 'God' punish him? Does he punish himself?
To answer your question: the symbolic nature of the action is that one could regret what one has done before.
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