The Apostlebird – The ground dwellers…

February 26, 2011 by a j mithra

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) by Ian

The Apostlebird – The ground dwellers… ~ by a j mithra

The Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea), also known as the Grey Jumper, is a quick-moving, gray or black bird about 13 inches (33 centimetres) long. It is a native to Australia where it roams woodlands, eating insects and seeds at, or near, ground level.

Apostlebirds often travel in groups of about 12; for this reason they were named after the Biblical apostles, the twelve chief followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, the species travel in family groups of between 6 and 20, which may coalesce with other family groups into large feeding flocks of over 40.

Their gregarious nature and harsh scolding/grating calls have led to a plethora of colloquial names. They can be known locally as Lousy Jacks (due to heavy louse infestations), Happy Jacks, happy Families and CWA Birds. The latter name is mildly derogatory, referring to the supposed resemblance of Apostlebird’s constant chatter, to a Country Women’s Association meeting.

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) by Ian

Grey Jumper is an alternate name. The Apostlebird is highly gregarious and garrulous, occurring in small, sedentary, co-operatively breeding groups throughout the year. Apostlebirds sometimes occur in larger congregations during the non-breeding season at abundant sources of food; they are seldom seen singly or in twos. In winter, after the breeding season, these groups may combine in larger flocks of up to 50 or 100 birds.

Jesus said that He will be there, where two or three have gathered in His name…
We call ourselves as apostles of Christ Jesus, but, do we congregate in large numbers?
Most families have more than three members, but do they congregate?
How many families go to church together as a family?
How many families have family prayer, where every member of the family is present?

These birds don’t go to church, but they are called Apostle birds..

Others call us as Christians, which means “Christ in us”, but, they seldom call us as apostles, why?

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

These birds seem to have read this verse from the Bible..

A family group will hold a territory of 15 to 30 hectares defending it against other groups. Family groups roost clustered closely together in a row on a branch.

Apostlebirds are usually active and conspicuous, seldom silent, and usually bold and tame..

These birds are bold and tame as well…

These birds seem to have taken this character from the Bible…

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

The groups often move quickly along the ground as the birds forage for seeds and insects picking up items from the ground and not probing and digging as other ground foragers do. Adopts a predominantly terrestrial lifestyle walking with long strides and often running or hopping. Group members maintain a stream of twittering and chatter among themselves while foraging.

Feeding on the word of God should be considered as having a grand feast with our family and not to be considered as a ritual…

How often do we discuss about our worldly affairs over every meal on the dining table!
How often do we meditate and discuss on the word of God as a family?
We eat, but, never seem to exercise.. Isn’t it?

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)

The species spends most time on the ground, but when disturbed, birds fly low to cover, often giving noisy, harsh scolding calls, with wing-beats that are broken by short glides with upswept wing-tips.

They often leap from branch to branch with their tails cocked and partly spread, often making long glides (of up to 50 metres) from a perch to the ground, or from tree to tree.

When on the ground, Apostlebirds walk and run strongly, with a steady gait, walking quickly with the tail swaying from side to side, just above the ground, but with no forward jerking of head (unlike the White-winged Chough), and run in short, quick bursts; they sometimes also hop, with tails flicked upwards, and then slowly subsiding; hops can be as long as twice the length of the bird.

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) by Ian

Foraging is almost always on the ground, where they mainly take insects and seeds, using their bill to scratch at the ground and among litter, though they also occasionally forage in trees and shrubs.

When Jesus was on this earth, His ministry was always on the ground level..

He made sure that He brought people down to the ground level before dealing with them.
Remember Zacchaeus had to come down from the sycamore tree before he had an encounter with God…
Though Manna and Quails came from above, the Israelites had to gather them from the ground..

Jesus our manna too came from above so that we may meet Him on earth..

Where are we right now?
Are trying to meet God from our high position?
Those who humble are the ones who win favour from God..
God humbled Him to the ground level and expects the same from us…

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10)

They are often seen preening each other.

We loved to be preened in the radiance of public flattery as told in Mathew 23:7-17.
But God’s expectations on preening among the church is quite different…

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Inhabits open, fairly dry country never far from water which they visit several times a day in warm weather.

God is there to fill our cup when it is dry..

These birds have to frequent water bodies during warm weather, but, Our Lord is able fills us wherever we are..

But, it depends on how much we thirst for the Living water…

Our God is faithful to fill us, well, are we willing to be drenched by THE LIVING WATER?

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: (Isaiah 44:3)

Groups are seen in open forest, woodland, river margins and roadside tree belts. Distributed through central Queensland, New South Wales and in south-east South Australia..

Their distinctive mud nests often indicate presence in an area. Apostlebirds build a medium-sized bowl-shaped mud nest.

Our homes should act as an indicator of the presence of God for the people living around us..
If Jesus becomes the door of our house, all those who enter our home would leave our home as a changed person..

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Apostlebirds can sometimes tolerate high levels of habitat degradation, as groups have been recorded in highly degraded woodlands with a high proportion of exotic plants in the ground layer, heavy grazing pressure, no tree regeneration and no understorey; and they can persist in small patches of remnant vegetation of just a few hectares in extent, though these may need to be near other, larger patches of suitable habitat.

White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanoramphos) in mud nest by Ian

Breeding season is from August to December. The nest is a deep cup-shaped structure made of grasses held together with mud or sometimes manure in a tree fork up to seven or eight meters above the ground. Three to five pale blue-white eggs sparsely splotched with brown and lavender shades are laid measuring 22 mm x 29 mm. They are tapered oval in shape They build substantially larger nests, weighing up to five pounds, located as much as fifty feet above the ground. But even these scaled-up versions of the adobe cup with their inch-thick walls are manufactured with the same jiggled-mud strategy that seems to be universal among birds that build with wet earth. But then vibration is a key feature in the insertion of twigs and grasses into conventional nests, so this may be a bit of behavioral recycling.

Apostlebirds are a communal species with each family group generally containing only one breeding pair, the rest being their helper offspring. All family members help construct a mud nest, and share in incubation of the eggs. Once the eggs are hatched, all members of the family group also help feed the chicks and keep the nest clean.

We have a God who has shed His precious blood to cleanse our nest…
Well, we are not ordinary people; we are God’s nest…
That is the reason God wants to dwell is us..

God has taught these bird to build their nest with mud high above on tree forks..

Jesus too chose to dwell in a nest made of mud that was the reason He chose you and me?

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at:
Crosstree

ajmithra21

Lee’s Addition:

To see a j mithra’s other articles – Click Here

Thanks, a j, for another interesting article and a thanks to Ian Montgomery, one of our great photographers for the permission to use his photos.

The Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea) is in the Corcoracidae – Australian Mudnesters Family of the Passeriformes Order. There are two subspecies; the cinerea and dalyi. The other Mudnester is the White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanoramphos) which also has two subspecies.

Video links to Apostlebirds:

A group of birds foraging and calling.

A close-up of an Apostlebird

Updating The Birds of the World Again 2/24/11

February 24, 2011 by Lee

Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata tarapacensis) (Darwin’s) Chicks©Arthur Grosset

The I.O.C. has updated to Version 2.7, but they are also getting ready to release a whole new format in Version 3.0. They placed the Ver. 2.7 in a draft which includes the Subspecies. After experimenting with several different ways to present the list, I have made my choice. This means that I have been busy behind the scene working on this website. (Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus)

So far I have updated the following Families:
Tinamous – Tinamidae
Ostriches – Struthionidae
Rheas – Rheidae
Cassowaries – Casuariidae
Emu – Dromaiidae

The I.O.C. is now the I.O.U. “Our goal on behalf of the International Ornithologist’s Union, formerly International Ornithological Congress (IOC), is to facilitate worldwide communication in ornithology and conservation through the consistent use of English names linked to current species taxonomy. The English names follow explicit guidelines for spelling and construction that increase clarity of application. To this end we provide a complete list of the extant bird species of the world.”

IOC World Bird List – Subspecies (Draft 1)

Supplementing the release of version 2.7 of the IOC World Bird List is a preview of our draft listing of the subspecies of the world’s birds along with the authors and dates attributed to their nomenclature. This working draft will provide the taxonomic foundation for version 3.0.

The above quotes are from the IOC World Bird List website. Since they are making a major revision, I decided to get started on updating to match their way of listing birds. I have been using the IOC lists of World Birds since starting the Birds of the World section.

There are 233 Families of birds, which means I have 233 pages of data to update. So, I have 5 down and 228 to go. For now the indexes to the families will not change, but a few birds may not be correct until I finish. Try not to be too upset about the dust flying around as the changes are being made. Trust the 3.0 Version is close to what I am doing.

The main difference is that before only the bird was named, such as: (All photos by Bob-Nan)

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes)

Now it is:

Struthio ———- This is the Genus

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) ————– This is the Species

____ (Struthio camelus syriacus) ——- This is the Subspecies

____ (Struthio camelus camelus) ——- This is the Subspecies

____ (Struthio camelus massaicus) ——- This is the Subspecies

____ (Struthio camelus australis) ——- This is the Subspecies

Somali Ostrich (Struthio molybdophanes) ————– This is the Species

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus massaicus) by Bob-Nan

I trust this helps explain the new layout for the list of world birds. It’s time for me to start kicking up some more dust as I continue with the changes. I am going straight down the list of families – Family Index. Keep checking back to see how far I have gotten. Updating all the links to the pictures and videos is the most time consuming.

It is worth it though to help you see the fantastic birds the Lord has created around this world. I personally have great pleasure working on this because I get to see so many birds that I will never personally view. Thanks to the many photographers and videographers, those that have given us permission, the ones who allow their photos to used in ©© (Creative Commons), ©WikiC (Wikipedea Commons), and others in public domain.

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (Genesis 2:19 KJV)

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; (Psalms 105:5 KJV)

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae) babies ©©coracii

That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. (Isaiah 41:20 KJV)

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. (Psalms 148:5 KJV)

Updated – See:

3/1/11 – Birdwatching and Still Updating

3/17/11 – Birdwatching and Still Kicking Up Dust

Birds in Hymns – The Garden of My Heart

February 23, 2011 by Lee

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. (Jeremiah 31:12 KJV)

Words & Music: Haldor Lillenas, 1919

The Garden of My Heart

There’s a sacred and hallowed retreat,
Where my soul finds a fellowship sweet,
Where the Lord of my life I may meet,
In the garden of my heart.

Refrain

In the cool of the day He walks with me,
In the rose bordered way He talks with me;
In love’s holy union,
And sacred communion,
In the garden of my heart.

There is naught can disturb or molest,
There my spirit finds comfort and rest,
And my soul is no longer distressed
In the garden of my heart.

Refrain

Shut away from earth’s strife and its din,
And protected from soul staining sin,
For my Savior is dwelling within,
In the garden of my heart.

Refrain

There the dove of sweet peace always sings,
And my faith ever trustingly clings;
And the chime of sweet happiness rings
In the garden of my heart.

Refrain

*****

See more Birds in Hymns

Birds in Hymns – The Fish in Wave, The Bird on Wing

February 22, 2011 by Lee

Common Gull (Larus canus) by Robert Scanlon

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Genesis 1:20 KJV)

Words: Charles Coffin, Paris Breviary, 1736 (Iisdem creati fluctibus); translated from Latin to English by John Chandler and the compilers of Hymns Ancient and Modern.

Music: St. Flavian, Day’s Psalter, 1563

The Fish in Wave, The Bird on Wing

The fish in wave, the bird on wing,
God bade the waters bear;
Each for our mortal body’s food
His gracious hands prepare.

But other food, of richer cost,
The immortal spirit needs;
By faith it lives on every word
That from His mouth proceeds.

Faith springing from the blood of Christ,
Has flowed o’er every land;
And sinners through the vanquished world
Bow down to its command.

Its light the joy of Heav’n reveals
To hearts made pure within;
And bids them seek by worthy deeds
Eternal crowns to win.

By faith the saints of old were strong
The lion’s wrath to tame;
By faith they spurned the tyrant’s threats,
And scorned the raging flame.

Lord, grant that we the path may tread
Whereon its light doth shine;
And gather, as we onward go,
The fruits of love divine.

O praise the Father; praise the Son,
On Whose most precious blood
Rests all our faith; and praise to Him
Who with Them both is God.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

Another great hymn from the past.

*****

See more Birds in Hymns

The Pompadour Cotinga – Concealed Incubators…

February 21, 2011 by a j mithra

Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) ©© Miami_Metrozoo male

The Pompadour Cotinga – Concealed incubators… ~ by a j mithra

The Pompadour Cotingas are South American birds from the Cotingidae family. They are found in Brazil, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

They reside in elevations to 1300 m which occur throughout Amazonia. The primary range extends from Columbia eastward to French Guiana and south to north-west Brazil. It is found in the canopy of humid forest and seems to be more numerous in areas of sandy soil forest.

Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) ©©beautifulcataya Flickr

Sand is used most often as a symbol of countless multitudes; especially of the children of Israel and of God’s thoughts on us and also of the wisdom and understanding that God gave King Solomon..

Is that the reason why these beautiful birds are more numerous in areas of sandy soil forest?
They know that Their creator is so mindful of them…

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (Psalm 139:17, 18)

During breeding season males gather to perform a ritualized flight display to attract a female. Two or three males will chase each other around a group of tree tops, keeping above the trees so that their white wings flashing against the dark foliage are visible for a great distance. The males are relatively easy to see even at a distance with their white wings flashing as they fly from tree to tree. Females sometimes join mixed canopy flocks but males appear to be more solitary…

Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) female by AGrosset

It is not uncommon for the clutch to contain a single egg. The eggs are a greenish gray with drab spotting. Frail open nests of curly wood tendrils completely conceal the female while she incubates. Little is known about their breeding habits because it occurs high up in the forest canopy.

God closed the door of the Ark and concealed Noah his family and the wildlife as well..
God’s plan in our lives are planned high above in the heavens where no one can see..
His ways are not our ways and our ways are not His..

Please read through Isaiah 39 and you will learn how King Hezekiah brought curse over his family when he showed off all his treasure to the envoys of Babylon so as to win favour from them..

Do not show off God’s blessings over your life to the others to win favour but just conceal yourself like these birds..
God has concealed us in His palm so wait until He shows us off to the world..

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (I Peter 5:6)

The bride, the Church, needs to completely conceal itself while it incubates God’s will…

But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Mathew 6:6)

A considerable number of these birds are remarkable for the extraordinarily abnormal form of some of their wing-quills, and occasionally of their wing-coverts – a feature in the former case observable also among the Pipridae, and, where existing, generally confined to the male bird.

Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) ©©holyknight33 Flickr

Many of them also are brilliantly coloured, and at least one, today known as the Pompadour Cotinga (Xipholena punicea) but known as the Pompadour Chatterer in the 19th Century (and had a latin name of Xipholena pompadora at that time) was given its 19th Century name by Edwards (Gleanings, ii. p. 275, pl. 341) after the celebrated Madame de Pompadour, to whom these birds and other birds were sent, when the ship that bore them from Cayenne fell a prize to a British cruiser.

The Pompadour Cotinga is of a hue scarcely to be seen in any other bird. The coloration of the Cotingas is from true pigmentation, not the more common prismatic feather structure. The males are a glistening wine red color with white flight feathers narrowly tipped in black. The elongated and stiff greater wing coverts are wine red with white shafts partly covering the flight feathers. The females are mainly gray and paler below. The throat and belly are grayish white, with the wings and tail dusky. Greater wing coverts and inner flight feathers are broadly edged in white. The juveniles are like the female but with dark eyes.

With glistening wine red color with white flight feathers, reminds us of the wine soaked garment of our Lord isn’t it?

My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. (Song of Solomon 5:10)

About 2000 years back He came to redeem us and was battered and bruised made it look like His garment was soaked in wine…
This time around He is going to come again to turn His garment into red..
Not with His blood though…

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:1-4)

Are we ready to meet the King?

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at:
Crosstree

ajmithra21

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Superb Fruit-Dove

February 20, 2011 by Ian

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Superb Fruit-Dove ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter ~ 02-20-11

One of the tragedies of severe tropical cyclones is the damage to vegetation, particularly fruiting trees, and the resulting avian refugees, many battered and exhausted, fleeing far and wide in search of food. Since cyclone Yasi, many Superb and Wompoo Fruit-Doves and some Brown Cuckoo-doves have been moving through areas such as Bluewater and Townsville. This happened after cyclone Larry in 2006 when many of these refugees stayed around for months, but they are even more numerous this time round.

Superb Fruit-Doves are among the most spectacularly beautiful of rainforest birds in eastern Australia, but despite their bright colours are usually heard rather than seen. Their distinctive, repeated ‘whoop, whoop’ calls – with a rising inflection delivered at a regular rhythm and easily distinguished from the similar but accelerating ‘whp-whoo’ of the related and equally gorgeous Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove – are a very characteristic sound of northeastern rainforests. Hearing is no guarantee of seeing, however, and these shy birds usually remain invisible in the thick foliage of rainforest trees. So, it is strange to see these wonderful little doves (length of both species to 24cm/9.5in) sitting in full-view on trees in open tropical savanna left leafless by the cyclone, too tired to fly away when approached.

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

The first photo shows a male, the second the less-spectacular but still beautiful female photographed from the verandah of my house a week to ten days after the cyclone when this species was most numerous around here. The females have an indigo skull cap that, being on the back of the head, is often not visible but you can see it clearly in the bird in the third photo, taken in a battered but still fruiting tree at Dungeness where we lunched last Thursday, in a normally but no longer shady park near Lucinda on the coast east of Ingham, after doing the monthly wader survey. That area took quite a battering and the sand spit along which we used to walk to do the survey has largely been flattened and the sand dumped in the mud flat to its west.

The range of the Superb Fruit-Dove in Australia is the east coast from the tip of Cape York to south of Sydney. Its main breeding range is in tropical Queensland north of Prosperine on the Whitsunday Coast and it is relatively rare in New South Wales. It also occurs in New Guinea and eastern Indonesia and many Australian birds migrate to New Guinea in winter. Fruit-eating doves normally range widely in search of food, given the seasonal nature of its availability, so it is to be hoped that this ability serves them well in times such as this.

Links:
Superb Fruit-Dove
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Wompoo Fruit-Dove
Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by Ian

I’ve resumed work on the website still using the borrowed mobile modem and have at last finished updating all the next/previous family pointers of the Australian bird family thumbnail pages. This means that you can now view the website in a global context or an Australian one, depending on your focus. The global context – and the New World and Old World subsets – follows the taxonomic organization and sequence of Birdlife International both between and within families while the Australian one follows the organization and sequence of Christidis and Boles, 2008, the generally accepted authorities in Australia.

There are quite a few differences in the recognized families, the sequence of families and the order within families between the 2 schema, so I suggest that you stick to one or the other (at any one time) to avoid confusion. The Australian context is distinguished by green backgrounds for both arrows (to Australian thumbnails and to previous and next families) and for the pages of family thumbnails. I’ve documented differences in family structure on the family pages; have a look at this for a simple example: http://www.birdway.com.au/cacatuinae/index_aus.htm and this for a particularly divergent example: http://www.birdway.com.au/sylviidae/index_aus.htm .

Best wishes,

Ian

Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: +61-7 4751 3115
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

The Fruit-doves is one of the Birds of the Bible. Doves are mentioned over 40 times in Scripture. See also – Birds of the Bible – Doves and Pigeons

And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6 KJV)

Superb Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus superbus) by xeno-canto-David Farrow

Rose-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus regina) by xeno-canto – Vicki Powys

Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. (Psalms 68:13 KJV)

This beautiful Superb Fruit-Dove or Fruit Dove, depending on whose list used, is in the Columbidae Family of the Columbiformes Order. There are 321 members of the family including the Doves, Fruit Doves, Collared Doves, Cuckoo-Doves, Wood Doves, Bronsewings, Ground and Quail Doves, Bleeding Hearts, plus all the different kinds of Pigeons.

Formed By Him – Broadbills

February 19, 2011 by Lee

Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus) by Peter Ericsson

“What are some of God’s favorite object lessons? Certainly His creation is one. A God who can call something into existence which didn’t exist before can do anything. “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things” (Isaiah 40:26).” (Quote from Days of Praise-2-18-2011)

The Broadbills are another of those creations of the Lord. These pretty little birds caught my eye while doing an article. I trust you will find them as interesting as I do. Formed by Him they cannot be anything but amazing. What a great Creator God we have.

The broadbills are a family of small passerine birds, Eurylaimidae. The Smithornis and Pseudocalyptomena species occur in sub-Saharan Africa; the rest extend from the eastern Himalayas to Sumatra and Borneo. The family possibly also includes the Sapayoa from the Neotropics and the asities from Madagascar.

Banded Broadbill (Eurylaimus javanicus) by Peter Ericsson

Many of the broadbills are brightly colored birds. They range from 4.5 to 11.25 inches (13 to 28 centimeters) in length, and live in the dense canopies of wet forests, allowing them to hide despite their brightly coloured plumage. The plumage of the three African broadbills in the genus Smithornis is in contrast dull and streaked. The bills, which give the family their common name, are broad, flat and hooked and relatively large eyes. Even though many are brightly colored, the Lord has designed them to blend in with their surroundings beautifully.

The broadbills are for the most part insectivorous and carnivorous. Prey taken include insects, spiders, centipedes and millipedes, as well as lizards and tree frogs. Prey is obtained by sallying from a perch to snatch it in flight, and gleaning the prey off leaves and branches while flying. Some species may take some fruit (figs being their favorite), but only the green broadbills of the genus Calyptomena and the African Green Broadbill are primarily frugivores (which also take some insects as well).

They are generally gregarious, with many species moving about in flocks of about 20 individuals. Broadbills attach their purse-shaped nests to suspended vines, and leave a tail of fibres hanging below it. This gives the nest the appearance of being random debris caught in the tree, an effect further enhanced by the birds covering the nest with lichen and spider webs.

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae) in nest by Peter Ericsson

Most Broadbills are monogamous, some have quite a courtship dispay and typically she lays two to three eggs. Both participate in nest building and in some species they have “helpers” with the young. Here are some of those verses:

Mostly active early and late in the day, otherwise they are sedentary and perched with their neck pulled in, disguised in the foliage.

Maybe the Lord would like us to look at the broad bills of the Broadbill and be reminded of Scripture. Broad or broader is mentioned over 30 times throughout the Bible.

Dusky Broadbill (Corydon sumatranus) ©©Mike

David repeated in Psalm 18:19 what had been written in 2 Samuel:

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (Psalms 18:19 NKJV)
He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. “The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me; And as for His statutes, I did not depart from them. (2 Samuel 22:20-23 NKJV)

Let those who fear the LORD now say, “His mercy endures forever.” I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalms 118:4-6 NKJV)

Black-and-red Broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) by Ian

The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalms 119:95-97 NKJV)

But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. (Isaiah 33:21 KJV)

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae) babies ©©coracii

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV)

Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven– what can you do? Deeper than Sheol– what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea. (Job 11:7-9 NKJV)

Green Broadbill (Calyptomena viridis) by Peter Ericsson

The Broadbills are in the Eurylaimidae Family and has 20 members at present. The Eurylaimidae-Broadbills are in the Passeriformes or Perching Bird Order.

Sources from Wikipedia, Complete Birds of the World, Days of Praise and others.

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To see more Formed By Him Articles

(Common) Pauraque – Big Mouth…

February 18, 2011 by a j mithra

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) by Ian

Pauraque – Big Mouth… ~ by a j mithra

Pauraque is a medium nightjar with dark-streaked, mottled gray upperparts, white throat, black chin, rufous face, pale gray-brown underparts. Wings have brown and black bars, white band at base of primaries visible in flight. The gray tail is long, with dark edges and white patches.

Pauraque is a resident from extreme southern Texas to the American tropics; frequents semi-open scrub country with thickets and woodland clearings. Central Americans know the “white-necked night-runner” as “Don Pucuyo” or “Cabellero de la Noche” (“Gentleman of the Night”)—names reflecting its association with love and presumed amorous influence over young women.

The common name for the order and family (Caprimulgidae) in Europe and Asia it is the Goatsucker. This name is ancient and recalls a myth that these birds came down and fed at night by sucking the milk from goats.

In hot weather, they often open their mouths wide and vibrate the throat area, a behavior known as gular-fluttering. Like panting, it’s a thermoregulation behavior that helps to cool the body by increasing the rate of evaporation through the mouth..

The Bible says,

I [am] the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)

There is a saying in one of the south Indian states, Tamil Nadu, which says, “A child who can mouth will survive..” meaning, a child who can orate is able to survive better than the others…

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) ©Flickr

The survival of these birds depends on how well they thermo regulate to cool their body..

Our survival as a child of God depends on how wide we open our mouth in the presence of God..

Remember the Bible says so much about how to use our mouth and when to use it and how powerful our mouth can be…

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Psalm 18:21)

In general it prefers mixed habitat which offers densely vegetated hiding places – ideally forest – for the day, as well as open landscape – perhaps even rivers or wetlands – to hunt at night.

The Pauraques are strange birds with huge mouths that feed on the wing by opening their mouths and scooping in flying insects. It has rictal bristles, which are modified feathers resembling stiff hairs alongside its mouth. Highly tactile and controlled by specialized muscles, they are thought to aid in night feeding, and protect the bird’s eyes from flailing insect legs and wings.

Like its relatives, it feeds on insects caught in flight, usually by fly catching from a low perch, but also by foraging over open ground. These birds open their mouth wide even during their flight in the darkness of the night.

Are we willing to learn a lesson from these birds?

Why not for a change, open our mouth wide during our darkest times?
As these birds open their mouth wide, God fills them with insects…
How wonderful is the creation of our Lord!

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) ©Flickr

How much care He has taken to create this unique bird! He has created specialized muscles for night feeding and rectal bristles alongside its mouth so that the insects does not get into its eyes..

When God takes so much care for a small little bird, will He not meet all our needs?

If we were like these birds, we would’ve surely questioned God about why He created those bristles alongside our mouth. Who knows we may have had a plastic surgery to look better… We fail to understand why God had created us in a particular shape, size and colour..

Our God is so particular that, even though He created us in His own image, He had taken so much care to create us in a unique way, so that no one on the face of this earth would resemble us..

So let us all unite with King David and say,

I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well. (Psalm 139:14)

The genus and species names reflect the Pauraque’s appearance and behavior.

Nyctidromus means “night-runner,” in reference to the bird’s nocturnal, low-to-the-ground foraging.
The species name, albicollis, describes the white, bib-like splotch on the pauraque’s throat.

Although the legs of a Pauraque are so small as to be nearly impossible to see under normal conditions, the pauraque can leap half a meter off the ground to catch low-flying insects, and has been observed running on the ground during foraging.

Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) by ©AGrosset

With a small pair of legs these birds can leap half a meter…

Though Hind’s feet is weaker than a horse’s feet, God says that He will give us the hind’s feet to lift us high..

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. (Psalm 18:33)

He does not set strong horse’s feet on high but the weak hind’s feet..

Thank God if you feel that you are weak..

Shall horses run upon the rock?….. (Amos 6:12)

The male Pauraque’s song is very variable, but includes a whistled weeeow wheeooo, (“who-r-you”), soft puk puk and a whip given in the courtship flight as he flutters around the female. Her call is a rapid succession of whip sounds. If disturbed, it will sometimes run rather than fly, and it frequently rests on roads and tracks.

Where do we run when we are disturbed?

These birds runs and rests on roads and tracks..

Don’t we see a secret in its character?
When disturbed let us run to the road to rest…

Road?

Yea, JESUS is the road, I mean THE WAY, where there is rest and relief…

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at:
Crosstree

ajmithra21

Lee’s Addition:

YouTube Video by baco1970

The Pauraque is one of the 93 species in the Caprimulgidae – Nightjars Family. The Caprimulgidaes are one of four families in the Caprimulgiformes Order.

Other articles from this family include:
Futuristic Whip-poor-wills by a j mithra
Birds of the Bible – Nighthawk
Scripture Alphabet of Animals: The Night-Hawk

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Olive-backed/Yellow-bellied Sunbird

February 17, 2011 by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Olive-backed/Yellow-bellied Sunbird ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newletter: 02-17-11

Well, my apologies for a very belated bird of the week. Life in and around Townsville has largely returned to normal post-Yasi, except for for my broadband connection so I’ve borrowed a mobile modem from my neighbour.

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) by Ian

This week’s choice is the award for small bird cyclone survivor, jointly shared by around here by Red-backed Fairywren, Dusky Honeyeater and Olive-backed or Yellow-bellied Sunbird. The fairywren has been bird of the week before (July 2005), so I was going to choose the Dusky Honeyeater until I discovered that I have no record of the Sunbird being bird of the week before. That’s a potentially serious omission, so please forgive me if I’m mistaken: just nod sagely and put it down to old age and post-cyclone shock.

I suppose one shouldn’t be surprised at the Sunbird surviving cyclones as its range in Australia is restricted almost entirely to coastal tropical Queensland, extending just south of the Tropic of Capricorn to around Bundaberg. It also occurs in Torres Strait, New Guinea and southeast Asia but is regarded here as an iconic species and is immensely popular being very common around gardens, tame and often building its elegant hanging nest on verandahs. They feed mainly on the nectar of blossoms but will also take spiders.

The first two photos show the blue-chested male and yellow-breasted female respectively on Calliandra (Powder Puff) and were taken at the house that I rented when I first moved to Townsville. The third photo shows one of the local males perched in a Poinsiana tree near my current house.

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) by Ian

This species is the only Sunbird found in Australia but it belongs to a large family with more than 100 species of Sunbird in Asia and Africa and leading a lifestyle similar to that of the exclusively American and unrelated Hummingbirds. The Sunbirds are closely related to the Flowerpeckers – which include the Mistletoebird – and there is disagreement as to whether they constitute one or two families.

Other cyclone related news is that the Peaceful Dove that I rescued had an injured rather than broken wing, has recovered well in the company of the budgies next door and is ready to be returned to the wild. Food is now the main issue for survivors and many of you have naturally expressed concern for the Southern Cassowaries, just recovering from cyclone Larry. You can find out what the Queensland Government is doing . Sue and Phil Gregory tell me that the Cassowaries at Cassowary House in Kuranda near Cairns have survived well, so keep that in mind if you are visiting North Queensland and want somewhere lovely to stay: http://www.cassowary-house.com.au/ .

Like cyclone Larry, Bluewater has been visited by some unusual avian visitors post-Yasi. I’ll say more about them in the next email and some photos of a special one for bird of the week #400 which will go out shortly as a catch-up.

Best wishes and thank you again for your kindness and support.
Ian
—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: +61-7 4751 3115
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

What a neat looking bird and your photography skills show through as usual, Ian. Not sure about the readers, but I enjoy seeing each of your Bird of the Week offerings.

The Sunbirds reside in the Nectariniidae Family of the Passeriformes Order. There are 136 of these beautiful Sunbirds which also include Double-collared Sunbirds and Spiderhunters.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, (Revelation 19:17 NKJV)

“The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia. Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar, although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

The sunbirds have counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

The family ranges in size from the 5-gram Black-bellied Sunbird to the Spectacled Spiderhunter, at about 45 grams. Like the hummingbirds, sunbirds are strongly sexually dimorphic, with the males usually brilliantly plumaged in metallic colours. In addition to this the tails of many species are longer in the males, and overall the males are larger. Sunbirds have long thin down-curved bills and brush-tipped tubular tongues, both adaptations to their nectar feeding. The spiderhunters, of the genus Arachnothera, are distinct in appearance from the other members of the family. They are typically larger than the other sunbirds, with drab brown plumage that is the same for both sexes and long down-curved beaks.

Species of sunbirds that live in high altitudes will enter torpor while roosting at night, lowering their body temperature and entering a state of low activity and responsiveness.” (Wikipedia)

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. (Psalms 84:11 NKJV)

Birdwatching at the Lowry Park Zoo 2/15/11

February 16, 2011 by Lee

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) by Lee

What a busy couple of weeks. Between health, doctors, funerals, ladies retreats, church, birdwatching, nutty weather, etc., we finally got a chance to get over to the Lowry Park Zoo again yesterday. On the way to Tampa we spotted Ospreys, Boat-tailed Grackles, House Sparrows, Great Egret, 24 Pigeons (Common Pigeons) and Turkey Vultures. On the way home we added two Bald Eagles, a Snowy Egret and some Black Vultures.

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) by Dan

Loose birds hanging around the Zoo were American White Ibises, Great Egret, Eurasian Collared Dove, 10 Fish Crows, Mockingbird and some more Sparrows. Gulls and Vultures flying around also.

Because my legs were acting up again, we only did the Aviary just inside the gate. That is all I needed anyway, because when I left almost 2 hours later and having walked very little, I had had a ball. The birds were calm and didn’t mind us photographing them. Watched two Southern Bald Ibises mate twice. Maybe spring is on the way.

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) by Dan

As you enter the Aviary, there are a few birds behind a wire and in very dim light. I keep trying to get a decent photo, but the obstacle makes it very difficult. They had the Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager and Metallic Starling in that enclosure today.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17 KJV)

Here is a list of the birds seen in the Aviary: (35)

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) and another
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
Cape Teal (Anas capensis)
Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix)
Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus)
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus)
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius)
Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata)
Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias)
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)
Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)
Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis)
Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
Violet Turaco (Musophaga violacea)
Crested Coua (Coua cristata)
Blue-bellied Roller (Coracias cyanogaster)
Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus coeruliceps)
Von der Decken’s Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)
Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
Bearded Barbet (Lybius dubius)
Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus)
Raggiana Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea raggiana)
Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica)
Crested Oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus)
Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus)
Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo)

Outside Aviary: (13)

American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Western Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Common Pigeon (Columba livia)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)

All photos taken 2/15/11.

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Bee-eaters Love Company

February 11, 2011 by Lee

Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides) by Africaddict

We have written several articles about the Bee-eaters, but they are so pretty and colorful, that they are being presented again. When the Lord created them, He did not spare on the “color pallet.” Nor did He fail to provide them with the ability to know how to remove the stinger and poison of the bees and other insects before eating them.

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17 KJV)

This video tells about how the Bee-eater cooperate together in communities. Trust you will enjoy watching it.

“The bee-eaters are a group of near-passerine birds in the family Meropidae. Most species are found in Africa and Asia but others occur in southern Europe, Australia, and New Guinea. They are characterised by richly coloured plumage, slender bodies, and usually elongated central tail feathers. All have long downturned bills and pointed wings, which give them a swallow-like appearance when seen from afar. There are 26 different species of bee-eaters.

As the name suggests, bee-eaters predominantly eat flying insects, especially bees and wasps, which are caught in the air by sallies from an open perch.[1] While they pursue any type of flying insect, honey bees predominate in their diet. Hymenoptera (ants, bees and wasps) comprise from 20% to 96% of all insects eaten, with honey bees comprising approximately one-third of the Hymenoptera.

Carmine BeeEater (Merops nubicus or nubicoides) by Marc at Africaddict

Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface. During this process, pressure is applied to the insect thereby extracting most of the venom.[1] Notably, the birds only catch prey that are on the wing and ignore flying insects once they land.

Bee-eaters are gregarious. They form colonies by nesting in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks, such as those that have collapsed on the edges of rivers. Their eggs are white and they generally produce 2-9 eggs per clutch (depending on species). As they live in colonies, large numbers of these holes are often seen together, white streaks from their accumulated droppings accentuating the entrances to the nests. Most of the species in the family are monogamous, and both parents care for the young, sometimes with the assistance of other birds in the colony.” (From Wikipedia)

Some of the articles we have done that mention the Bee-eaters are:

White-fronted Bee-eater – The Life Guards ~ by a j mithra

Avian Worship ~ a j mithra and Lee

Ian added the Rainbow Bee-eater to his album in his Spotted Harrier newsletter.

Also see his (Ian Montgomery’s) whole album of Bee-eater photos at – Family: Meropidae

European Bee-eaters are in Birds of the Bible – Johannesburg, South Africa

Mentioned in Birds of the Bible – Names of Birds

The Bee-eaters are in the Coraciiformes Order which included the Roller, Kingfisher, Todie, Motmot Families. The Meropidae Family is the one that contains the 26 Bee-eater species.

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) by Nikhil Devasar

Birds of the Bible – Bird Catcher

February 10, 2011 by Lee

Fowler

“foul´ẽr (יקשׁ, yōḳēsh): A professional birdcatcher. In the days previous to firearms, birds were captured with nets spread on the ground, in traps and snares. There was a method of taking young birds from a nest, raising them by hand, and when they had become very tame, they were confined in hidden cages so that their voices would call others of their kind to the spot and they could be killed by arrows of concealed bowmen or the use of the throw-stick (Ecclesiasticus 11:30) This was a stick 1 1/2 feet in length and 1/2 inches in diameter, hurled with a rotary motion at the legs of the birds and was very effective when thrown into flocks of ground birds, such as partridge or quail, especially if the birds were running up hill. There was also a practice of sewing a captured bird’s eyelids together and confining it so that its cries would call large numbers of birds through curiosity and they could then be taken in the several ways mentioned. The fowlers supplied the demand for doves and other birds used for caged pets, and furnished the market with wild pigeons and doves for sacrifice and such small birds as were used for food.

For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler. And from the deadly pestilence. (Psalms:91:3)

This is David’s promise that the Almighty will deliver us from the evil plans laid to ruin us, as a bird sometimes in its struggles slips the hair and escapes from the “snare” (which see) set for it.

(Here is a video of a modern day “fowler” by patriotledger.)

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: The snare is broken, and we are escaped. (Psalms 124:7)

Here is the fulfillment of the former promise in a cry of rejoicing. Sometimes the snare held fast, sometimes it broke; then the joy in the heart of a freed man was like the wild exultation in the heart of the escaping bird.

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hands. of the hunter. And as a bird from the hand of the fowler. (Proverbs 6:5)

With methods so primitive as these for taking birds, it must have occurred frequently that a stunned, wounded or entrapped bird slipped even from the hand that held it and made good its escape.

For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. (Jeremiah 5:26)

Here is the plain comparison strongly drawn between wicked men entrapping their fellows and fowlers taking unsuspecting birds.
The last reference is in Hosea 9:8:

Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler’s snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

Wherever he goes, the prophet is in danger of being trapped.”

* * *

This article was quoted from:

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) is a public domain Biblical encyclopedia. This encyclopedia was published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. It contains articles by nearly 200 scholars about archaeological discoveries, the language and literature of Bible lands, customs, family life, occupations, and the historical and religious environments of Bible people.

In addition there is a newer version which should not be confused with the public domain 1915 edition that can be found freely available at various sites.

Photos and Video added and article layout by Lee

Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Birdwatching from a Christian Perspective

Monthly Archives: February 2011

The Apostlebird – The ground dwellers…

Updating The Birds of the World Again 2/24/11

Birds in Hymns – The Garden of My Heart

Birds in Hymns – The Fish in Wave, The Bird on Wing

The Pompadour Cotinga – Concealed Incubators…

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Superb Fruit-Dove

Formed By Him – Broadbills

(Common) Pauraque – Big Mouth…

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Olive-backed/Yellow-bellied Sunbird

Birdwatching at the Lowry Park Zoo 2/15/11

Bee-eaters Love Company

Birds of the Bible – Bird Catcher

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