Author Archives: a j mithra

The Space sharing seed storing Redpoll…

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The Space sharing seed storing Redpoll… ~ by a j mithra

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) by Nikhil Devasar

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) by Nikhil Devasar

Common Redpolls live year round in open boreal and tundra habitats near the Arctic circle and throughout northern Canada and Alaska. While only the northernmost populations migrate, this species does have periodic irruptions that takes it as far south as northern  Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan, New York and the northern New England states.

Common Redpolls have a similar distribution throughout northern Europe and Asia, and they have also been introduced to New Zealand, where they can be commonly found. Breeds in open subarctic coniferous forest and scrub and avoids dense forests. Winters in open woodland and scrub, weedy fields, and suburban and urban areas. They form flocks throughout the year, and they flock even during the nesting season…

Unlike many small birds, Common Redpolls are not aggressive and easily share space with other small bird species…

Do we flock together as one?

The Bible says,

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

These birds seem to know the secret of staying together. They not only flock together but also share space with the other small birds…

Do we share the blessings which God has showered upon us? We cannot resemble Christ unless we share like how He shared His everything on the cross..

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Mathew 10:42)

Redpolls have throat pouches for temporarily storing seeds. They may fill their pouches with seeds quickly then fly away to swallow the seeds in a more protected, warmer spot.

Do we fill our hearts everyday with the word of God and store them? The kingdom of God is like a seed? How can we sow, if we have not stored enough seeds in our lives? Do you know that the devil also can quote the word of God to deceive us?

Please read Mathew 4:1-11 to know how Jesus was tempted by the devil and how He spoke the word of God to overcome the devil…

When you are pushed into the dark, the word will give you light..

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm119:105)

When you are sick, the word will heal you. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)

Now get filled with His Word for Jesus is the Word…

Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) by Ian

Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) by Ian

The Hoary Redpoll has very fluffy body feathers that help it stay warm in extremely cold temperatures. It has feathers on areas of its body that are bare in most other birds. If temperatures get too warm, it may pluck out some of its body feathers. These feathers will grow back in a few days.

God has given each one of a unique identity to show how special we are.. But, sometimes we may have to get rid of our identity to be elevated to a higher place…

Joseph was the overseer of the household of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh… But, when his master’s wife held his garment and asked him to lie with her, Joseph left behind his garment got rid of his identity and ran away… That was the turning point and the launching pad which lifted Joseph to become The Prime Minister of Egypt…

Please read Genesis 39:1to13

Redpolls eat their favorite niger seed or sunflower seeds, seeds of trees such as birch, and of grasses and other plants. On their breeding grounds redpolls also feast on the explosion of buzzing insects that emerge, seemingly without respite in the Arctic summer….

Redpolls feed on small branches, often hanging upside down and uses its feet to hold food items….

A Redpoll finch, or (Common Redpoll – carduelis flammea, bearing a ring with Chinese inscriptions has made a “sensational” trip all the way to Sweden.. The bird, a small finch with a red crown and black chin weighing about 10.5 grams (0.37 ounces), was found on December 29 west of  Stockholm, some 6,670 kilometers (4,144.5 miles) from where it was marked in China… While this is the first time a bird marked in China has been found in Sweden, a Redpoll bearing Chinese markings was found in neighboring Norway in 2003 and three birds of the same species marked in Europe have turned up in China.

“This shows that there is some kind of pattern here and that this bird didn’t just happen to fly astray …

If God can take these 10.5 gramme birds as far as 4,114.5miles, will He not carry you to greater heights? When people look at your life they would wonder what kind of pattern did God use, to lift you? Remember, you are much more precious than these birds….

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. (Psalm 40:2)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Redpolls are in the Fringillidae Family of Passeriformes (Song Birds). That family has at present 207 members.

The Superb Fairywren – The Corporate Mob

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The Superb Fairywren – The Corporate Mob ~ by a j mithra

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) by Ian Montgomery

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) by Ian

The Superb Fairywren is one of 12 species of the genus Malurus, commonly known as Fairywren, also known as the Superb Blue-wren or colloquially as the Blue Wren, is a passerine bird of the Maluridae family found in Australia and lowland New Guinea..

The Superb Fairywren can be found in almost any area that has at least a little dense undergrowth for shelter, including grasslands with scattered shrubs, moderately thick forest, woodland, heaths, and domestic gardens. It has adapted well to the urban environment and is common in suburban Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

Superb Fairywrens are predominantly insectivorous. They mainly eats insects and supplements its diet with seeds. They eat a wide range of small creatures (mostly insects such as ants, grasshoppers, shield bugs, flies, weevils and various larvae) as well as small quantities of seeds, flowers, and fruit….

During winter, when food may be scarce, ants are an important ‘last resort’ food, constituting a much higher proportion of the diet Nestlings, in contrast to adult birds, are fed a diet of larger items such as caterpillars and grasshoppers…

Their foraging, termed ‘hop-searching’, occurs on the ground or in shrubs that are less than two meters high. Because this foraging practice renders them vulnerable to predators, birds tend to stick fairly close to cover and forage in groups….

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Female by Nick Talbot

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Female by Nick Talbot

The Superb Fairywren is a cooperative breeding species, with pairs or groups of 3–5 birds maintaining and defending small territories year-round. The group consists of a social pair with one or more male or female helper birds that were hatched in the territory, though they may not necessarily be the offspring of the main pair. These birds assist in defending the territory and feeding and rearing the young…

Birds in a group roost side-by-side in dense cover as well as engaging in mutual preening. The group often shelters and rests together during the heat of the day. If only we, as believers, could learn to stick close together, we can easily turn satan, our predator in to a prey…

That is why the Bible says,

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Mathew 18:20

Jesus too asked His disciples to go in twos to minister unto people…

Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. Luke 10:1

Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]? Ecclesiastes 4:11

These beautiful birds seem to know the secret of not only sticking close together, but also, engage in mutual preening…

We may call ourselves as the body of Christ but, when are we going to learn to stick together as one and help one another to grow in the Lord?

Several courtship displays by Superb Fairywren males have been recorded. The ‘sea horse flight’, named for its seahorse-like undulations, is one such display. During this exaggerated flight, the male—with his neck extended and his head feathers erect—tilts his body from horizontal to vertical, and descends slowly and springs upwards by rapidly beating his wings after alighting on the ground.

The ‘face fan’ display may be seen as a part of aggressive or sexual display behaviors; it involves the flaring of the blue ear tufts by erecting the feathers…

These male bird’s tilting of its body reminds us of God’s mercy..

The following verse shows the (horizontal) mercy and (vertical) grace of God…

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11, 12

That is the reason Jesus descended slowly from heaven and gave His life for you and me…

Remember He took four thousand years since Adam and Eve to come down from heaven to redeem mankind from sin and shame..

And He ascended rapidly to heaven, to prepare a mansion for us…

Is there a better mating display on the face of the earth than the descending and ascending of our Lord Jesus to save the entire human race? Thank You Jesus, for your mercy and grace…..

Vocal communication among Superb Fairywrens is used primarily for communication between birds in a social group and for advertising and mobbing, or defending a territory. Superb Fairywrens’ alarm call is a series of brief sharp chits, universally given and understood by small birds in response to predators. Females also emit a purr while incubating. The basic, or Type I, song is a 1–4 second high-pitched reel consisting of 10–20 short elements per second and is sung by both males and females. Males also possess a peculiar song-like Type II vocalization, which is given in response to the calls of predatory birds, commonly Grey Butcherbirds (Cracticus torquatus). The purpose of this behavior, which does not elicit a response from other nearby wrens, remains unknown…. It may serve to announce male fitness, but this is far from certain…

Though this bird’s alarm call does not elicit response from other nearby wrens, it never stops  reminding others about the presence of the predator through its calls..

No matter how they respond, God has kept us as watchmen over His people to warn about the presence of the predator..

Ezekiel 33:4-7 shows us God’s purpose in our lives…

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head

He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

Like all Fairywrens, the Superb Fairywren is an active and restless feeder, particularly on open ground near shelter, but also through the lower foliage. Movement is a series of jaunty hops and bounces, with its balance assisted by a proportionally large tail, which is usually held upright, and rarely still. The short, rounded wings provide good initial lift and are useful for short flights, though not for extended jaunts. During spring and summer, birds are active in bursts through the day and accompany their foraging with song. Insects are numerous and easy to catch, which allows the birds to rest between forays. Food is harder to find during winter and they are required to spend the day foraging continuously…

These birds are restless feeders and they also sing while foraging….

If only we become restless feeders like these birds on the word of God and if only we sing and praise Jesus continuously all through the day, our Lord would encompass us with His presence…

Remember our Lord dwells among our praises…

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

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The Capercaillie – The Stethoscope

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The Capercaillie – The Stethoscope ~ by a j mithra

Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)©Wiki-Richard_Bartz

Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)©Wiki-Richard_Bartz

The Capercaillie is a resident in northern Europe and Asian coniferous forests,especially in hills and mountains, and in the mountains of central eastern Europe. It also has population outposts in the Pyrenees and Scottish Highlands. The Capercaillie is restricted to pinewood habitat in northern Scotland..

It prefers old, open pine forests with lush ericaceous ground cover, though in summer it is occasionally found in mature Oakwood..

Male capercaillies have a complex display that they use to attract females to mate with them in the Spring. This display is usually a communal affair at a traditional site known as a lek, which originates from the Norse word meaning ‘to dance’. They may also use a transient arena or even display from trees in response to the presence of a female. Initially the display song involves tapping and gurgling which accelerates to a drum roll that earned the bird his Gaelic name, capull-choille, the horse of the woods.

This drum roll is followed by a noise which rather resembles a cork being pulled out of a bottle, and the final song phase involves alternating gurgling and wheezing.To many people, this soft dawn song is rather surprising for such a large bird, especially as the purpose is to attract hens from afar. However, it is now recognized that parts of the song are below the human range of hearing. The subsonic part of the call is thought to carry well over distance and to be audible to other Capercaillie.

Like how the soft dawn song of the male is inaudible to human hearing, so is God’s voice inaudible to worldly souls….

God wants to speak to us early in the morning, when others cannot hear it, but, His bride, the Church only can hear it..

But how many Churches are awake early in the morning? Remember, God calls us as His Church…Are we awake at dawn to hear His voice?

Moses rose up early and went to Mount Sinai.. (Exodus34:4)

Joshua and his men rose early and went around the fort of Jericho, (Joshua 6:15)

Most servants of God sought the Lord early and they found the answers for their problems.. Wake up bride, it is time to listen to His voice..

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Proverbs 8:17

Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) ©Wikipedia

Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) ©Wikipedia

During the song the male has his tail held vertical and fanned out, his beak pointing skywards and the wings held out and drooped. In this posture the cock may slowly strut forward and often does a `flutter-jump’ following the cork pop part of the song. This involves leaping rapidly with noisily flapping wings, a brief glide and fluttering or crashing back to the ground. Once the hens have been drawn in to the lekking area, the cock’s display becomes more intense, but less vigorous with the flutter-jumping usually stopping…

During the mating season the males are very aggressive and have been known to attack bird watchers! Direct confrontation between competing suitors frequently occurs and has been described  as a “vicious explosion of buffeting wings and snapping bills – the pair may not cease until one is dead”. By the end of the mating season the dominant alpha males often sport various cuts and bald patches from these fights.

Our Lord had to confront satan and in the process, He was battered and bruised for our sins and took the stripes to heal us…

He is the Alpha who sports, nail pierced hand and feet, ploughed back, thorn-crowned head and a spear pierced rib…

He took everything to redeem us, save us and heal us…

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

In spite of all the sufferings, He is still seen knocking at the door for a space in our hearts? For what? Just to live with us and for us forever and ever…

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

When are we going to let Him in to take over our lives completely?

The Capercaillie hen lays five to eight eggs in early May. Her nest is a scrape on the ground, frequently in a hollow under a tree. The cock plays no part in the brooding or rearing of the chicks. The precocious buff and reddish chicks all hatch at the same time. At this point they are very vulnerable to a wide range of predators and at a young age they are able to fly short distances over the heather.

The hen is very protective and keeps her brood close to her with muted contact calls. In summer the Capercaillie feed close to and even on the ground. Their diet includes buds, shoots, seeds and berries. This dictates their preference for open pinewood habitats with lush ground cover of heather and dwarf shrubs that provide not only ample food but protection too. In winter they are arboreal and pine needles are eaten by nipping off the leading shoots of conifers.

Capercaillie can be surprisingly nimble when climbing the branches of pine trees. They are renowned for being shy and very difficult to see except during the displaying season. If they are disturbed they will initially freeze; if flushed they take off with a characteristic  crashing as the bird leaves the foliage, and they can fly with surprising agility between trees, even in dense forest…

God wants us to freeze like these birds when we are being disturbed… Don’t you remember the following verse?

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Being herbivorous, Capercaillies have a profound effect on the vegetation they browse upon. For example, they act as agents for the dispersal of the berries they eat, especially for the blaeberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).

In the past, Capercaillie have not been highly regarded by foresters because of their winter habit of eating the leading shoots of conifers. In a sparsely wooded area, or where growth is less vigorous, this can check the growth and trees can take up to five years to recover. However, in a large native forest this damage is negligible and indeed adds to the variety and beauty of the shapes of Scots pine trees.

Capercaillie makes full use of a varied pinewood habitat. In winter the birds need pine trees for food and in summer good ground cover of shrubby vegetation for nesting and chick rearing. This reliance on, and exacting needs of, a varied but specific habitat led to their extinction in the past when the forests were destroyed by people.

The dramatic decline of these birds has focused attention on their habitat requirements and has shown that they act as a good indicator of the health and extent of varied mature forest cover.

We, as believers should act as a good indicator of the health of the body of Christ…Churches are being turned into pubs and malls.. Is this a good indication of the health of the body of Christ?

These birds would become extinct without a pinewood habitat…

Without Churches, we believers would become extinct too… Those dark days are not very far off… When the Lord returns, we are answerable to all those dying souls around us.. What are we doing to stop this decline of churches?

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15, 16

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA, a j mithra
Please visit us at:  Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:
See Capercaillie video

To hear some of the sounds – Click Here then select from recordings.

There are two Capercaillies – Western and Black-billed. They are part of the Phasianidae – Pheasants, Fowl & Allies Family which has 181 members. They are in the Galliformes Order.

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The Cerulean Warbler – The V I P …

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The Cerulean Warbler – The V I P … – by a j mithra

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) ©Wikipedia

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) ©Wikipedia

Named for the male’s unique blue color, the cerulean warbler is a small, migratory bird that weighs about 0.3 oz. During migration, cerulean warblers pass through the southern United States, flying across the Gulf of Mexico to the highlands of Central America and on to South America….

They winter in broad-leaved evergreen forests within a narrow band of middle elevations (1,600 to 6,000 ft.) in the Andes Mountains of northern South America from Columbia to Peru and Venezuela….

Recent findings show that the birds begin their spring migration to the breeding grounds by flying approximately 1,000 miles over the Caribbean Sea to reach Nicaragua and Belize.

Are you feeling small and insecure?

Just remember, these birds are so small, yet GOD has given them the energy to cross not only over the Caribbean sea but also such long distance…

GOD loves to use small things to do great works…

Like David to bring down goliath, a girl to bring healing to an army commander and a small boy to feed the multitudes…

The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time. (Isaiah 60:22)

Cerulean warblers nest and raise their young in large tracts of deciduous hardwood forest that have tall, large-diameter trees and diverse vertical structure in the forest canopy from early spring to late summer. .

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) female by Steve Slayton

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) female by Steve Slayton

They prefer uplands, wet bottomlands, moist slopes, and mountains from less than

100 feet to more than 3,500 feet in elevation.

The Cerulean Warbler is a flagship species for conservation due to its attractiveness, high conservation concern and life history. The Cerulean Warbler often inhabits areas that are of global importance for conservation, yet are highly threatened. Therefore, conserving the Cerulean Warbler is not only about a shared migratory species, but also the lives of local peoples who will determine its future.

GOD has trust in us and that’s why HE has chosen us to be the flagship species for the conservation and extension of HIS kingdom…

HE is faithful to finish the good work that HE had started in us, but, are we faithful?

A faithful man shall abound with blessings; …… (Proverbs 28:20)

The female has her own fascinating behavior: with wings tucked, the bird purposefully tumbles off the side of her lofty nest. Although not quite in a freefall, just before she hits the ground—like a bungee jumper on a cord—she stops short. Instead of shooting back skyward, however, her open wings whisk her along the forest floor in search of insects, including bees, caterpillars and wasps.

The copyright holder of the chorus of cheerful trills coming from high in the forest canopy is that of the male, as he only sings. The males are also persistent singers who sing at intervals of one and a half minute to two minutes for nearly and hour each morning. Most of the singing is done in the morning and some good songs can be heard in the afternoon also..

The 0.3 oz Cerulean Warbler sings for one hour each morning. If the same bird is of the size of a human, it would be singing all day long…

I think GOD also expects us to sing all day long and that is the reason HE created us..

Anyway, we have to keep singing day and night non-stop in heaven….

If we don’t sing here on earth, is it possible for us to sing for HIM in heaven?

the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21)

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

The Cerulean Warbler is one of the 119 members of the  New World Warblers – Parulidae Family in the Passeriformes Order.

Nice Video of a Cerulean Warbler by Steve Dillinger

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A Beauty from THE BEAUTY…

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A Beauty from THE BEAUTY… – by a j mithra

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Bob-Nan

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Bob-Nan

The Grey Crowned Crane is a tall, majestic looking bird which sports a crown of sorts, made of tall stiff golden feathers that looks for all the world like a real crown. He has large white patches of feathers on his cheeks with small red patches at the top of them and a slate gray coloring over most of his wings, with a black bill and legs.

The Grey Crowned is quite tall for a Crane, at about three feet high when they are fully mature, with the crown making them appear taller still. They are among the largest of the cranes with a wing span that can reach six and a half or seven feet across when they are in flight.

If GOD can crown these beautiful birds, don’t you think that HE would crown us? It is for us that HE left HIS glory, so that we may be crowned with eternal life…

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12

The one who created these beautiful birds is the only ONE who is the most beautiful of all…

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Songs of Solomon 5:16

The ONE who created us in HIS own image became nothing on the cross, so that we would become something for HIS glory..

HE turned ugly on the cross to make us beautiful…

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Daves BirdingPix

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Daves BirdingPix

The Grey Crowned Crane is found near rivers and wetlands, usually in marshy grasslands near rivers or lakes in Eastern Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

We are supposed to be found by the Living waters that flow from the cross… Where are we right now? Whom do we trust?

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:8

Come to the cross, where the blood is still alive to cleanse you… Come to the Living water, which still flows to quench your thirst….

Social and gregarious during most of the year, moving about in flocks of up to 100 and roosting in trees or riverbeds. The cranes’ long legs and necks and excellent peripheral vision help them spot predators in the tall Savannah grasses.

Some of us may have lost our way, in the process may have lost our vision too..

The Bible says,

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. Psalm 19:8

In breeding season which is springtime in this area, the pairs of cranes will build nests which are very large, made of grass and vegetation on the lesser wet parts of the marshy ground or even in shallow water. The cranes remain monogamous, and even after the chicks leave the nest the pair remains together, and will breed each season strictly with each other, remaining paired for life.

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Bob-Nan

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) by Bob-Nan

An omnivore, the crowned crane eats plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs, worms, snakes, small fish and eggs of water animals. Stamping their feet as they walk, they flush out insects which are quickly caught and eaten. One of the most beautiful of all cranes, and the only crane which will roost in trees.

We too are supposed to be the only tree roosters.. We are those who carry our own tree to roost on the cross tree….

The spectacular dances performed by the adults are not strictly connected with reproductive behavior but are also an expression of joy.

Dancing for the LORD is an act of worship…. He was the King, but still, David danced before the Lord.Eeven though his wife Michal made fun of him, Kind David said,

And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 2Samuel 6:14

Do we have the guts to say so?

Both the male and female cooperate in building the nest, and in defending the eggs and the chicks. Crowned crane parents often pretend to be injured to lure predators away from their nestlings…

This quality of pretending is seen in King David’s life too.. You can read that instance in 1Samuel 21:12-15.. But, for us we don’t have to pretend, we just have resist the devil…

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:
Cranes are a Bird of the Bible and are in the Gruidae – Crane Family. There are 15 members in the family. The are part of the Gruiformes Order.

See also: Gospel Message

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His Eye Is On The Sparrow

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His Eye Is On The Sparrow – by a j mithra

A j mithra has done it again. This time he has really made a fantastic video. With help and permission from Jim Greeninger (musician), and our Videographers Keith Blomerley and Nick Talbot, Denise Russell (technical assistance) and Lee (helped get the pieces). The sounds of the birds were put together by a j mostly from sounds from xeno-canto.

I hope you will enjoy this video and praise the Lord for His watch care over the Sparrows and all of His Creation. To see the words go to Birds in Hymns – His Eye Is On The Sparrow.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)

The Hummingbird – The believing believer..

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The Hummingbird – The believing believer.. – by a j mithra

BootedRacket-tail(Ocreatus underwoodii) by Ian

Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) by Ian

Number 1500 is ‘PHOS’ which means LIGHT in Greek.. Number 1500 is YHVH (10x5x6x5), which means GOD in Hebrew…

Maybe the Hummingbird knew this, that’s why it visits about 1500 flowers everyday for nectar…..

What about us? Do we seek THE LIGHT at least once a day?

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

The size of one of the curtains of the Tabernacle is 1260 square cubits…
The heartbeat of the Hummingbird is 1260 per minute..

This identical number of 1260 which is the area of one of the curtain of the Tabernacle and the heart beat of the hummingbird seems to convey a divine message.. Maybe the Hummingbird’s heart beats for the Lord?

For whom does our heart beat?

It has to feed every ten minutes, and would die if it starves for a few hours. But still, the Hummingbird has the energy to fly 500 miles nonstop to cross the Gulf of Mexico during migration….

If GOD can provide so much energy for a tiny little bird, will HE not strengthen us to cross every gulf in our lives?

After all, HE has created us in HIS own image…

With GOD our limited energy turns unlimited…

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…….. (Psalm 2Corithians 12:9)

The more sugar we take, the more the chances of turning into a Diabetic… The Hummingbird feeds every ten minutes on nectar and drinks almost double its weight of nectar in a day.. Yet, it isn’t a Diabetic! Its cos, it burns its energy through its 53 per minute wing beat…

The word of the LORD is sweeter than honey… THE WORD is our LORD… Well, are we a Spiritual Diabetic? So much of GOD’S WORD enters our system but, we don’t seem to exercise… Do we?

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalm 119:103)

The Hummingbird gets attracted towards RED color.. Maybe it knows that its creator, the Rose of Sharon is RED….

Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) Reinier Munguia

Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) Reinier Munguia

We all know that RED in a traffic signal means, Stop right away… RED color can also mean Danger..

For years together, we have been seeing Bloody RED on the cross. But, the question is, have we stopped sinning yet?

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)

Moses used Hyssop’s stem for purification of sacrifices in the Tabernacle… David prayed to GOD to cleanse all his sins with Hyssop..

Did the Hummingbird choose Hyssop’s nectar to live holy? Cos, it gets its favorite nectar from the flowers of Hyssop.

What do we choose to live holy?

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (Psalm 119:10)

GreenVioletear (Colibri thalassinus) Reinier Munguia

GreenVioletear (Colibri thalassinus) Reinier Munguia

The tree of Life has twelve fruits in store for us. Hyssop-the Hummingbird’s favorite is a twelve inch spiked flower for which, the Hummingbird migrates 500 miles… The Bird seems to ask, “How far do you people run for those twelve wonderful fruits of the Tree of Life?”…

It made me think hard about it… What about you?

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

When it faces danger or if its frightened or if its confused, the Hummingbird immediately flies upward…..

In our dark times or in times of trouble, whom and where do we look for help? Do we look up to GOD instantly or do we look up to HIM when we find no other way?

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

The eyes of Hummingbirds are attuned to wave lengths of light which is outside the visible range of human…

Tuning our spiritual eyes to the wave length of THE LIGHT unseen is FAITH…

Well, it is time for us to go for an eye check-up to check if we can see the unseen..

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Romans14:23)

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

Hummingbirds are in the Trochilidae Family of the Apodiformes Order. There are 338 members of the family and not all are called hummingbirds.

Green-and-white Hummingbird (Leucippus viridicauda) by Keith

The Mountain Bluebird – The Zealous Bridegroom..

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The Mountain Bluebird – The Zealous Bridegroom.. – by a j mithra

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Daves BirdingPix

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Daves BirdingPix

The Mountain Bluebird is a common inhabitant of open areas, such as ranchlands, in the Western parts of America. Mountain Bluebirds are a monogamous breed. The males of this specie have been known to assertively guard their mates from other unattached males. When the male mountain bird has to go away to collect food it makes sure that it stays in contact with the female bird by calling out and engaging in various visual displays.

The Mountain Bluebird is known for its strange feeding behavior. In fact their feeding behavior is so unusual that it makes the Mountain Bluebird quite distinguishable from the other species of bluebirds. Mountain bluebirds like to hover low around open fields where they hunt for their food. Upon seeing an insect the hovering birds quickly briefly drops to the ground to snatch their prey and then return to their flight or go to a perch.

Even when seemingly resting on a perch mountain bluebirds are actually usually on the lookout for insects and when they spot one again suddenly briefly drops to the ground to catch the insect before returning to the perch to feed. This strange behavior is called ground sallying. Though other bluebirds hover above ground at times they do not do this as often as mountain bluebirds does.

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Ian Montgomery

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Ian Montgomery

The mountain bluebirds diet is primarily made up of insects although they do eat berries too. Insects that mountain bluebirds like to feed on include beetles, weevils, ants, wasps, bees, cicadas, flies, caterpillars, grasshoppers, katydids, and crickets. Mountain bluebirds do eat berries but not as much as other species of bluebirds. They eat more berries during winter since insects are harder to find. The varieties of berries they most prefer to eat come from mistletoe, juniper and hackberry plants.

Mating season starts with the male Mountain bluebird singing loudly on treetops to attract female mountain bluebirds. The mating song though serves another purpose, which is to mark of his territory and warn other male birds nearby. The male bluebird begins its song at dawn just as the sun rises and continues until a female mountain bluebird is spotted.

Our praises would announce our neighbors of the authority JESUS has over our lives…

It is easy to say, “if God be with us, who can be against us”, but the question is, do you think that our Lord would dwell among our silence?

Our Lord dwells among praises and not silence; which means, our praises in the morning invites the presence of the Lord, so that His goodness and mercy would follows us all through the day..

Did you announce your neighbors about the authority JESUS has over your life? Do we praise Him until we spot HIS presence? Or just praise Him for the sake of it? Remember, God has created us to just praise, praise and praise….

This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. (Isaiah 43:21)

Once the male bird sees a female mountain bluebird it starts exhibiting various kinds of behaviors as it tries to attract the female bird and entice it to look at the available nesting cavities in the area, so that the female bird can choose one in which to lay eggs.

Some mating behaviors of the male mountain bluebird include flicking its wing(s) open at a moderate pace, poking its head in and out of a nest hole again and again, and perching on the side of a nest showing off with a wing-wave. When a female mountain bluebird is interested it will follow the male bird into the nesting cavities and even enter some of them to inspect those offered. It isn’t until both birds go inside one nesting cavity several times though that they are considered to be paired. They, of course use the nesting cavity that they had entered several times. After choosing the nesting site the female mountain bluebird promptly begins to build the nest….

In the most sensational courting display, our Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross And poured every single drop of blood, to attract us, His mate…

In spite of this amazing gift of salvation, how many of us really follow Him…

The female Mountain Blue bird follows the male several times, inside one nesting cavity before it builds its nest..

If Eve had been with Adam, she wouldn’t have sinned…

The day she left Adam and went around the garden, she fell into satan’s snare..

Do we, the bride follow Jesus, our eternal bridegroom?

..: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. (Joel 2:16)

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Ian Montgomery nest

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) by Ian Montgomery nest

It is the female mountain bluebird bird that chooses the nesting site and builds the nest. Throughout the entire process the male also keeps himself busy staying close by to guard the female mountain bluebird. They do help sometimes by bringing some nesting material to the female bird but they do not actually participate in the placement of the material on the nest itself. The male mountain bluebird stays attentive during the entire nest building process and stays close by to guard its mate from other unattached males. Male mountain bluebirds are known to be zealous in protecting their mate.

During this time the male also collects food and feeds it to the female bird while spends most of her time just building the nest. This behavior is called mate-feeding.

Like these male birds, Jesus, our Bridegroom is so zealous that He is busy staying close by to guard us and guide us in all that we do for His glory…

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah9:7)

Like these female birds, we the bride, are given the responsibility of building the nest, which is the kingdom of the Lord…

He feeds those who are hungry and quenches those who are thirsty, this privilege is only for the bride, who work on building the Bridegroom’s kingdom…

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17)

Bluebirds are held in very high esteem. This is shown in the many times it is mentioned in poetry and prose. Bluebirds are often depicted as a symbol of love, happiness and renewed hope. As another sign of peoples high regard for the bluebird the Mountain Bluebird was chosen as the state bird of both Idaho and Nevada…

Jesus holds us in very high esteem that is the reason He bought us by His blood…

God expects us to show the love which He showed on the cross of Calvary..

In fact, He sees us the symbol of love, happiness and hope…

That is why He calls us as His love…

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. (Song of Solomon 2:4)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

The Mountain Bluebird is part of the Turdidae Family which includes not only the Bluebirds but also Thrushes, Geomalia, Omao, Kamao, Puaiohi, Olomao, Solitaires, Veery, Blackbirds, Cochoa, Fruithunter, Shortwings and Alethes, for a total of 184 members. They are Passerines.

The Fairy-bluebirds are in the Irenidae Family.

Island Scrub Jays – The Ultimate Home-makers

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Island Scrub Jays – The Ultimate Home-makers – by a j mithra

Island Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma insularis) ©WikiC

Island Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma insularis) ©WikiC

 

Island Scrub Jays are monogamous and may stay with a mate for their entire lives. Unlike some Aphelocoma species, the Island Scrub Jay is not a cooperative breeder, meaning that pairs do not rely on other related jays to help them raise their young…

Divorce has become the order of the day…
Spouses getting separated for flimsy reason, sometimes for no reason has become a fashion..
Even churches encourage divorce..
But,through these birds, GOD shows us that HE has created every spouse to mate for life..

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Mathew 5:31,32)

And most importantly Kids are gifts from GOD..
HE trusts is us that we would take care of these gifts and that is the reason HE has given us kids..
How well do we take care of them?
Or do we rely on some one else to raise them for us?

For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? (1Timothy 3:5)

Both the male and the female help build nests three to 25 feet high in trees and shrubs. They use small oak branches that they break off trees and they never use sticks that fall to the ground These branches form the cup of the nest, which the parents line with grass and small roots…

We need to provide a home filled with love and care for our kids and not a house of luxury…

Females lay 3 to 5 eggs in a nest that they incubate for about 20 days. While the female sits on the eggs, the male spends his time hunting and defending the nest from snakes, hawks, foxes, and other Island Scrub Jays.

The male is also responsible for bringing the female food so she can be with the eggs as long as possible each day.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)

Observations suggest that the more time parents spend near their nest, the higher their chances of defending their young ones against nest predators….

Now a days parents spend more time in their offices than with their kids..
The excuse is that they are working hard to give a comfortable future..
But, we parents cannot protect our children if we don’t spend time with them..
How can we claim that GOD has created us in HIS own image when we fail to protect our kids the way HE protects us?
It is time for us to learn from these Island Scrub Jay

s about how to spend time with our children so as to defend them from predators…

Do we have that learning spirit?

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Island Scrub Jays are in the Corvidae Family which has Crows, Jays, Magpies, Treepies, Rooks and Ravens in it. They are in the Passeriformes Order.

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The Thirsty Sandgrouse…

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The Thirsty Sandgrouse… – by a j mithra

Chestnut-belliedSandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) by Nikhil Devasar

Chestnut-belliedSandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) by Nikhil Devasar

The Sandgrouse are a unique set of birds found only in Africa and Eurasia. The relationship of these birds to other groups has been one of the most hotly debated issues over a period of centuries.

They are primarily ground-feeding birds of deserts, scrub, and grasslands, recalling small long-winged grouse — indeed, one of the most desert-loving of all species.

Its beautifully patterned underparts provide fine camouflage amongst its pink & white rocky habitat.

But sandgrouse share several attributes of pigeons, including their long wings and the practice of making long flights daily between breeding or feeding grounds, and pools of water at which they drink.

A sandgrouse could be described as the busiest eater in the bird world. It needs to find several seeds every second to get enough food to survive. To sustain these sorts of feeding rates, it exploits areas with superabundant seed banks. The grouse peck up each seed individually, and look like little sewing machines when feeding. Each bird will consume between 5,000 and 80,000 seeds a day. Some seeds are so small that it takes 5,000 to make up just one gram.

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke8:11)

Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) by Nikhil Devasar

Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) by Nikhil Devasar

How many seeds did we eat today? A full crop (up to 24ml volume) of this small bird could hold between 3 000 and 40 000 seeds, depending on seed size. How much are we filled with the word of GOD?

These birds are the busiest eaters of the Avian world…
We too are so busy that we hastily read a chapter from the Bible before we leave home…
Some of us are even more busy that we don’t find time to read the Bible at all …
We do you know the meaning of the word BUSY?
B (being) U (under) S (satan’s) Y (yoke)
Are you BUSY (Being under satan’s yoke)?

Or

BUSY (Being under Savior’s yoke)?
JESUS said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mathew 11:30)

One special feature of sandgrouse is their long flights to water holes in desert and semi-desert country where not only do they drink, but during breeding they wet their belly feathers to carry water to the chicks. The male’s belly feathers are specially adapted to hold up to 15-20 ml of water. The nests may be over 25 miles distant, and it may take several trips, but adults carry enough water back to their chicks so that they survive.. (Video of a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse soaking its belly feathers)

By far the best way to see sandgrouse is to await their arrival at waterholes. The flocking behavior helps them avoid predation because not only are individuals in a flock more difficult for a predator to catch, but because some members can always be on the lookout for danger while others drink. The Burchell’s Sandgrouse (Pterocles burchelli) in the Kalahari desert has been known to fly over 100 miles each day to water…

Are you thirsty?
You are so privileged, that you don’t have to move even one step for water…
Just call JESUS, the Living Water, HE will not only quench your thirst but, let the Living Water flow from you…

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)

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:38)

Have an overflowing day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

http://www.ourchurch.com/member/c/crosstree/

Fusion Unplugged by Boat-tailed Grackles

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Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) by Dan'sPix

Fusion Unplugged by Boat-tailed Grackles by a j mithra

Well I see a j mithra has been busy again. He has produced another YouTube with the birds. This time he has used the Boat-tailed Grackles. Hope you enjoy watching it.

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I Don’t Show Off – The Great Horned Owl

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I Don’t Show Off – The Great Horned Owl – by a j mithra

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) by Ray

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) by Ray

Great Horned owls can fly silently because the ends of their flight feathers don’t have barbules, those tiny hooks that most all other bird feathers have. When birds fly, the rubbing barbules is what makes the noise…

If GOD has not created these owls to fly silent, it would’ve turned into a prey instead of being a predator..

It doesn’t show-off its presence..

Please read through Isaiah chapter 39, you will see how King Hezekiah showed every treasure he had to the king of Babylon and how it brought curse over his family…

Talents and treasures from GOD
are not to show off but to glorify HIM…

On the faces of Great Horned owls and most other owls there are very short feather in a rounded pattern that form a facial disk. This facial dish acts like a satellite dish, receiving sounds and funneling them to the ears, which are hidden beneath feathers on the sides of the skull…

Its one ear is slightly higher and positioned at a slightly different angle on the head
than the other, it is able to use a kind of “sound triangulation” process to judge the location of its prey with amazing accuracy…

These owls can hear even the slightest movement of its prey within leaves or undergrowth or even in snow…
Such is its hearing ability..

Most of us tend to grumble about prayers unanswered..
We say that GOD doesn’t talk to us..
What sort of prayer time do we have?
Do we take time to be silent in HIS presence?

If these birds didn’t maintain silence, they may have to starve to death..

Most of us are spiritually starved cos, we go with a shopping list to the presence of GOD, instead of taking orders from the LORD..

Unless we learn to be still, we will never know our LORD..

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

Note: Thank you, Ms Val, for the inspiration.. I’ve learnt loads from your article about THE GREAT HORNED OWL.. May GOD richly bless you in all that you do for HIS glory..

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

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