Author Archives: Lee

Interesting Birds – Fairywrens of Australia & New Guinea

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Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti) by Ian

Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti) by Ian

Thinking

I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. (Psalm 50:11)

To listen – Fairywrens by Creation Moments

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) by Ian

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) by Ian

There are 13 species of a brightly plumed little songbird known as the fairy wren. The birds are found in Australia and New Guinea. So colorful are their feathers that the various species go by names like “superb,” “splendid” and “lovely.” However, even more noteworthy is the birds’ unusual behavior.

A male courting a female will bring her a flower petal. The petal usually matches his color or is a deeply contrasting color. Normally a perky little bird with an upright tail, when courting he lowers his tail and creeps around close to the ground. As he twists his body back and forth, he puffs out his cheek feathers. If the female accepts his courting, she builds their nest alone, lining it with bright parrot feathers. While they mate for life, they are not known for fidelity to their mates. When mature, females will go off on their own, but males may stay with their parents for a year or more. Their main duty is to guard the family nest. If danger approaches the nest, the guard will puff up his wings, lower his tail and scuttle through dry grass, pretending to be a mouse. The idea is to lure the predator away from the nest.

Lovely Fairywren (Malurus amabilis) by Ian

Lovely Fairywren (Malurus amabilis) by Ian

The beauty and unusual behavior of these little birds testifies to more than God’s creativity and love for beauty. They remind us of the beauty that was lost to God’s creation when it was tainted by man’s sin. Thankfully, some of that beauty that was lost can return to our lives through the forgiveness of sins that is found in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation and for giving me the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Amen.

References: Natural History, 11/94, pp. 56-62, “Faithful Philanderers

Copyright © 2010 Creation Moments, Inc., PO Box 839, Foley, MN  56329, www.creationmoments.com.

The Fairywrens are in the Maluridae – Australasian Wrens Family which is part of the Passeriforms Order. They are like in the true wrens (Troglodytidae family) in their shape and the way they cock their long tail. The Maluridae family not only includes the Fairywren, but also the Emu-wren and Grasswren. They range from 5-7.5 in (12-19 cm) to 8-8.5 in (20-22 cm). Most have a short, fine bill, while the Grasswren’s is a little thicker.

Superb Fairywren by Keith Blomerly

When I Consider! – Uniformitarianism

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When I Consider!

When I Consider!

“Evidence From Biblical Accuracy”

The belief in uniformitarianism (that the past history of our planet can be explained by slow processes over long periods of time) is not a new scientific revelation. Belief in evolution is built upon this foundation of uniformitarianism by denying that there have been major interventions by God in the past. God knew and forewarned mankind of this errant viewpoint thousands of years ago in 2 Peter 3.

1. Evolution denies the instantaneous creation of very different forms of life.
2. Evolution ignores that there was ever a curse on man and nature as a result of mankind’s rebellion.
3. Evolution suppresses the evidence for the worldwide Flood in spite of enormous geological evidence supporting the reality of this event. This global Flood explains the fossil record without the need for evolutionary concepts or time scales and must be denied in order to accept evolution.
4. Evolution undermines Christianity by assuming that death has always been around is the natural order of things. If this is true, then Christ did not die as a final payment for Adam’s (and our) sin because death is normal and not a specific penalty for our rebellion.

Once evolution is accepted as a fact, is it any surprise that Christianity rapidly becomes irrelevant? Is it any surprise that Europe became almost devoid of true Christian faith in the same time frame in which it totally embraced evolutionary theory as fact?

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scuffing and following their own evil desires. They will say “Where is the ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4 KJV)

A Closer Look At The Evidence, by Richard and Tina Kleiss, January 12

Typed by Phyllis

Birds of the Bible – Names of Birds

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Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field… (Genesis 2:19-20a NKJV)

Common Kingfisher by Phil Kwong

It would be nice to know which birds Adam named and what he named them. Today, the birds we see around the world are variations from those original bird kinds. The names that they now have are different, but, if Adam were to name the birds living today, do you think he might use these current names on the birds?

Below are some bird names that have caught my attention and you can almost visualize something about them:

A  – Amazon, Antbird, Antpitta, Antshrike, Antvireo, Antwren, Apostlebird, Awlbill
B  – Babbler, Bamboowren, Barbtail, Barbthroat, Bare-eye, Barwing, Baywing, Bee-eater, Bellbird, Berryeater, Berrypecker, Bird-of-paradise, Bishop, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blackeye, Black-headed, Blackstart, Blackthroat, Bleeding-heart, Bluebill, Bluewing, Bluebird, Bluebonnet, Bluetail, Bluethroat, Boatbill, Bowerbird, Brilliant, Bristlebill, Bristlebird, Broadbill, Bronzewing, Brushrunner, Bushbird, Bush-hen

Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) by Ian

Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) by Ian

C  – Canvasback, Cardinal, Catbird, Chat, Chatterer, Cicadabird, Comet, Conebill, Cowbird, Creeper, Crestentchest, Crimsonwing, Crossbill, Cuckoo
D  – Darkeye, Darter, Dipper, Dollarbird, Dove
E  – Earthcreeper, Emerald
F  – Fairy, Fairy-bluebird, Fairywren, Fantail, Fieldwren, Figbird, Finfoot, Fireback, Firecrest, Firecrown, Fire-eye, Firefinch, Firetail, Firethroat, Flamecrest, Flatbill, Flicker, Flowerpecker, Flowerpiecer, Flufftail, Flycatcher, Foliage-gleaner, Forktail, Friarbird, Frigatebird, Frogmouth, Fruitcrow, Fruiteater, Fruithunter
G  – Gnatcatcher, Gnatwren, Go-away-bird, Goldcrest, Goldenback, Goldeneye, Goldenthroat, Goldfinch, Grassbird, Grassquit, Grasswren, Greytail, Groundcreeper, Groundpecker, Guineafowl

Carmine BeeEater by Marc at Africaddict

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

H  – Hardhead, Helmetcrest, Helmetshrike, Hermit, Hillstar, Hobby, Honeybird, Honeycreeper, Honeyeater, Honeyguide, Hookbill, Hornbill, Hummingbird
J  – Jewel-babbler, Jewelfront, Junglefowl
K  – Kingbird, Kingfisher, Kite, Knot,
L  – Laughingthrush, Leafbird, Leaftosser, Longbill, Longclaw, Longtail, Lovebird
M  – Marshbird, Metaltail, Mockingbird, Monarch, Morepork, Mountaingem, Mourner, Mousebird, Mudnester
N  – Needletail, Nighthawk, Nunbird, Nutcracker, Nuthatch
O  – Oilbird, Openbill, Ovenbird, Oxpecker, Oystercatcher
P  – Palmchat, Palmcreeper, Pewee, Pilotbird, Pintail, Prickletail, Puffback, Puffbird, Puffleg
R  – Racket-tail, Rail, Razorbill, Recurvebill, Redhead, Redwing, Rockfinch, Rockfowl, Rockjumper, Rockrunner, Rockwarbler, Rockwren, Roller, Rushbird
S  – Sabrewing, Saddleback, Sanderling, Sandgrouse, Sandpiper, Sapphire, Sapphirewing, Sapsucker, Screamer, Screech, Scrubbird, Scrubfowl, Scrubtit, Scrubwren, Secretarybird, Seedcracker, Seedeater, Sheathbill, Shieldbill, Shoebill, Shortwing, Shoveler, Sicklebill, Silktail, Silverbird, Skimmer, Snowcock, Snowfinch, Softtail, Solitaire, Spadebill, Spatuletail, Spiderhunter, Spinebill, Spinetail, Spoonbill, Standardwing, Starfrontlet, Starthroat, Stilt, Stichbird, Straightbill, Streamcreeper, Streamertail, Stubtail, Sugarbird, Sunangel, Sunbeam, Sunbird, Sunbittern, Sungem, Surfbird, Swift
T  – Tailorbird, Tattler, Thicketbird, Thick-knee, Thistletail, Thornbill, Tinkerbird, Trainbearer, Treecreeper, Treehunter, Treepie, Treerunner, Treeswift, Trembler, Triller, Tropicbird, Trumpeter, Tuftedcheek, Tyrant
U  – Umbrellabird
V  – Violetear, Visorbearer
W  – Wagtail, Wallcreeper, Warbler, Waxbill, Waxwing, Weaver, Weebill, Wheatear, Whipbird, Whistler, White-eye, Whiteface, Whitethroat, Whitetip, Widowbird, Winter, Wiretail, Woodcock, Woodcreeper, Woodhen, Woodhaunter, Woodpecker, Woodstar
Y  – Yellowbrow, Yellowhammer, Yellowlegs, Yellowthroat

The slide show has just some of the Passerines (Song Birds) whose names might have been easy. I’ll save the non-Passerines for later. Tried not to use too many colors because that is also for other blogs.

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See Also:
Bird Name Challenges
Variation within Created Kinds
Species and Kinds
Explaining Diversity within Created Kinds

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When I Consider! – Mabbul (Flood)

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Rainbow by Mike Bader

Rainbow by Mike Bader

Evidence From the Worldwide Flood

Mabbul

When I Consider!

When I Consider!

Many people claim that Noah’s Flood was just a relatively small local event. Yet God clearly stated in Genesis 6:17 that the coming judgment would be a mighty flood of waters (mabbul mayim). The word for flood (mabbul), used in Genesis 6:17 for the first time, is only used for Noah’s Flood; other floods are denoted by different words in the Bible. The Genesis Flood was the “mabbul,” unique in all history. God not only used a unique and exact word for the worldwide Flood, but also made it clear that the waters covered the highest mountains.

God promised to never send another flood upon the earth. Yet there have been countless local floods throughout history. Either the Genesis Flood was something different, unique, and worldwide–or God is a liar.

Enormous and widespread geologic features around the planet also testify to the global extent of the Flood. From the rapid formation of the Grand Canyon as backed-up waters rushed off the continents…to widespread coal deposits…to over-sized river valleys around the world-it is apparent that this planet was once covered with water.

(The Genesis Record, p 183) – From A Closer Look at the Evidence by Kleiss, November 8.

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:21 KJV)

Comments – God’s Records

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Tree rings from Wikipedia

Tree rings from Wikipedia

“If God can write with the finger of nature the record of the years in trees which He planted, if He can record in the trees the story of the years when there was a drought and make a record of the years when He sent rain on the just and the unjust, it seems reasonable to suppose that He can and will keep a record of the deeds of man whom He created in His own image. Trees may live for millenniums, but eventually they all die and decay. Man will live forever. He does not stay on this earth for long, but he lives somewhere forever and ever.

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) Reinier Munguia

There is a God. He never forgets to keep His records. A bird does not die without His knowledge. ‘He marks the sparrow’s fall.’ The very hairs of our heads are numbered. He hears the cry of every baby. His ears catch the sigh that comes from every broken heart. His recording machine makes an eternal record of every thought. God sees. He knows. Woe be unto the sinner who falls into the hands of an angry God! It is wonderful to be saved. God, infinite as He is, cannot see our sins through the blood of His Son. He sees every Christian as if the Christian never sinned. He has taken us up in His Son. He sees us in Christ. We have all sinned, but if we are save He remembers our sins against us no more forever. As these line have been written there has been a whispered prayer in my heart for all who may read this article.. May you so trust Christ and so write your life record that you will be able to meet God unafraid. Remember, if you are a sinner, Christ bore your sin in His body on a tree. Trust Him. If you are a Christian, Christ is your advocate. He is the attorney who pleads your case. Thank God for such a wonderful lawyer!”

The above article is taken from Comments on Here and Hereafter (1942) by Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., p 34, 35

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 KJV)

The Gospel Message

When I Consider! – Amazing Stick Insects

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Stick Insect - Ctenomorpha chronus (by Wiki)

Stick Insect - Ctenomorpha chronus (by Wiki)

When I Consider!

When I Consider!

Evidence From Biology

“One of nature’s masters of disguise is the stick insect. Stick insects are leaf eaters designed to look like little twigs. One tropical stick insect is as thick as a finger and the same color as the bamboo on which it is found. It even has swollen ridges just like bamboo! Other types have leafy flaps that match the leaves of the plants which they like to eat. Some stick insects even lay eggs that look exactly like the seeds of the plant on which they feed. A stick insect that’s found in New Mexico glues its eggs to grass stems. The position and shape of their pointed eggs exactly imitate the seeds of the grass!

New Zealand Stick Insect - (Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua)

New Zealand Stick Insect - (Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua)

Although stick insects don’t fly, some of them have brightly colored wings that can fold quickly to scare away nervous birds who want to investigate them for lunch. Some stick insects will often sway with the breeze to make their illusion even more effective. Others will sit motionless for hours as if they are just another piece of dead wood.

Stick insects are even geniuses at using their predator’s weakness for their own protection. Birds understand this and will closely examine non-moving twigs in search of a meal. Stick insects will not even move when being carried away by a bird, thus fooling many birds into dropping them. Although these defense mechanisms were likely designed after the Fall, stick insects are clearly not the result of random mutations, but the intelligent design of a Creator.”

(Letting God Create Your Day, Vol 3, p194) – From A Closer Look at the Evidence by Kleiss, February 17.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psalms 29:2 KJV)

Birds of the Bible – Birds of the Air

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Osprey by Kathleen of Shekinah Photography

Osprey by Kathleen of Shekinah Photography

Kathleen, a Christian photographer, has given permission to use some of her photos on the blog. She also has a blog called the “Birds of the Air.”

Looking into that phrase in e-Sword, the English Standard Version (ESV) shows 21 occurrences of “birds of the air.” Surprisingly most of them have to do with the “birds of the air” showing up to eat the carnage of men as a result of judgment or disease. See Deuteronomy 28:26; I Samuel 17:44, 17:46; Jeremiah 7:33, 15:3, 16:4, 19:7, 34:20. 4:25 and 9:10 speak of the birds of the air fleeing away.

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) by Africaddict

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) by Africaddict

Rizpah spread sackcloth over the bodies of Saul and Jonathan and “And she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night” in 2 Samuel 21:10.

Job 28:20,21 says, “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.”

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) on nest by Ian

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) on nest by Ian

In the New Testament the “birds of the air” is used in different ways. Matthew 6:25 lets us know that the birds of the air “neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? “ Matthew 8:20 and Luke 9:58 reminds of that the birds have nest, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. The parable of the mustard seed in Matthew 13:32, Mark 4:32 and Luke 13:19 tell of the plant growing up and the birds making nests in it and enjoying its shade.

The last references to birds of the air appear in Acts 10:12 and 11:6. Peter had a sheet descend with all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds in it. This was to teach Peter and others that Jew and Gentile believers alike are equal in God’s sight.

Mr and Mrs Wood Duck by Lee

Mr and Mrs Wood Duck by Lee

What I like about the “birds of the air” is that none of the birds are mentioned by name. That gives lots of future articles for “Bird of the Bible” that can include any of the birds that our Lord has created.

So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 ESV)

The Gospel Message

Placing your mouse over the Green verses will pop them out.

Second Anniversary of Blog

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Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) by Nikhil

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) by Nikhil

The Lord has continued to bless our efforts with this blog. If you read over last years blog, “Happy One Year Anniversary!“, you will see how it began. During this last year there have been more additions. April Lorier gave permission to use some of her articles as did Donna Watkins. Their articles are found in the Guest Authors section. Then Ian Montgomery, one of the photographers we are using, gave permission to turn his Bird of the Week newsletter into a blog series.

Speaking of photographers, the list of their links in the sidebar is growing. I am very thankful for each one of them that has given permission for their photos and videos to be used on the blog. There are now two videographers included in the list. The fantastic work of all of them has greatly enhanced this blog.

Savannah Sparrow singing by Ray

Of course, Dan and I continue to go out birdwatching, when we can. Those articles are spread throughout. I had started three different blogs, but decided to incorporate them back into Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus, this main blog. The “PLUS Index” contains the Creation articles, “References” contains Nave’s and Torrey’s Topical studies, and “Birds – World” contains the Birds of the World. There are other sections for the Birds in Hymns, Birdwatching, etc. The “Birds of the Bible” articles, which is what started the idea of this blog, are reproduced on the only other blog I maintain. The Birds of the Bible blog only has those articles. I almost stopped it, but readers wanted it to continue. It is doing well and has now had 13,733 pages visited so far. (Stopped it in 2013) This main blog had its 84,000th page visited last night. (Those numbers are for 1.5 years) Thanks to all of you who have visited this site.

Those numbers were not mentioned to boast, but to give credit were it is due. The Lord is the One who gave me the ideas and the ability to do this. He is the One who created all these birds that we get the privilege to write about and show the photos and videos of them doing what He created them to do. Through the internet, these words and photos go to places we would never get to. There, they provide information, encouragement, and blessings to those who view these pages. (At least, that is what the readers tell us.) He, the Lord Jesus, is the One who gets the credit.

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalms 104:24) I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. (Psalms 104:33-34 KJV)

When I Consider! – Woodpecker

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Rufous-bellied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos hyperythrus) by Nikhil Devasar

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos hyperythrus) by Nikhil Devasar

When I Consider!

When I Consider!

Evidence From Biology

Consider the probability of all of the following characteristics evolving simultaneously into an effectively functioning system in the woodpecker:

1. Its beak is connected to its skull with a resilient shock-absorbing tissue that is not found in any other bird.

2. The beak is much harder than the beaks of other birds, enabling it to bang away a hundred times a minute without hurting itself.

3. The tongue is barbed in most of the 200+ species and is about four times longer than the beak. In certain species the tongue wraps around the back of the bird’s skull, enabling it to reach deep into tree trunks and remove insects.

4. A sticky coating on some woodpecker tongues helps them grab insects.

5. Its tail feathers are constructed so that they are stiff enough to help brace against trees as it climbs.

6. Its keen senses of smell and hearing help detect insects crawling around under the bark of the trees.

7. It short legs and powerful claws are uniquely designed to help it climb tree trunks.

The engineering behind such a technological wonder as the woodpecker boggles our minds. Try to imagine the obstacles the first bird, which was trying to turn into a woodpecker, would have had to overcome!

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (Psalms 145:15-17 KJV)

From A Closer Look at the Evidence by Kleiss, November 6.

“The woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks are a family, Picidae, of near-passerine birds. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia and New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. Most species live in forests or woodland habitats, although a few species are known to live in treeless areas such as rocky hillsides and deserts.

The Picidae are just one of the eight living families in the order Piciformes. Members of the order Piciformes, such as the jacamars, puffbirds, barbets, (also Asian and African barbets), toucans and honeyguides, have traditionally been thought to be very closely related to the woodpeckers, piculets and wrynecks. More recently, DNA sequence analyzes have confirmed this view.[1]”

“Members of the family Picidae have strong bills for drilling and drumming on trees and long sticky tongues for extracting food.[2] Woodpecker bills are typically longer, sharper and stronger than the bills of piculets and wrynecks; however their morphology is very similar. The bill’s chisel-like tip is kept sharp by the pecking action in birds that regularly use it on wood. Species of woodpecker and flicker that use their bills in soil or for probing as opposed to regular hammering tend to have longer and more decurved bills. Due to their smaller bill size, many piculets and wrynecks will forage in decaying wood more often than woodpeckers. The long sticky tongues, which possess bristles, aid these birds in grabbing and extracting insects deep within a hole of a tree. It had been reported that the tongue was used to spear grubs, but more detailed studies published in 2004 have shown that the tongue instead wraps around the prey before being pulled out.[3]

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by Reinier Munguia

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by Reinier Munguia

“The diet of woodpeckers consists mainly of insects and their grubs taken from living and dead trees, and other arthropods, along with fruit from live trees, nuts and sap both from live trees. Their role ecologically is thereby keeping trees healthy by keeping them from suffering mass infestations.The family is noted for its ability to acquire wood-boring grubs using their bills for hammering, but overall the family is characterized by its dietary flexibility, with many species being both highly omnivorous and opportunistic. The insect prey most commonly taken are insects found inside tree trunks, whether they are alive or rotten wood and in crevices in bark on trees. These include beetles and their grubs, ants, termites, spiders,and caterpillars. These may be obtained either by gleaning or more famously by excavating wood. Having hammered a hole into the wood the prey is excavated by a long barbed tongue. The ability to excavate allows woodpeckers to obtain tree sap, an important source of food for some species. Most famously the sapsuckers, (genus Sphyrapicus ) feed in this fashion, but the technique is not restricted to these and others such as the Acorn Woodpecker also feed in this way. It was once thought that the technique was restricted to the New World, but Old World species such as the Arabian Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker also feed in this way.[2]”Wikipedia”

See Also:
When I Consider! – Woodpecker and Bones

Birds of the Bible – Jesus at the Sea

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Galilee Shoreline From Above (BiblePlaces.com)

Galilee Shoreline From Above (BiblePlaces.com)

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. (Matthew 13:1 NKJV)

While working on another article this week, I found and used the above verse, but the thought of it intrigued me. Many of us like to sit by the sea shore and observe what is going on. What did Jesus see as far as birds as He sat there? I decided to investigate it more and here is some of the information discovered.

The commentaries provided these thoughts about that day.

“By the sea-side. The sea-shore is that of the Sea of Galilee, probably near Capernaum, at the northwest corner of the lake.” (People’s New Testament)

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) by Nikhil Devasar

Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris) by Nikhil Devasar

“Sat by the seaside … Jesus came out of the stuffy house and took his seat …along the shore with the crowds stretched up and down, a picturesque scene.” (Robertson’s Word Pictures)

“The sea-side – This was the Sea of Tiberias. The multitude stood on the shore near to him, so that he could be easily heard. He went into a ship – that is, a boat; and sat down to address them. Few spectacles could be more interesting than a vast crowd on the hanks of a smooth and tranquil sea – an emblem of his instructions – and the Son of God addressing them on the great interests of eternity.” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on The Bible)

“Went Jesus out of the house – This was the house of Peter. See Matt 17:24.
Sat by the sea side – The sea of Galilee, on the borders of which the city of Capernaum was situated.” (Adam Clark’s Commentary on the Bible)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) by W Kwong

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) by W Kwong

“Mat 13:1  The same day Jesus went out of the house,…. Where he had been preaching, and working miracles: where this house was, is not certain; it seems to have been in one of the cities of Galilee, probably Capernaum, since that was by the sea coast: the reason of his going out of the house was, either to converse with his mother and brethren, as they desired; or to withdraw himself from company, and take some refreshment by the sea side; or because it would not hold the people, and therefore he quitted it for a more convenient place. The time he went out of it, was the same day he had cast the devil out of the man blind and dumb, and had delivered himself so freely concerning the Scribes and Pharisees, who had blasphemously ascribed that miracle to the assistance of Satan; and the same day his mother and brethren came to see him, and speak to him.

Little Owl (Athene noctua) by Nikhil Devasar

Little Owl (Athene noctua) by Nikhil Devasar

And sat by the sea side; either as weary, and for his refreshment, or in order to preach to the people; for, Mark says, “he began again to teach by the sea side”, Mark 4:1. This was the sea of Galilee, sometimes called the sea of Tiberias.” (Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible).

“3. Where he preached this sermon.
(1.) His meeting-place was the sea-side. He went out of the house (because there was no room for the auditory) into the open air. It was pity but such a Preacher should have had the most spacious, sumptuous, and convenient place to preach in, that could be devised, like one of the Roman theatres; but he was now in his state of humiliation, and in this, as in other things, he denied himself the honours due to him; as he had not a house of his own to live in, so he had not a chapel of his own to preach in. By this he teaches us in the external circumstances of worship not to covet that which is stately, but to make the best of the conveniences which God in his providence allots to us. When Christ was born, he was crowded into the stable, and now to the sea-side, upon the strand, where all persons might come to him with freedom. He that was truth itself sought no corners (no adyta), as the pagan mysteries did. Wisdom crieth without, Proverbs 1:20; John 13:20.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Another verse states:

But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea (Mark 3:7 NKJV)

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) by Nikhil

Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) by Nikhil

“Withdrew

Mark alone notes no less than eleven occasions on which Jesus retired from his work, in order to escape his enemies or to pray in solitude, for rest, or for private conference with his disciples. See Mark 1:12; Mark 3:7; 6:31, 6:46;  7:24,  7:31;  9:2;  10:1;  14:34.” (Vincent’s Word Studies)

“Mar 3:7  But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea,…. Knowing their evil designs against him, he departed out of the synagogue, and city of Capernaum; and taking his disciples with him, he went to the shore of the sea of Galilee; not out of fear, but because his time was not yet come, and he had more work to do:” (Gill’s Exposition)

From the above you can see what was going on, but I wanted to know what birds Jesus might have seen. Again, I couldn’t find a list for just this area, but here is some of what is there now.

“Israel is a bird-watcher’s paradise, with some of the best bird-watching sites in the world. Although it is one of the smallest countries in the world, Israel’s Checklist of Birds includes 494 species. Just for comparison, the checklists of the world’s two largest countries, Russia and Canada, have 697 and 625 species, respectively. The checklist for the Lower 48 States of the US numbers 908 species – just under twice the size of Israel’s – but then we’re talking about an area 386 times larger than Israel! The bottom line is this: in just a couple of hours, you can spot a wider variety of birds here than almost anywhere in the world. The bird-watching season in Israel begins in late August and ends in early June. There are birds that spend the winter here, birds that are only here for the summer, birds that pass through during the spring and fall migration seasons, and birds that can be found here all year round.” (Sing Israel)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) by Daves BirdingPix

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) by Daves BirdingPix

“Leaving the 2,000 meter-high and often snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon and heading south along the volcanic plateau of the Golan, spectacular views of the Sea of Galilee provide a stunning backdrop to search for Black Vulture. Also known as Lake Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee is a vast freshwater lake harboring impressive numbers of wintering Grebes, Pygmy Cormorant, breeding Squacco Heron and a spectacular winter concentration of Whiskered Tern. The surrounding hillsides are full of birds, including Eagle Owl, Little Swift and Long-billed Pipit throughout the year. Patient scanning of the steep-sided wadis in winter may well produce a major prize in the form of a Wallcreeper.” (goisrael.com)

“Sea of Galilee

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) by Daves BirdingPix

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) by Daves BirdingPix

South of the Hula Valley lies the famous Sea of Galilee (a.k.a. Lake Tiberias). Owing to its size it has in the past been difficult to see offshore birds there. How ever, it has become a regular site for Pygmy Cormorant, Great Black–headed and Armenian Gulls. A marsh holds in the northern section of the lake that has good numbers of Squacco Heron, a winter concentration of Whiskered Tern, and breeding Clamorous Reed Warbler. The tamarisk trees harbour a colony of Dead Sea Sparrows. The surrounding hills are good for the elusive Long–billed Pipit. Wadi Amud, to the northwest of the lake, is one of the best known sites for this species and also for the endangered Lesser Kestrel, as well as Eagle Owl, Little Swift, Syrian Woodpecker and good numbers of RockSparrow . The cliff:” of Mt. Arbel, west of the lake, are also good for Long–billed Pipit and a regular winter haunt of Wallcreeper, where several individuals may be seen together. Alpine Accentor is an occasional winter visitor and Radde’s Accentor has been recorded consorting with this species, along with the more regular Dunnock.

See Also:
What’s Special About the Sea of Galilee? by Dr. Donald DeYoung
Sea of Galilee – BiblePlaces.com
Capernaum
List of Birds of Israel

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Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) by Nikhil