Just released another Birds in Hymns page. “Blessed Are They That Believe,” by Fanny J. Crosby and written by W. Howard Doane.
Most information from The Cyber Hymnal
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Author Archives: Lee
Interesting Things – Fleas
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains. (1 Samuel 26:20 KJV)
In the Birds of the Bible – Partridge, I Samuel 26:20 mentioned the flea. Here are a few interesting things about the flea.
“The flea can jump 350 times its own length, a total of 13 inches. This is equivalent to our jumping 2,000 feet into the air. …” From Animals Don’t Need Technology at Creation Moments
The Crafty Flea
“Not much larger than a grain of rice, the water flea has been given such a clever defense against predators that even scientists were fooled for a while….” at Creation Moments
A Glowing Ballet (the Fireflea)
“During the mating ritual, only the males emit light. However, this is not simply random lighting. …” at Creation Moments
Swimming in Sand (tiny sand fleas)
“There might be tiny sand fleas which were washed ashore, appearing as giants next to the single-celled dinoflagellates which swim freely between the grains….” at Creation Moments
From an article, “Rats: no evolution!“, by Paula Weston at Answers in Genesis
“Undoubtedly, the rat is most infamous for its role in the spread of plague, both in the Middle Ages, and more recently, in heavily populated Third World countries. However, the rats themselves do not pass on the disease: rather, it is the fleas living on the rats which take the infection from rodent to human.
Flea is the common name for any of the small wingless insects of the order Siphonaptera. Fleas are small (1/16 to
Cat Flea
Cat Flea
1/8-inch (1.5 to 3.3 mm) long), agile, usually dark colored (for example, the reddish-brown of the cat flea), wingless insects with tube-like mouth-parts adapted to feeding on the blood of their hosts. Their bodies are laterally compressed (human anatomical terms), permitting easy movement through the hairs or feathers on the host’s body (or in the case of humans, under clothes). Their legs are long, the hind pair well adapted for jumping (vertically up to seven inches (18 cm); horizontally thirteen inches (33 cm)[1]) – around 200 times their own body length, making the flea one of the best jumpers of all known animals (in comparison to body size), second only to the froghopper. The flea body is hard, polished, and covered with many hairs and short spines directed backward, which also assists its movements on the host.
A Day at the Flea Circus from Creation Moments
“If you see a flea jump – and that’s not easy to do – you will wonder whether the flea is actually powered by springs. The amazing truth is….”
Flea Circus – Wikipedia
“A flea circus refers to a circus sideshow attraction in which fleas are attached (or appear to be attached) to miniature carts and other items, and encouraged to perform circus acts within a small housing. Fresnel lenses were provided to help visitors to view the attraction.
The first records of flea performances were from watch makers who were demonstrating their metal working skills. Flea circuses were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a main carnival attraction until 1930. Some flea circuses persisted in very small venues in the United States as late as the 1960s. The flea circus at Belle Vue amusement park, Manchester, England, was still operating in 1970. Today the flea circus has largely become a lost art form, with much information about them being anecdotal or steeped in lore.” (from Wikipedia)
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(James 3:7-10 KJV)
Copyright © 2009 by Creation Moments, Inc., P.O. Box 839, Foley, MN 56329
Answers in Genesis Conference – Winter Haven, FL
For those of you who live in the Winter Haven, Florida area, the Answers in Genesis Conference will be this week. On February 20-22, 2009, Faith Baptist Church of Winter Haven (my home church) is hosting the conference. It is not too late to sign up yet. I am looking forward to conference and hope you can join us this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Great Blue Heron by Dan
A link to the conference from our church with registration information.
The Answers and Genesis announcement from them (AiG)
Friday, February 20, 2009
7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Ken Ham: Genesis: Key to Reaching Today`s World (Ages 11 & Up)
8:30 PM to 9:00 PM Dr. David Crandall:Why Is This So Important? (Ages 11 & Up)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
9:00 AM to 10:15 AM Ken Ham: Defending the Christian Faith in Today`s World (Ages 11 & Up)
10:45 AM to 12:00 PM Ken Ham: Answers for Effective Evangelism in the 21st Century (Ages 11 & Up)
12:00 PM to 2:30 PM Lunch Break
2:30 PM to 3:45 PM Ken Ham: The Origin of Racism: Evolutions Racist Roots (Ages 11 & Up)
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Dr. David Crandall:Answers WorldWide (Ages 11 & Up)
Sunday, February 22, 2009
8:00 AM Ken Ham: Creation, Evolution, and the Last Days (Ages 11 & Up)
9:30 AM to 10:15 AM Dr. David Crandall:Linguistics Events In The Bible (Combined Adult Sunday School)
10:30 AM Ken Ham: Creation, Evolution, and the Last Days (Ages 11 & Up)
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM Dr. David Crandall:Reclaiming The Culture (Ages 11 & Up)
Happy One Year Anniversary!
It is hard to believe that today is the One Year Anniversary of “Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures Plus“! When asked by Stephen, at our church (Faith Baptist Church) to write a blog each Friday about the “Birds of the Bible,” I produced the first blog which can be seen at “Birds of the Bible – Introduction.”
Ring-necked Duck at Lake Morton by Dan
I never imagined that the Lord would bless my efforts to this extent. From that start, I made a blog of my own on Blogspot.com so that I could learn how to post on the church’s blog. Once I began learning how to blog, it has been growing every since. Then in July, the blog was moved over to here at WordPress.com. This is a great place to host a blog/website (as I call it) and it is free.
Of course, Dan, my husband, has been our main photographer (Dan’s Pix), and we have been blessed with the permission to use the photos of some mighty fine photographers. Thank all of you for your expertise and permission. Check the sidebar out under Photography for links to the photographers.
Most importantly, Praise the Lord, for His blessings on this blog. Had the Lord not created everything, we would not have anything to write about, nor would we be here to write it.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? … O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Psa 8:3,4,9 KJV)
Our pastor just reminded us of a quote by William Carey, an English Missionary to India:
Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.
Great Blue Heron by Dan
I am not sure this was attempted as a “great thing,” but it was attempted to honor the Lord. That is a very great thing, and God has turned that attempt into a blog that has been visited over 10,000 times just since July. Many of those visits have come from around the world. Thank all of you for your visits.
Carey also said, “If I begin a thing I must go through with it!” This blog has been started and we trust we will continue to keep writing about God’s wonderful creation, especially His birds, and the joy of observing all God’s marvelous handiwork.
Happy Valentine’s Day
We here at Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures would like to wish all of you a very happy and blessed “Valentine’s Day.” We are thankful for your readership and want to let you know that we love you. We hope you enjoy the content of our articles and pages.
One of my favorite blogs here is “Birds of the Bible – God’s Care for the Birds.” As we think about the loved ones in our lives, let’s remember the Great Love that is bestowed not only all of God’s Creation, but on us personally.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Joh 15:9-13 KJVR)
Image from Caleb’s Country Corner Graphics
Birds of the Bible – Swallows
Barn Swallow by Dan
Somehow I overlooked the Swallows on the first go-around of the “Birds of the Bible” series. This blog hopes to correct that oversight.
To the Chief Musician. On An Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young– Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah (Psalm 84:1-4 NKJV)
Following are some quotes from Gill and Matthew Henry:
“because it freely visits the houses of men without fear” – (Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible)
“III. His (David’s) grudging the happiness of the little birds that made their nests in the buildings that were adjoining to God’s altars, Psa_84:3. This is an elegant and surprising expression of his affection to God’s altars: The sparrow has found a house and the swallow a nest for herself. These little birds, by the instinct and direction of nature, provide habitations for themselves in houses, as other birds do in the woods, both for their own repose and in which to lay their young; some such David supposes there were in the buildings about the courts of God’s house, and wishes himself with them. He would rather live in a bird’s nest nigh God’s altars than in a palace at a distance
Barn Swallow by Dan
from them. He sometimes wished for the wings of a dove, on which to fly into the wilderness (Psa_55:6); here for the wings of a sparrow, that he might fly undiscovered into God’s courts; and, though to watch as a sparrow alone upon the house-top is the description of a very melancholy state and spirit (Psa_102:7), yet David would be glad to take it for his lot, provided he might be near God’s altars. It is better to be serving God in solitude than serving sin with a multitude. The word for a sparrow signifies any little bird, and (if I may offer a conjecture) perhaps when, in David’s time, music was introduced so much into the sacred service, both vocal and instrumental, to complete the harmony they had singing-birds in cages hung about the courts of the tabernacle (for we find the singing of birds taken notice of to the glory of God, Psa_104:12), and David envies the happiness of these, and would gladly change places with them. Observe, David envies the happiness not of those birds that flew over the altars, and had only a transient view of God’s courts, but of those that had nests for themselves there. David … takes notice that these birds not only have nests for themselves there, but that there they lay their young; for those who have a place in God’s
Two Swallow youngsters by Lee
courts themselves cannot but desire that their children also may have in God’s house, and within his walls, a place and a name, that they may feed their kids beside the shepherds’ tents.” (Matthew Henry Commentary)
I trust that those of us that are Christians enjoy and look forward to the time we spend in church. In times like these, we need:
1. A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:18)
2. A place to “study to show thyself approved” and be nurtured by the preaching and teaching of the Word of God (Romans 10:14, 2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:16)
3. A place of fellowship (Acts 2:42)
Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. (Proverbs 26:2 NKJV)
Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O LORD, I am oppressed; Undertake for me! (Isaiah 38:14 NKJV) (This verse was mentioned in the “Birds of the Bible – Cranes” blog)
“Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 NKJV) (This verse was covered in the “Interesting Things – A Lesson from the Stork” blog.)
Swallows are in the Hirundinidae – Swallows Family which includes Martins. “Within the Hirundiniae, the name ‘martin’ tends to be used for the squarer-tailed species, and the name “swallow” for the more fork-tailed species; however, there is no scientific distinction between these two groups.[1] The family contains around 83 species in 19 genera.” The subfamilies are: Saw-wings (including Square-tailed, Mountain, White-headed, Black and Fanti), Swallows (many including Barn, Bank, Cave Mangrove, Golden, etc), Martins (Purple, Cuban, Sinaloa, Brown-chested, etc.), Sand Martins (including Brown-throated, Congo, Pale, Banded).
The swallows are found on all continents except Antarctica with the largest diversity of species in Africa. They are found on many islands, as there are quite a few that migrate long distances. God has designed them with short bills, but with a wide mouth that has a strong jaw. This is useful in there hunt for insects which they catch on the wing. With their streamlined body and wings that are pointed, they are very maneuverable at great speeds. Their forked long tail, that has 12 feathers, helps them steer. They can range from 3.9-9.4 inches and weight between 0.4-2.1 ounces.
More information about Swallows can be found at:
Swallow (Wikipedia)
Swallow videos on Internet Bird Collection
Swallows at Britannica Online Encyclopedia
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Evolution vs Creation Video Series
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NKJV)
Check out the “Evolution vs Creation” Video series from YouTube that were produced by Zonkas. Look in the “Evolution vs Creation” Pages. Many creationists like Ken Ham are mentioned along with quotes from evolutionist like Darwin. All of them are very interesting.
1 – Introduction
2 – Blind Faith & Science in Bible – Finches mentioned
House Finch
3 – Transitional Forms
4 – We Found the Missing The Missing Link?
5 – Big Bang Theory
6 – Chemical Evolution
7 – Earth Millions of years old?
8 – Dinosaurs and the Bible
9 – Natural Selection– Much about the eye.
10 – Creationist Scientist?
11 – Evolutionary beliefs on mankind
Birds in Hymns Updated 2/02/2009
In the Birds in Hymns pages, I have added some more Hymns, Writers, and Musicians.
Check out:
Paradise Kingfisher by Birdway
- All That’s Good, and Great, and True
- As The Bird Flies Home
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow
- On Eagle’s Wings
- Speed For Thy Life
- This Is My Father’s World
This is a work in Progress.
Most information from The Cyber Hymnal
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More ~ Birds in Hymns
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Birds of the Bible – Swift
“Even the stork in the heavens Knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 NKJV)
While working on an “Interesting Things – Chimney Swifts” blog, I discovered that I had not done the “Birds of the Bible” about the Swallow or the Swift (translated in the NKJV and the NASB as “swift”). So, here is the first one on the Swift and the Swallow will follow soon. The Chimney Swift is now part of this one. I originally thought I had been through all the “Birds of the Bible” at least once. Fortunately, even though I may have forgotten them, the Lord never forgets his created critters.
Swifts from Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds
During the Birding Festival last week, the Chimney Swift was mentioned as a bird that is always flying. That peaked my interest and started investigating it. Creation Moments did an article about it called “A Bird Always in Flight.”
The swifts are small aerial birds, spending the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. They are often described as a “flying cigar.” They belong to the Order – Apodiformes – Family Apodidae. Many think that Swifts and Swallows are in the same family, but the Swift is related closer to the Hummingbird. “Swift” comes from the Greek apous which means “without feet.” They all have feet, but prefer to land on a vertical surface like a chimney, clift, or bank. Most of the Swifts travel in groups eating insects, flying most of the time – landing only to roost at night or for nesting. Their call is described as a chatter, twitter, or similar sound.”A group of swifts are collectively known as a “box”, “flock”, “screaming frenzy”, and “swoop” of swifts.” (from WhatBird.com, as are the following links)
Our North American Swifts are:
Chimney Swift is 5-6″ long with a wingspan of 11-12″ (When in a chimney they use their tail which has spines to help them stay put and they attach their nest using a saliva glue.)
Black Swift is 7-7.5″ with a wingspan of 15″
Common Swift is 6-7″ with a 16-19′ wingspan
Vaux’s Swift is 4′ with a wingspan of 11″ (the smallest North American Swift)
White-collard Swift is 8.75″ with a wingspan of 19-21
White-throated Swift is 6-7″, wingspan of 13-14″ (with a white throat)
White-throated Needletail (formerly Spine-tailed Swift) is 7.5-9″ with a 20″ wingspan
Articles and Sound from Cornell:
White-collared Swift from Wikipedia
Chimney Swifts
Vaux’s Swift
White-throated Swift
Some Interesting Links:
For the Birds – Chimney Swifts
I Saw The Swifts
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Interesting Things – Why Birds Don’t Wear Socks
One of my favorite articles from Creation Moments has been about why birds don’t wear socks. Now they have produced a YouTube about it and it is copied here. I was just getting ready to do some more research on it when I found this. Let’s see what can be found out.
There is an interest Pod Cast about Why Birds Stand on One Leg from BirdNote.org
Apparently the “Wonder Net” is actually called the “rete mirabile” which is Latin for “wonderful net.” It is a complex of arteries and veins that are close to each other. It uses a “countercurrent blood flow within the net (blood flowing in opposite directions.) It exchanges heat, ions, or gases between vessel walls so that the two bloodstreams within the rete maintain a gradient with respect to temperature, or concentration of gases or solutes.” (“Rete mirabile”, from Wikipedia)
In birds with webbed feet, a rete mirabile in the legs and feet transfers heat from the outgoing (hot) blood in the arteries to the incoming (cold) blood in the veins, with the net effect that the internal temperature of the feet is much closer to the ambient temperature, thus reducing heat loss. In this example the rete mirabile functions as a biological heat exchanger. A similar structure is seen in other vertebrate extremities, including the neck of the dog, in order to protect the brain when the body overheats; fishes such as tuna, whose core temperature is higher than that of the cold deep waters they inhabit; and penguins who have them in the feet, flippers and nasal passages, to limit body heat lost to the cold environments in which they live. In giraffes, a rete mirabile in the neck equalizes blood pressure when the animal bends down to drink.
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11 NKJV)
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17 NKJV)
See Also: The Amazing Giraffe
Day Five at the Space Coast Birding Festival
We had another great day at the Space Coast Birding Festival which ends tomorrow, Jan 26th. We are home now, but they continue on without us.
Dawn, Jeff and Me
Met up with Dawn and Jeff several times again today. She does Dawn’s Bloggy Blog. Then off to some more workshops. First off was Reinier Munguia’s, “Bird ID for Kids” to help with some upcoming lessons with kids. Reinier was still not up to normal, so he let his daughter do the presentation. She is a 9th grader and did a fantastic job. She has been in the field with her dad since she was 3 months old, straped on her father’s back.
In the afternoon it was “Taking the Fear Out of Identifying Gulls” by Alvaro Jaramillo of Field Guides, Inc. He did another great presentation and again I picked up some great information.
By the time that ended, I was in “information overload.” With all the workshops and seminars, birding, plus walking around the exhibits and chatting for the past few days, I was ready for “home.” So was Dan. When we did get home, a 90 mile drive, we found that the cold weather we have been having did “a number” on a few of the plants in the yard. Checked the outdoor temperature and it had gotten down to 26 degrees. We weren’t here to cover the plants. The ones in pots were okay because we had set them in the carport before leaving. Would I go again, You Bet!!!
Day Four at the Space Coast Birding Festival
Today was another interesting day at the Birding Festival. I started the day off with Reinier Munguia’s (of Wildstock Photos) seminar on the “Life of Birds.” He did a very good job even though he still isn’t feeling all that well yet. He made it entertaining as well as informative.
Hundreds of Coots at Merritt Is NWR
Then, I attended the two seminars by Sharon Stiteler of the BirdChick Blog. She did one on “City Bird, Country Bird Housing and Feeding,” which helped clear up some questions I had about using meal worms and some other feeding questions. Her other seminar was, “BirdChick Blog: The New Nature Journal.” She did an excellent presentation and I learned many things that will help me with this blog. She is a very enthusiastic person. Thanks, Sharon. It was nice meeting you.
I finished up the day with the “Great Florida Birding Trail“, by Mark Kiser. He showed many of the great places around the state to bird and what birds to expect there. He also introduced their new birding trip planning website which will be a great help. Poor Dan, he is going to have to take us on some more birding trips. He has been learning all those photography tips, so I doubt he won’t mind too much.
A new thing is in the mail for me to use, but that information will just have to wait to be told later. Needless to say, this Birding Festival has been very well run and it has been right enjoyable. I have seen some mighty great pictures and learned more facinating facts about the great birds the Lord has created. His creative Hand is so evident.
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 