Golden Eagle’s Adventure Continues… Welcome Boys and Girls!

September 14, 2015 by Golden Adventures

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Flying ©WikiC

Golden Eagle ©PD

Hi everybody! This is Golden Eagle and I am very excited today! I got up this morning and flew around one of the beautiful lakes in my home state of Florida! The Bible says that God sends the rain and the sunshine on the good people and the bad people. God treats us all with GRACE and kindnesses!

Genesis 6:8 says that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” That’s the first time the Bible mentions grace and the last time? It’s in the last verse of the Bible: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev 22:21)

This ADVENTURE all started in the mind of our Creator God (the Lord Jesus Christ). Hey young people, ponder the lakes, the streams, and the rivers. Ponder the rocks, the minerals, and oh yes, the gold and silver. Ponder the butterflies, the animals, and the insects. Ponder the planets, the Earth, the stars, and the sun. Ponder the Milky Way Galaxy and our beautiful Solar System. Ponder mankind, life, and all that it means. Ponder God and His created Universe.

Hubble Ultra Deep Field with Scale Comparison ©©

ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE CAME FROM THE MIND OF GOD. The Universe shows us what was in the mind of God in eternity past!

God has a PLAN for this Universe, for our Solar System, and for our Planet, Earth. He has a PLAN for your life and for my life. We are going to get to live FOREVER with God if we are saved! Are you saved? The answer is either yes or no.

This morning as I flew around my hometown lake I saw the sunrise in beautiful colors of splendor. I saw the sky turn different shades of red and pink. I saw the colors reflected in the glass like mirror of the still and smooth lake surface. I saw the birds fly in a V-shape formation. The white ibises were just beautiful. I flew around the lake for a number of minutes and the minutes turned into an hour.

Circle B Bar White Pelicans

Every moment we get closer to God. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7) We have come from God and we are going back to God.

This ADVENTURE that God has planned for us is truly exiting. We will get to reign with Jesus for a thousand years on this very Earth. Some of you will be in charge of two or five or ten cities! Now is the time to prepare for what God has in store for us! It all starts with you admitting that you are a sinner and excepting what Jesus has done for us on the cross. He shed His precious blood to wash away our sins. Accept Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord and you will have entered this amazing journey that God has planned for us, all because of His GRACE.

Kids keep in touch and the Golden Eagle will fly in with exciting new developments in this adventurous journey. A journey that will lead to the God of the Universe and His amazing Heaven!!!

(Re-post of Bibleworld Adventure’s The Adventure Continues… Welcome Boys and Girls!)

Bibleworld Adventures is the new home of Golden Eagle and other interesting articles about Christian different topics.

Golden Eagle Articles Here

Sunday Inspiration – Reed Warblers

September 12, 2015 by Lee

Clamorous Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus stentoreus) by Nikhil

“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? (Job 8:11 NKJV)

This week we introduce you to just one family, the Acrocephalidae Family of Reed Warblers, Marsh- and Tree-warblers, and Acrocephalid warblers. The Lord has created this family of birds to blend in rather well with their surroundings. Another act of love and concern from the Creator.

The species in this family are usually rather large “warblers”. Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but also ranging far into Pacific, with some species in Africa.

There are five genus in this family;

Subdesert Brush Warbler (Nesillas lantzii) ©WikiC

Nesillas – Brush Warblers; found in Comoros and Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) by Robert Scanlon

Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds. Formerly in the Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh and tree warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh warblers or reed warblers. These are rather drab brownish warblers usually associated with marshes or other wetlands. Some are streaked, others plain. Many species are migratory. Many species have a flat head profile, which gives rise to the group’s scientific name;

African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis) ©WikiC

Iduna is a genus of tree warbler in the Acrocephalidae family. It is sometimes lumped together in the genus Hippolais.

Papyrus Yellow Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris) ©©Flickr Ross Tsal

(Calamonastides gracilirostris) Papyrus Yellow Warbler is a species of tree warbler; formerly placed in the “Old World warblers”. It is monotypic in its genus. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Its natural habitat is swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss. Compared with the dull browns and greys typical of swamp-dwelling warblers, this warbler is brightly coloured. It shows an underbelly of rich yellow and olive-brown upper parts. Its song consists of melodious liquid warbling:

Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) ©WikiC

Hippolais is a genus of tree warbler in the Acrocephalidae family. It is sometimes lumped together with the genus Iduna.

(Info from Wikipedia with editing)

Acrocephalidae – Reed Warblers and allies:

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As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? (Matthew 11:7 NKJV)

“When I Survey The Wondrous Cross” ~ by Miss Anna Pletcher (12 years old at Faith Baptist) on piano

I love the last verse of this hymn:

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Sunday Inspiration

Acrocephalidae Family of Reed Warblers and Allies

Reed Warblers and Allies – Montereybay

Acrocephalidae Family – Wikipedia

Gideon

Sad Clowns of the Sea

September 10, 2015 by Lee

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God. (Psalms 43:5 CEV)

Recently I decided to check back through the photographers who have given me permission to use their photos. There are links to them down the right menu in the Photography section.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

While looking through Michael Woodruff’s Flickr photos, I spotted these recent Puffins. Michael is one of the first photographers to allow me to use his beautiful photos on this blog and Michael is also a Christian. Apparently he made a trip to Grimsey Island, Iceland on 29 June 2015. So these are some of his latest photos.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

The Atlantic Puffins have been called the “Clowns of the Sea” because of their colorful marking that the Lord their Creator gave them. They are also sometimes called “Sea Parrots.” However you think of them, they are beautiful birds and I was surprised they are so small. On land it stands about 20 cm (8 in) high. The Atlantic puffin is sturdily built with a thick-set neck and short wings and tail. It is 28 to 30 centimetres (11 to 12 in) in length from the tip of its stout bill to its blunt-ended tail. Its wingspan is 47 to 63 centimetres (19 to 25 in). Males are slightly larger than the female, but both are marked the same. They mate for life.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. (Ecclesiastes 7:3 KJV)

The beak is very distinctive. From the side the beak is broad and triangular but viewed from above it is narrow. The half nearest the tip is orange-red and the half nearest to the head is slate grey. There is a yellow chevron-shaped ridge separating the two parts and a yellow, fleshy strip at the base of the bill. At the joint of the two mandibles there is a yellow, wrinkled rosette. The exact proportions of the beak vary with the age of the bird. In an immature individual, the beak has reached its full length but it is not as broad as that of an adult. With time the bill deepens, the upper edge curves and a kink develops at its base. As the bird ages, one or more grooves may form on the red portion.The bird has a powerful bite.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

Share the happiness of those who are happy, the sorrow of those who are sad. (Romans 12:15 Phillips)

They are known for collecting multiple fish in that beautiful beak. It was designed very distinctly. It fishes by sight and can swallow small fish while submerged, but larger specimens are brought to the surface. It can catch several small fish in one dive, holding the first ones in place in its beak with its muscular, grooved tongue while it catches others. The two mandibles are hinged in such a way that they can be held parallel to hold a row of fish in place and these are also retained by inward-facing serrations on the edges of the beak. It copes with the excess salt that it swallows partly through its kidneys and partly by excretion through specialized salt glands in its nostrils. Now that is wisdom from the Creator.

Puffin with Sand Eels ©WikiC (not Michael’s, but shows the mouth full of eels)

You can read more about the Puffins from the links below, but I just wanted to share some of these photos from Michael.

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) by Michael Woodruff

Photos by Michael Woodruff. Atlantic Puffins by God.

Michael Woodruff’s Photostream
Michael Woodruff’s Albums
Alcidae – Auks
Atlantic Puffin – The Deep Sea-Diver by ajmithra
Atlantic Puffin Video by Peterson Field Guide Video Series
Atlantic Puffin – Wikipedia
Atlantic Puffin – Animal Fact Guide
Atlantic Puffin – All About Birds
Atlantic Puffin – National Geographic
Changed From the Inside Out

EGGS-ELLENT EXAMPLES OF DESIGN

September 8, 2015 by Lee

“And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” (Job 11:18)

Over the years, Creation Moments has brought you countless examples of plants and animals that appear to have been designed because they really were designed! Nowhere is this easier to see than in the design of bird eggs.

As we mentioned on an earlier program, the shape and coloring of bird eggs are no accident. God designed them that way for a specific purpose. Today we’re going to mention two other design features seen in some bird eggs.

The first are the eggs of the African jacana. These long-legged shorebirds build a flimsy nest that floats on water. When the male jacana lands in the nest to incubate the eggs, the whole nest sinks into the water. It’s a good thing, then, that God created the eggs to be waterproof. This is a design feature the eggs must have had from the very beginning.

Common Murre (Uria aalge) colony ©USFWS

Or take the eggs of the common murre. According to BBC Earth, “The eggshells have cone-like structures that make the eggs ‘self-cleaning’.” This is useful, they say, because murre colonies are tightly packed and the eggs get showered in bird droppings. “When water lands on an egg, its water-repelling shell causes the water to gather into spherical drops” which then roll off the egg and clean it.

We could mention many other design features of bird eggs, and we will share these with you in the future. But we close today’s program with praise to the God of creation who cares for all of His creatures – especially you and me!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my heart overflows with praise when I look at Your creation and think about what You accomplished in just six days! You are awesome in every way! Amen.

Notes:”The 13 birds with the most amazing eggs,” BBC Earth. http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150319-the-birds-with-super-powered-eggs. Photo: African jacana chick. Courtesy of Magnus Manske. (CCA 2.0 Generic)

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) by Lee

Birdwatching on Danish Zealand: Remembering a Sandwich Tern, at Hamlet’s Castle

September 7, 2015 by James J. S. Johnson

Birdwatching on Danish Zealand:

Remembering a Sandwich Tern, at Hamlet’s Castle

~By James J. S. Johnson

(Photo taken from http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/14567172.jpg )

This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. (Psalm 102:18)

Sandwich Tern

(picture taken from http://blog.fuertecharter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/F295_Dibujo_01.jpg)

The SANDWICH TERN (Thalasseus sanvicensis) is, as its name suggests, a member of the “tern” [Sternidae] family of seagulls. (The term “Sandwich” refers to Sandwich, in Kent, western England, where this tern was formally identified in AD1787 by ornithologist-physician John Latham, MD.)

The Sandwich Tern is medium-to-large in size (for a tern), with a fairly large head (for a tern), a long thin bill, and a relatively short tail. It may grow to 16 inches in length and 36 inches in wingspan (!), so it is obviously designed for aerodynamic flight – well-fitted for flying above its oceanic and coastland habitats. Its thin bill is black, with a “butter-yellow” tip. The Sandwich Tern is mostly white, appearing whiter (especially from a distance) than the Common Tern and Arctic Tern; it has greyish-white wings and (top) tail feathers. The newer feathers, produced according to the tern’s molting cycle, are more greyish in color. The top and back of its flat-crowned head is black. It has short black legs.

Sandwich Terns are sociable, nesting in densely packed colonies, sometimes mixed with other terns and small seagulls. [See Chris Kightley, Steve Madge, & Dave Nurney, POCKET GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND NORTH-WEST EUROPE (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998), page 150.]

Some consider the Cabot’s Tern of North America, which winters in and near the Caribbean (including Florida), as a close cousin of the Sandwich Tern.

Photo taken from http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/061-Gulls/SandwichTern/SandwichTern-19098.jpg

The Sandwich Tern’s summer range is predominantly coastal – not surprising for a tern, with its most populous summer range includes various coastal shores of the British Isles (England, Scotland, Orkney, Hebrides, Ireland — but not Wales), Holland (where it is called Grote stern), and Denmark (where it is called Splitterne), especially from late March through early October. (Sandwich Terns are known to winter in various coastal areas of North Africa.)

Besides those coastlands, the Sandwich Tern is also known as a summer visitor in parts of France (where it is called Sterne caugek), Estonia, Belgium, and Germany (where it is called Brandseeschwalbe). Its migratory travels allow it to be observed in other countries as well, such as Poland (breeding), Sweden (where it is called Kentsk tärna – often seen where Sweden almost touches Denmark), Norway (as a “vagrant”), Spain’s Mediterranean coast, and even northeastern Italy. [See Roger Tory Peterson, Guy Mountfort, & P. A. D. Hollom, A FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE, 5^th edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993), page 134 & Range Map 174.]

SandwichTern – Cemlyn Lagoon Anglesy

[ photo taken from https://ateambirding.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/0611-sandwich-tern-cemlyn-lagoon-anglesy-29th-june-2013-img_6143.jpg ]

Like other terns (and gulls and fulmars, etc.), Sandwich Terns enjoy eating fish! Sandwich Terns catch their piscatorial repast by plunge-diving into the ocean. (Occasionally they frequent lakes and ponds near coastlines, so lacustrine fish are also vulnerable to terns who elect to “go fishing” there.)

Sandwich Tern ©Jürgen Reich

[Photo taken from http://www.helcom.fi/PublishingImages/baltic-sea-trends/environment-fact-sheets/latest-fact-sheets/population-development-of-sandwich-tern/Brandseeschwalben%20J%C3%BCrgen%20Reich_1.jpg ]

In addition to the shorelands of the British Isles, some parts of the Baltic Sea’s western coastline also host Sandwich Terns in the summer – including the shores at and near “Hamlet’s Castle” in Helsingør, in eastern Denmark. In fact, it was at “Hamlet’s Castle” where I saw a Sandwich Tern on the 4^th of July in AD2006.

Medieval castle at Helsingør (on the island of Zealand)

Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronborg#/media/File:Helsingoer_Kronborg_Castle.jpg

Why is the medieval castle at Helsingør (on the island of Zealand, at the narrowest part of the strait of Øresund, which strait separated Denmark and Sweden), built back in the AD1420s (by the Kalmar Union triple-crown king, Eirik, “king of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, king of the Wends and the Goths, and Duke of Pomerania”), called “Hamlet’s Castle”?

“Shakespeare brought Kronborg Slot [i.e., Kronborg Castle] world renown as the [fictional] backdrop of his ‘HAMLET’. Most of the magnificent Renaissance castle, which has had its present appearance since 1585, is accessible to the public.” [Quoting Reinhard Ilg, JOURNEY THROUGH DENMARK (Stürtz, 2002; translation by Faith Gibson Tegethoff; photos by Tina Herzig & Horst Herzig), page 46.]

Kronborg Castle

[ photo taken from http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/2765/tdanny_denmark_kronborg_1.jpg ]

In Shakespeare’s famous play, HAMLET, the fundamental question of life is asked, “To be, or not to be?” This is a fundamental question for every human being, yet it was beforehand a fundamental question that was considered and decided by God Himself, when He chose to give each one of us the lives we call our own. Why? While Shakespeare’s character Hamlet considered the grave question of whether to end his earthly existence with the famous words “to be, or not to be”, the choice even more basic than that was God’s sovereign decision to create us “to be” in the first place! [See, regarding this great question of life, considered with Psalm 102:18, http://www.icr.org/article/people-yet-be-created/ .

Just as the Lord chose to imagine and invent the maritime birds that we call Sandwich Terns, of His own beneficent and sovereign volition, He chose to imagine and invent us, as the specific (and unique) humans who each one of us is. What a choice God made, when He did so!

And, knowing that we needed redemption, as human sinners descended from Adam, God also foresaw the need for the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Redeemer – so He planned for Christ’s Messiahship – long before we ever were created as the individuals we are (John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; 1^st Peter 1:20) – all wonderful Bible verses, that Bob Webel taught me as a teenager!).

It is God’s providential grace and kindness that He chose to make us. It is even more grace and kindness that He provided redemption in Christ to save us! How should we then live, to appreciate Him for Who He is – that is the question, that (by God’s grace) our lives must daily answer!

This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. (Psalm 102:18)

Orni-Theology

James J. S. Johnson

People Yet To Be Created

Sandwich Terns – All About Birds

Sandwich Tern – Wikipedia

Sunday Inspiration – Little Beauties From The Lord

September 6, 2015 by Lee

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus borealoides) ©WikiC

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20 KJV)

We have another mixture of birds from our Creator found in several families, but most are Leaf Warblers from Phylloscopidae family. There are 77 in that family, but the families before them, taxonomically, have just a few species in them.

Streaked Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta) ©WikiC

Streaked Scrub Warbler – Scotocercidae has only one bird – the Streaked Scrub Warbler (Scotocerca inquieta). It is found in Afghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan,and Yemen. (Wikipedia)

Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (Erythrocercus mccallii) ©WikiC

Yellow Flycatchers – Erythrocercidae has 3 members; Little Yellow Flycatcher (Erythrocercus holochlorus), Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (Erythrocercus mccallii) and the Livingstone’s Flycatcher (Erythrocercus livingstonei). All three of these creations are found in Africa.

Tit Hylia (Pholidornis rushiae ussheri) ©WikiC

This next group of birds are assigned to an Incertae Sedis family. That simply means they don’t which family to assign to them. They are the Grauer’s Warbler (Graueria vittata), Green Hylia (Hylia prasina) and Tit Hylia (Pholidornis rushiae). They get moved in and out of families, but the IOC Version 5.3 has them unassigned. They are all in Africa and are “basically” Old World Warblers.

Black-throated Bushtit (Aegithalos concinnus) by Nikhil Devasar

The Aegithalidae – Bushtits family has 13 members and are a family of small, drab passerine birds with moderately long tails. The family contains three genera, all but one of which are found in Eurasia. Bushtits are active birds, moving almost constantly while they forage for insects in shrubs and trees. During non-breeding season, birds live in flocks of up to 50 individuals. Several bushtit species display cooperative breeding behavior, also called helpers at the nest.

Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler (Phylloscopus ruficapilla) ©WikiC

And our last family of avian wonders from the Lord is the Phylloscopidae – Leaf warblers and allies Family. This family of 77 species contains various Warblers and Chiffchaff. They were formerly included in the Old World warbler family but are now considered to belong to the Phylloscopidae, a family created in 2006. The genus is closely related to Seicercus and some species have been moved between the two genera in recent classification attempts. Leaf warblers are active, constantly moving, often flicking their wings as they glean the foliage for insects along the branches of trees and bushes. They forage at various levels within forests, from the top canopy to the understorey. Most of the species are markedly territorial both in their summer and winter quarters.

Most are greenish or brownish above and off-white or yellowish below. Compared to some other “warblers”, their songs are very simple.

Well, that’s our group of birds for this week. Trust you will enjoy seeing them as you listen to the music below. You have two options this week. You can listen or you can watch the Kid’s Choir as they sing. Figured little warblers needed young people singing as you view them.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14 KJV)

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Beautiful Savior (Fairest Lord Jesus) ~ by Kid’s Choir Faith Baptist

More Sunday Inspirations
Scotocercidae – Streaked Scrub Warbler
Erythrocercidae – Yellow Flycatchers
Incertae-Sedis1 – Family Uncertain-Warbler, Hylia
Aegithalidae – Bushtits
Phylloscopidae – Leaf Warblers and allies
Kids, You Are Special

White-faced Owl – Transformer

September 4, 2015 by Lee

Southern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis granti) ©PD

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)

Our contributing writer, James J. S. Johnson, sent me a really neat YouTube Video. It is called the Owl Transformer. After you watch this video, I will share the information I found about this cool owl.

There are two White-faced Owls. There is a Southern White-face Owl and a Northern White-faced Owl, but the one in the video is the Northern White-faced Owl. What a fantastic creation from the Creator.

Northern White-faced Owl (Ptilopsis leucotis) ©PD

These owls, both north and south, are from Africa. This northern one is from a band across Africa between the Sahara and the Equator. The southern owl appears in the southern part of Africa.

It is its “Fight-or-Flight” response that causes this defense mechanism. “When faced with another owl slightly larger than it, the bird flares its wings to appear larger. When faced with something much larger than itself, it pulls its feathers inwards, elongates its body, and narrows its eyes to thin slits. It is thought that it uses this ability to camouflage itself, and it shares the ability with relatives like the African scops owl.

In fact, many different types of owls have some ability to adopt a “concealing posture”, also known by the German word Tarnstellung, in which they squeeze and thin their body to look like a broken tree branch, and some types may also narrow their eyes to slits and fold a wing sideways across their chest in a Dracula-like manner to hide the lighter-colored feathers on their underparts. Such behavior has also been documented in eastern screech owls in a natural setting reacting to threats. (Wikipedia)

The Lord Jesus Christ gives these birds the ability to “transform” for their protection, just as he wants us to “transform” into His Image.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV)

Here is another video found on YouTube:

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Northern white-faced owl – Wikipedia

Southern white-faced owl – Wikipedia

Strigidae – Owls

Sharing The Gospel
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The Newest I.O.C. World Bird List – Ver. 5.3 Finished Finally

September 3, 2015 by Lee

Hawaii Creeper (Loxops mana) ©WikiC – This bird is in the Loxops genus which now has add the Hawaii Akepa, Oahu Akepa and the Maui Akepa.

Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. (Psalms 32:11 KJV)

I started working on the newest version of the I.O.C. World Bird List in mid August after I realized the 5.3 Version had been released. I was able to get the new Parrot Family updated and put these two blogs up.

Nukupuu (Hemignathus lucidus) ©Drawing WikiC – This is now the Oahu Nukupuu. The genus now has two new species Kauai Nukupuu (Hemignathus hanapepe) and Maui Nukupuu (Hemignathus affinis)

Well, it is now the third of September and I finally have the update finished. Since them I am older (birthday yesterday) and hope I am a little wiser. Between health, rainstorms, internet issues and just plain hard work fixing the update, IT IS FINISHED!

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30 KJV)

The Lord said that when He had paid the debt for our sins on the cross, but this update no way compares to that greatest act of Love and Sacrifice for our salvation.

The “wiser” part came because as I had to update each Bird Family Page (241 pages), I changed the 5.2 Version to “The Latest I.O.C. Version.” Now I will only need to change the Family pages as needed. “Duhh” Why didn’t I think of that sooner. Since the pages were in edit mode, a Slideshow was added to each page. That is where a lot of time was spent.

Oahu Akialoa (Hemignathus procerus) Male Juvenile and Female ©WikiC Drawing This was the Akialoa. There is now a Kauai Akialoa and a Maui-nui Akialoa (All are Extinct.)

That accomplished, it was time to get the indexes up to date. As they make changes to the Versions, new birds are added or deleted, name changes or misspellings corrected, and some genus are changed as they do the DNA studies.

That is when my hair started falling out as I pulled on it when The Next Problem showed up. While TRYING to edit the alphabetical pages, you know, A-Z on first names and last names (another 26 pages each), what is usually a “piece of cake” became a real challenge.

When I would select a Bird’s First Name – A, other “A” pages opened. Like Torrey’s Tropical – “A” page or the Nave’s Topical “A” page or the Bird’s Last Name – “A” page.

So I owe all of you who have clicked around on this blog a BIG APOLOGY!!!!! You have been going to all kinds of wrong pages. That took hours to find out why and then fix the pages. It appears, for those of us who blog, we should not to have more than one “A” page even if they are in different categories. For now I have pulled the Nave’s and Torrey’s indexes off-line until they can be corrected.

The IOC World Bird List 5.3 contains 10,580 extant species (and 152 extinct species) classified in 40 Orders, 239 Families (plus 2 Incertae Sedis) and 2281 Genera. The list also includes 20782 subspecies, their ranges and authors.

Changes include:

SPECIES ADDED: 19 (3 extinct)

SPECIES DELETED: 3

ENGLISH NAMES: 13

TAXONOMY: 18 including revised classification of world parrots

Now, maybe I can get back to writing some blog and visiting your websites again. Stay Tuned!

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17 KJV)

Logan, Morgan, and Their Historical Nest

August 31, 2015 by GuestWriter

Logan, Morgan, and Their Historical Nest ~ by Emma Foster

It was 1769 when a distinguished man came to a small plain with a few trees on a mountain and began building a house. In one of the trees, two bluebirds watched as the man oversaw the building of his house. This house was big and built with stone masons who were people who built and cut stone.

The house had white stone pillars and large stone steps in front of a long backyard. Farther down the hill was the plantation where the slaves worked.

The house would not be competed for a long time, and while it was being built, Logan and Morgan decided they would build their nest just like the house was being built.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eggs ©WikiC

Logan and Morgan started looking for long, thick sticks to stack together. They started building their nest in one of the trees near the slave’s kitchen. However, this was difficult because of how hard it was to keep the sticks standing straight up in the branches. Logan and Morgan took turns holding the sticks with their beaks while the other looked for more sticks.

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) by S Slayton

Eventually, Logan and Morgan finally completed their nest. It wasn’t as grand as the house that was still being built, but the two bluebirds decided that the nest was perfect.

They raised their children in that nest and their children raised their children, until long after the house, called Monticello, was completed.

Montecello. House of Thomas Jefferson

Eventually the distinguished man who had built the house died, but Logan and Morgan’s children and grandchildren still lived there. And every year hundreds of people would come to take a tour of that house because it belonged to one of the Presidents of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Of course, Logan and Morgan never knew that fact.

The End

Lee’s Addition:

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. (Matthew 13:31-32 KJV)

Emma has now produced her first historical birdwatching tale. Thanks, Emma. Our young writer just turned 16 recently and has grown quite tall (5’11”) like her parents. We used to compare heights when she was shorter than me (4’10”), but now I have to look up at her. Not only has her height increased, but also her writing ability.

As a side note, her family visited Monticello this summer and actually watched some Eastern Bluebirds for some time in the trees there.

Sunday Inspiration – Cupwings, Crombecs and Bush Warblers

August 30, 2015 by Lee

Mountain Tailorbird (Phyllergates cucullatus) by© Wiki

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. (Colossians 1:16 NKJV)

I trust you are enjoying this Sunday Inspiration series of the Lord’s Creation of the PASSERIFORMES – Passerines (Songbirds) Order. This week’s collection of little Passerines are from three families. Of the 130 families in the Order, we have arrived at numbers 76, 77, and 78. By now, you have see over half the Songbird species in the world. Of the 40 Orders of Birds, the Passerines are the largest.

Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler (Pnoepyga albiventer) ©©

Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:18 NKJV)

Pnoepygidae – Cupwing [8.2 Version just changed these to Cupwings] has only five species and are endemic to southern and south eastern Asia. The genus contains four species. The genus has long been placed in the babbler family Timaliidae. A 2009 study of the DNA of the families Timaliidae and the Old World warblers (Sylviidae) found no support for the placement of the genus in either family, prompting the authors to erect a new monogeneric family, the Pnoepygidae.

Cape Grassbird (Sphenoeacus afer) ©WikiC

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. (1 Chronicles 16:9 KJV)

Macrosphenidae – Crombecs, African Warblers family has eighteen (18) members in its family. The African warblers are a newly erected family, Macrosphenidae, of songbirds. Most of the species were formerly placed in the Old World warbler family Sylviidae, although one species, the Rockrunner, was placed in the babbler family Timaliidae. A series of molecular studies of the Old World warblers and other bird families in the superfamily Sylvioidea (which includes the larks, swallows and tits) found that the African warblers were not part of the family Sylviidae but were instead an early offshoot (basal) to the entire Sylvioidea clade.

Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler (Cettia major) ©WikiC

The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (Proverbs 14:18 KJV)

Cettiidae – Cettia Bush Warblers and Allies total up 32 species.

Cettiidae is a newly validated family of small insectivorous songbirds (“warblers”) It contains the typical bush warblers (Cettia) and their relatives. As common name, cettiid warblers is usually used.

Its members occur mainly in Asia and Africa, ranging into Wallacea and Europe. The monarch warblers (Erythrocercus), Tit Hylia Pholidornis and Green Hylia (Hylia) are exclusively found in the forests of Africa. The pseudo-tailorbirds, tesias and stubtails, as well as Tickellia and Abroscopus warblers are mostly found in the forests of south and southeastern Asia, with one species reaching as far north as Japan and Siberia. The genus Cettia has the widest distribution of the family, reaching from Western Europe across Asia to the Pacific islands of Fiji and Palau. Most of the species in the genus are sedentary, but the Asian Stubtail is wholly migratory and the Japanese Bush Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler are partly migratory over much of their range. A few species, such as the Pale-footed Bush Warbler, are altitudinal migrants.

The species are small, stubby birds. Most have moderately long to long tails, while the stubtails and tesias have tiny tails that do not even emerge past their tail retrices. The group is typically clad in dull plumage, often with a line above the eye. Some, like the monarch-warblers (Erythrocercus), are much different in appearance, having areas of bright yellow plumage. (Wikipedia)

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Listen as you watch the birds:

“Bow The Knee” ~ Sheila Vegter and Jacob (her son who is playing the piano and singing)

Sunday Inspirations

PASSERIFORMES – Passerines (Songbirds)

Pnoepygidae – Cupwings

Macrosphenidae – Crombecs, African Warblers

Cettiidae – Cettia Bush Warblers and Allies

Good News

Pileated Woodpeckers With a Chipmunk, One Singing, and One Eating

August 28, 2015 by Lee

Pileated Woodpecker by Lee

‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. (Jeremiah 32:17 NKJV)

I always enjoy seeing Pileated Woodpeckers like this one at Circle B Bar Reserve here in the area. This was taken several years ago.

I found these videos on YouTube and they show the Pileated in a different way than we have observed them. Enjoy!

The first one is a YouTube by Dan & Joe. He discovers a chipmunk:

He has made the earth by His power; He has established the world by His wisdom, And stretched out the heaven by His understanding. (Jeremiah 51:15 NKJV)

Here’s another video of a Pileated Woodpecker Singing by Pureimaginationvideo:

This last one has a very good close-up of a Pileated digging for Grubs by Martyn Stewart:

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation. Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.” He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. (Jeremiah 10:10-12 NKJV)

I have been reading through Jeremiah and these verse caught my attention.

Birds of the World

Picidae – Woodpeckers Family

Who Paints the Leaves?

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Small Lifou White-eye

August 27, 2015 by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Small Lifou White-eye (and random Sacred Kingfisher) ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter – 8/27/15

I’m a night-owl, as you may know already, so here is a photo of a noteworthy event: boarding a flight to the Loyalty Islands in complete darkness at 6:00am at Magenta, the domestic airport in Noumea. The goal was to check out several endemic species of birds that occur on two of the Loyalty Islands, Lifou and Ouvéa. The Lifou endemics were supposed to be easy to find near the airport, so we spent a morning there looking for them on foot before flying on to Ouvéa where we had booked a rental car and accommodation for the night (more about Ouvéa next time).

Magenta, the domestic airport in Noumea by Ian

The Loyalty Islands, part of the French Territory of New Caledonia, are supposedly named after an obscure whaling ship called Loyalty or Loyalist built in Nova Scotia in 1788 that is thought to have come across them in 1790. The first recorded Western contact was three years later when another whaler, the Britannia, found them on a voyage from Norfolk Island to Batavia. Melanesians settled the islands about 3000 years ago and the French annexed them in the mid-nineteenth century.

Map of Lifou – New Caledonia

Lifou has two endemic White-eyes, cousins of the Silvereye which also occurs there. The endemic ones are called, accurately but unimaginatively, the Small and Large Lifou White-eyes. The small one we found without difficulty and it is indeed small with a length of 10-11cm/4-4-4.3in and weighting 7.5-9g/0.26-0.31g. Its diagnostic feature is the white flanks, most obvious in the third of its photos.

We search quite hard but unsuccessfully for the Large Lifou White-eye. It’s very large for a White-eye (15cm/6in) making it even larger than the Giant White-eye (Megazosterops palauensis) of Palau. Interestingly both of these large species lack the white eye-rings that gives them, and the Silvereye, their common names. The Small Lifou White-eye feeds mainly on insects while the large one shows a preference for fruit. This specialisation in diet and divergence in size is to expected in similar species occupying the same habitat, but these two seem to have taken it to extremes.

The Small Lifou White-eye is close related to the slightly larger Green-backed White-eye (fourth White-eye photo). It occurs on the main island of Grande Terre, the Isle of Pines (south of Grande Terre) and on Maré southwest of Lifou. Meanwhile there are three local races of the Silvereye, one on Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines, another on Maré and Ouvéa and the third on Lifou.

This complex pattern of colonisation and speciation is typical of members of the family, the Zosteropidae. This is a very successful Old World family with almost 100 species in Africa, Asia and Australasia. They seem to be experts at colonizing out of the way islands, occurring on many islands in the Indian and eastern Pacific Oceans, where they settle down and develop new races and species. White-eyes are very sociable, so it is easy to imagine flocks being blown around by storms or cyclones and making landfall in sufficient numbers to colonise new places.

For the random bird of the week, here’s another species that is good at island hopping, the Sacred Kingfisher. Well known throughout all but the driest parts of mainland Australia it also occurs on some southwest Pacific islands including those of New Zealand and New Caledonia. It has one race on Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines and, you guessed it, another one on the Loyalty Islands, below. This race has very buff underparts and a shorter, slightly flattened bill.

Finishing on a quite unrelated matter, you may have come across recent news, if you live in Australia, about the ultimate in elusive birds , the Night Parrot and the work that Steve Murphy has been doing since its rediscovery by John Young. Bush Heritage Australia is raising money to create a sanctuary to protect this population in southwest Queensland. I’ve already made my (modest) donation and I’d ask you to do so too using this link to make a very practical contribution (yours doesn’t need to be modest) to conserving a very special bird.

Greetings
Ian
**************************************************
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Tel 0411 602 737 ian@birdway.com.au
Bird Photos http://www.birdway.com.au/
Recorder Society http://www.nqrs.org.au

Lee’s Addition:

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35 NKJV)

I love those EYES! Every since learning about the White-eyes, they have become one of my favorite species. Thanks, Ian for sharing these adorable birds with us. Kingfishers are also a favorite.

My problem is that when I use my “eyes” to view the Lord’s fantastic birds, how can I not have a problem figuring out which ones are my “most” favorites. I love all of the Lord’s Avian Wonders. I trust you do also.

Ian’s Bird of the Week

Ian’s Birdway Zosteropidae Family

Zosteropidae – White-eyes

Wordless Birds

Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Birdwatching from a Christian Perspective

Category Archives: Birds

Golden Eagle’s Adventure Continues… Welcome Boys and Girls!

Sunday Inspiration – Reed Warblers

(Info from Wikipedia with editing)

Sad Clowns of the Sea

EGGS-ELLENT EXAMPLES OF DESIGN

Birdwatching on Danish Zealand: Remembering a Sandwich Tern, at Hamlet’s Castle

Birdwatching on Danish Zealand:

Remembering a Sandwich Tern, at Hamlet’s Castle

(Photo taken from http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/14567172.jpg )

(picture taken from http://blog.fuertecharter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/F295_Dibujo_01.jpg)

Photo taken from http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/061-Gulls/SandwichTern/SandwichTern-19098.jpg

[ photo taken from https://ateambirding.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/0611-sandwich-tern-cemlyn-lagoon-anglesy-29th-june-2013-img_6143.jpg ]

[Photo taken from http://www.helcom.fi/PublishingImages/baltic-sea-trends/environment-fact-sheets/latest-fact-sheets/population-development-of-sandwich-tern/Brandseeschwalben%20J%C3%BCrgen%20Reich_1.jpg ]

Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronborg#/media/File:Helsingoer_Kronborg_Castle.jpg

[ photo taken from http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/2765/tdanny_denmark_kronborg_1.jpg ]

Sunday Inspiration – Little Beauties From The Lord

White-faced Owl – Transformer

The Newest I.O.C. World Bird List – Ver. 5.3 Finished Finally

Logan, Morgan, and Their Historical Nest

Other stories by Emma Foster

Sunday Inspiration – Cupwings, Crombecs and Bush Warblers

Pileated Woodpeckers With a Chipmunk, One Singing, and One Eating

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Small Lifou White-eye

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(Info from Wikipedia with editing)

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Birdwatching on Danish Zealand:

Remembering a Sandwich Tern, at Hamlet’s Castle

(Photo taken from http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/14567172.jpg )

(picture taken from http://blog.fuertecharter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/F295_Dibujo_01.jpg)

Photo taken from http://www.birdsoman.com/Birds/061-Gulls/SandwichTern/SandwichTern-19098.jpg

[ photo taken from https://ateambirding.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/0611-sandwich-tern-cemlyn-lagoon-anglesy-29th-june-2013-img_6143.jpg ]

[Photo taken from http://www.helcom.fi/PublishingImages/baltic-sea-trends/environment-fact-sheets/latest-fact-sheets/population-development-of-sandwich-tern/Brandseeschwalben%20J%C3%BCrgen%20Reich_1.jpg ]

Photo from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronborg#/media/File:Helsingoer_Kronborg_Castle.jpg

[ photo taken from http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/2765/tdanny_denmark_kronborg_1.jpg ]

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