Category Archives: Birds

Birds Are Wonderful: Y and Z !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  Y  and  Z !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the ninth (and last) installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter Y is illustrated by Yellow-headed Blackbird, Yucatan Jay, and Yellow-eyed Penguin.  The letter Z  illustrated by Zino’s Petrel, Zigzag Heron, and Zone-tailed Hawk. Since this series is not using the Norwegian alphabet, this is the end of this series!

“Y” BIRDS:   Yellow-headed Blackbird, Yucatan Jay, and Yellow-eyed Penguin.

BAW-Yellowhead-YucatanJayBAW-YelloweyedPenguin

“Z” BIRDS:  Zino’s Petrel, Zigzag Heron, and Zone-tailed Hawk.

BAW-ZinosPetrel-ZigzagHeronBAW-ZonetailedHawk

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like the , are exquisitely beautiful, while others, like the are fascinatingly unusual, if not also a bit weird!  (That concludes this series; however, there are thousands of birds that could have been included, so this series only introduced the biodiversity of birds, D.v.)

* Quoting “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, © AD2019—AD 2020 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

BAW-Zino'sPetrel.Wikipedia

Zino’s Petrel (Wikipedia sketch)

Birds Are Wonderful: V, W, and X !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  V,  W,  and  X !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in this year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the eighth installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter V is illustrated by Vasa Parrot, Vireos, and Vultures.  The letter W illustrated by Wood Duck, Waxwings, and Whinchat.  The letter X illustrated by Xavier’s Greenbul, Xingus Scale-backed Antbird, and Xantus’s Hummingbird.

“V” BIRDS:   Vasa Parrot, Vireos, and Vultures.

BAW-VasaParrot-Vireo

BAW-Vulture

“W” BIRDS:  Wood Duck, Waxwings, and Whinchat.

BAW-WoodDuck-WaxwingsBAW-Whinchat

“X” BIRDS:  Xavier’s Greenbul, Xingus Scale-backed Antbird, and Xantus’s Hummingbird.

BAW-XavierGreenbul-XingusScalebackedAntbirdBAW-XantusHummingbird

Birds are truly wonderful — some are gracefully beautiful, like  Xantus’s Hummingbird, — and some, like the Vultures, are fascinatingly unusual, if not also a little weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Vulture-turkey.TexasHillCountry

Birds Are Wonderful: S, T, and U !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  S,  T,  and  U !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the seventh installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter S is illustrated by Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Stork, and Starling.  The letter T illustrated by Turkey, Trumpeter Swan, and Turnstone.  The letter U illustrated by Ural Owl, Udzungwa partridge, and Umbrellabird.

“S” BIRDS:   Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Storks, and Starlings.

BAW-Scissortail-Stork

BAW-Starling

“T” BIRDS:  Turkey, Trumpeter Swan, and Turnstone.

BAW-Turkey-TrumpeterSwanBAW-Turnstone

“U” BIRDS:  Ural Owl, Udzungwa Partridge, and Umbrellabird.

BAW-UralOwl-UdzungwaPartridge

BAW-Umbrellabird

Birds are truly wonderful — some are gracefully beautiful, like the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher — and some, like the bizarre-displaying Umbrellabird, are fascinatingly unusual, if not also a little weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Scissortail-in-flight.Cornell

Scissortail in flight (Cornell Lab photo)

 

Birdie’s Morning Song – McGuffey’s 2nd Grade Reader

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Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (juvenile) ©USFWS

McGuffey Readers were a series of graded primers for grade levels 1-6. They were widely used as textbooks in American schools from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, and are still used today in some private schools and in homeschooling.

LESSON XXXIV. (34)

dew’drops hop’ping la’zi est bends sung

pa’tience in stead’ dar’ling ought rest

slum’ber my self ‘ re ply’ miss lose

BIRDIE’S MORNING SONG.

1. Wake up, little darling, the birdies are out,
And here you are still in your nest!
The laziest birdie is hopping about;
You ought to be up with the rest.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!

Barn Swallow in Cades Cove by Dan

Barn Swallow in Cades Cove by Dan

2. Oh, see what you miss when you
slumber so long—
The dewdrops, the beautiful sky!
I can not sing half what you lose in my song;
And yet, not a word in reply.
Wake up, little darling, wake up!

Barn Swallow (juvenile)

3. I’ve sung myself quite out of patience with you,
While mother bends o’er your dear head;
Now birdie has done all that birdie can do:
Her kisses will wake you instead!
Wake up, little darling, wake up!
George Cooper.

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:8 NKJV)

McGuffey’s Reader for 2nd Grade:

ABC’s of the Gospel

Birds Are Wonderful: P, Q, and R !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  P,  Q,  and  R !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the sixth advance installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter P is illustrated by Pinyon Jay, Puffins, and Peafowl.  The letter Q  illustrated by Quail, Quetzal, and Queen Carola’s Parotia.  The letter L illustrated by Rhea, Raven, and Roadrunner.

“P” BIRDS:   Pinyon Jay, Puffins, and Peafowl.

BAW-PinyonJay-Puffins

BAW-Peafowl

“Q” BIRDS:  Quail, Quetzal, and Queen Carola’s Parotia.

BAW-Quail-QuetzalBAW-QueenCarolasParotia

“R” BIRDS:  Rhea, Raven, and Roadrunner.

BAW-Rhea-RavenBAW-Roadrunner

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like the Peacock and Quetzal, are exquisitely beautiful, while others, like the rattlesnake-killing Roadrunner, are fascinatingly unusual, if not also odd-looking!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

PinyonJay-PinyonPine.CaganSekercioglu

 

Birds Are Wonderful: M, N, and O !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  M,  N,  and  O !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For welcoming in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the fifth advance installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter M is illustrated by Magpies, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Motmots.  The letter N  illustrated by Nightingale, Needle-billed Hermit, and Nighthawk (also called “Nightjar”).  The letter O illustrated by Osprey, Oriental Stork, and Oystercatcher.

“M” BIRDS:   Magpies, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Motmots.

BAW-Magpie-MagnificentFrigatebirdBAW-Motmots

“N” BIRDS:  Nightingale, Needle-billed Hermit, and Nighthawk.

BAW-Nightingale-NeedlebilledHermitBAW-Nighthawk

“O” BIRDS:  Osprey, Oriental Stork, and Oystercatcher.

BAW-Osprey-OrientalStorkBAW-Oystercatcher

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like the “egg-dumping” Oystercatcher, are a little bit odd, if not also weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

BAW-MagellanicOystercatcher-white-sand

 

Birds Are Wonderful: J, K, and L !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  J,  K,  and  L !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the fourth advance installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter J is illustrated by Jack-Snipe, Junco, and Jackdaw.  The letter K  illustrated by Kiwi, Kites, and King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise.  The letter L illustrated by Loons, Loggerhead Shrike, and Little Spider-Hunter.

“J” BIRDS:   Jack-Snipe, Junco, and Jackdaw.

BAW-JackSnipe-JuncoBAW-Jackdaw

“K” BIRDS:  Kiwi, Kites, and King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise.

BAW-Kiwi-KitesBAW-King-o-Saxony-Bird-o-Paradise

“L” BIRDS:  Loons, Loggerhead Shrike, Little Spider-Hunter.

BAW-Loons-LoggerheadShrikeBAW-LittleSpiderHunter

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like the King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise, are a little bit extravagant-looking, if not also weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Loon-with-crayfish.USFWS

Birds Are Wonderful: G, H, and I !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  D,  E,  and  F !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the third advance installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter G is illustrated by Gila Woodpecker, Grey-Crowned Crane, and Golden Plover.  The letter H  illustrated by Hoopoe, Hoatzin, and Hummingbird.  The letter I illustrated by Iceland Gull, Ibis, and Invisible Rail.

“G” BIRDS:   Gila Woodpecker, Grey-Crowned Crane, and Golden Plover.

BAW-GilaWoodpecker-Grey-CrownedCrane

BAW-GoldenPlover

“H” BIRDS:  Hoopoe, Hoatzin, and Hummingbird.

BAW-Hoopoe-Hoatzin

BAW-Hummingbirds

“I” BIRDS:  Iceland Gull, Ibis, and Invisible Rail. 

BAW-IcelandGull-IbisBAW-InvisibleRail

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like Hoopoe, are a little bit goofy-looking, if not also weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Hoopoe-wikipedia

 

 

Birds Are Wonderful: D, E, and F !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  D,  E,  and  F !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the year of our Lord 2020,  below follows the second advance installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter D is illustrated by Diamond Firetail, Dead Sea Sparrow, and Doves.  The letter E  illustrated by Eiders, Egrets, and Edible-Nest Swiftlet.  The letter F illustrated by Flamingos, Flamebacks, and Frogmouths.

“D” BIRDS:   Diamond Firetail, Dead Sea Sparrow, and Doves.

BAW-DiamondFiretail-DeadSeaSparrow

BAW-Doves

“E” BIRDS:  Eiders, Egrets, and Edible-Nest Swiftlet.

BAW-Eiders-Egrets

BAW-EdibleNestSwiftlet

“F” BIRDS:  Flamingos, Flamebacks, and Frogmouths. 

BAW-Flamingo-Flameback

BAW-Frogmouths

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like Edible-Nest Swiftlets and Frogmouths, are a little bit weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Frogmouth-tawny

 

Birds Are Wonderful: A, B, and C !

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BIRDS  ARE  WONDERFUL  . . .  A, B, and C !

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

Jesus said: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink . . . Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”   (Matthew 6:25-26)

For ushering in the new year  —  the year of our Lord 2020  —  below follows the first installment of alphabet-illustrating birds of the world, as part of this new series (“Birds Are Wonderful  —  and Some Are a Little Weird“*).  The letter A is illustrated by Anhinga, Andean Condor, and Arctic Tern.  The letter B  illustrated by Bald Eagle, Baltimore Oriole, and Bewick’s Wren.  The letter C illustrated by Cardinal, Chicken, and Cowbirds.

“A” BIRDS:   Anhinga, Andean Condor, and Arctic Tern.

BAW-Anhinga-AndeanCondor

BAW-ArcticTern

“B” BIRDS:  Bald Eagle, Baltimore Oriole, and Bewick’s Wren.

BAW-BaldEagle-BaltimoreOriole

BAW-BewicksWren

“C” BIRDS:  Cardinal, Chicken, and Cowbirds. 

BAW-CowbirdsBAW-Cardinal-Chicken

Birds are truly wonderful — and some, like cowbirds, are a little bit weird!  (Stay tuned for more, D.v.)

* Quoting from “Birds Are Wonderful, and Some Are a Little Weird”, (c) AD2019 James J. S. Johnson   [used here by permission].

Rooster-RaisinghappyChickens.com-photo

Tickle Me Tuesday – Christmas Bird Videos

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Just thought you needed a diversion from all the last minute gift wrapping and cooking. Enjoy these birds with a Christmas attitude.

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” (Proverbs 15:13 KJV)

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22 KJV)

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

What is the Gospel?

Ian’s Bird of the Moment – Long-tailed Meadowlark

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Well the moment is almost Christmas, so an iconic bird, or at least an iconic looking bird, is obligatory. Traditional Christmas icons such as european robins and snow flakes stubbornly persist in Australia despite the summer heat, but I have managed to find a red-breasted bird with a little real snow in the southern hemisphere. Those little white flecks in this photo are tiny snow flakes.

PAS-Icte Long-tailed Meadowlark (Leistes loyca) by Ian

We spent out last full – and coldest – day in Chile at a place called Baños Morales at an altitude of 2,000m/6,500ft in the Andes about 100km southeast of Santiago. The intended destination was a location about a kilometre along a walking track past the end of a sealed road up a steep-sided valley where there was supposed to be Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, one of four species that make up the South American Seedsnipe family (Thinocoridae), odd dove-shaped birds related to waders.

banos_morales_7013_pp by Ian

 

A bitterly cold wind funnelled up the valley from the south and we found that, despite five layers of clothes, we couldn’t manage being out of the car for too long. We abandoned plans to go to the seedsnipe location and concentrated our efforts on a promising looking swampy area near the road. We didn’t find any seedsnipes but we did find various interesting, hardy birds including some Long-tailed Meadowlarks that stood out dramatically in the bleak landscape. Meadowlarks belong to the Icteridae (Birdway), a widespread American family that includes a variety of colourful birds including Caciques, Oropendolas, New World Orioles and Blackbirds – unrelated to the Eurasian Blackbird of the thrush family, Turdidae (Birdway).

Anyway this is a roundabout way of wishing you Season’s Greetings: may it be safe and enjoyable. I have another iconic bird in mind to welcome in the new decade so I’ll leave New Year Greetings until then.

Kind regards
Ian

Lee’s Addition:

Merry Christmas to you, Ian. Thanks for sharing a “Christmas iconic bird” with us. The snow makes it even more “Christmassy.” Ian, you are on a roll. Your birds of the “moment” are coming more frequently. Before long, you will have to start doing your “Bird of the Week” articles again.

Ian’s Bird of the Week

Icteridae Family

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2 KJV)

What will you do with Jesus?