Category Archives: Birdwatching

Ian’s Bird of the Moment – Night Birds

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Ian’s Bird of the Moment – Night Birds by Ian Montgomery

If you can remember that far back, the last bird of the moment was Eastern Grass Owl [http://www.birdway.com.au/botw/botw_584.php] found during a spot-lighting trip to the Townsville Town Common led by local night-bird expert and pillar of BirdLife Townsville Ian Boyd.

At the time, Ian was refusing to be discouraged by pancreatic cancer, an attitude that we all admired until his death on 23rd of February. Typically undaunted he gave a presentation on his favourite topic, Night Birds at the BirdLife Townsville AGM on the 10th of February although he had less than a couple of weeks to live. Isolated by flood waters in Bluewater, I couldn’t attend the funeral on 1st March so here is a photographic tribute to him instead.

I got to know him well during his last year or and am left with some precious memories of searching for night birds with him. So let’s go birding together while I share three special occasions with you.

The first was when a birding friend and photographer from Mt Isa was visiting Townsville and wanted to photograph a Rufous Owl. I contacted Ian Boyd and he took us to an active nesting site on a hot afternoon at the end of October. There he showed us the two adults which we photographed (one of them is in the first photo) and our visitor from Mt Isa returned to the site later and got a photo of a fledgling peering out of the tree hollow.

The second was the occasion when we found the female Eastern Grass Owl at the Townsville Town Common which featured as the last Bird of the Moment. At the time our goal was to search for Spotted Nightjars which are supposed to occur occasionally along the Freshwater Track that goes across the grassy, saltbush flats between Bald Rock and the Freshwater hide (see this map:). We drove across the Town Common arriving at Shelley Beach on the northern side at sunset and then drove slowly back in darkness checking for night birds as we went along.

The first stretch of riverine forest on the Shelley Beach Trail produced a remarkable five Owlet Nightjars (second photo) and a single male Tawny Frogmouth (third photo). Male Tawny Frogmouths have silvery grey, strongly marbled plumage. We had only just started along the Freshwater Track when the cry went up ‘Barn Owl’ but we quickly realised that the Tyto Owl beside the track was a female Eastern Grass Owl (fourth photo).

There was no sign of any Spotted Nightjars – we suspect that they are more like to be found in the dry winter months – but at the start of the Freshwater Lagoon Road south of the Freshwater hide, we found a Large-tailed Nightjar (fifth photo). This species is the commonest Nightjar around Townsville and is well known for its persistent, loud ‘chop chop’ call that gives it the colloquial name of Carpenter or Axe Bird.

Finally, along the track between Payet’s Tower and the Forest Walk, a Barking Owl (sixth photo) represented the only remaining Australian night bird family for the evening – Aegothelidae (Owlet NIghtjars), Podargidae (Frogmouths), Tytonidae (Barn Owls), Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) and Strigidae (Hawk Owls). I’m following the IOC and BirdLife International in lumping the Nightjars and Eared-Nightjars into a single family.

We repeated the spotlighting at the Town Common a week later. This time we found one or two Owlet Nightjars along the Shelley Beach Trail, but Tawny Frogmouths were out in force. The seventh photo shows a female; females are often rufous like this one but always have plainer less marked plumage than the males. The eight photo shows a remarkably approachable male Tawny Frogmouth.

This time there was no sign of the Eastern Grass Owl (or Spotted NIghtjars) and the surprise of the night was a Barn Owl perched in a tree along the stretch where we’d found the Barking Owl the previous week (ninth photo). This bird seemed unbothered by our spot- and flash-lights and when it did leave it did so to plunge into the undergrowth after some prey.
That was the last time I went birding with Ian Boyd. He is greatly missed by his wife Robyn, the rest of his family and all us bird watchers who appreciated his generosity, warmth, leadership and enthusiasm. I’ll treasure these great memories of birding with him during his last few months with us. Thank you, Ian Boyd.
Greetings, Ian

What a nice tribute to a good friend and fellow birder. What courage for Ian Boyd to continue on under very adverse conditions. Thanks Ian for the neat birds and a memorial to one of your friends.

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17 NKJV)

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV)

See more of Ian’s Posts:

Ian’s Bird of the Week

Black Sicklebill – Thin Blue Line

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  • Black Sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) ©Flickr Arty-chan

Here is an interesting video about a Black Sicklebill displaying.
Black Sicklebill: The Thin Blue Line by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Black Sicklebills are elegant, slender birds with long bills and tails. But that all changes when a female comes by. The male transforms into a horizontal comet shape on his display perch. He doesn’t use his wings to do this; he uses flank feathers. The comet shape is accentuated by a narrow blue band of iridescence created when those flank feathers line up precisely. Filmed and photographed by Tim Laman and Eric Liner. [YouTube] “The black sicklebill (Epimachus fastosus) is a large bird-of-paradise of midmountain forests of New Guinea. The sicklebill’s diet consists mainly of fruits and arthropods. The male of the species performs a horizontal courtship display with the pectoral plumes raised around its head. The male has black plumage with iridescent green, blue and purple scale-like feathers, red irises, bright yellow mouth, long curved black bill, huge sabre-shaped tail and large erectile fan-like plumes on the sides of its breast. The female is smaller than the male, with reddish brown plumage, brown irises, and buff below. Reaching up to 110 cm in length, the male black sicklebill is the longest member of Paradisaeidae, though the curl-crested manucode has a larger body.” [Wikipedia with editing]
‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)
 

A Family of Ducks by Emma Foster

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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) By Dan'sPix

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) By Dan’sPix

A Family of Ducks by Emma Foster

Once there was a small family of mallard ducks that lived on a large lake in the country. The mother duck had just had three ducklings, and as Autumn was nearing, the ducklings were learning how to swim.

The lake the family lived on was surrounded by a college campus. There were several buildings near the lake, but it was still quiet and peaceful, and the family was never bothered by anyone. Many of the students at the college had seen the ducks before, and they were happy to see that the mother and father duck now had ducklings.

Momma Mallard and 2 Babies at Lake Morton

The mother duck spent most of her days teaching her ducklings how to search for food in the shallow water. The ducklings loved being in the water because of how hot it was outside and how cool the water was, even though it was almost October. Eventually, however, the wind began to pick up and grow colder.

The ducks started to hear rumors of a storm that was coming. Several flocks of birds had flown in from farther north to avoid the storm. As the winds became worse, the family of ducks decided to stay under the bridge on the lake for a while with the other ducks and birds. Small waves began to form on the lake, which scared the ducklings. Most of the birds decided to hide in the trees, leaving the family of ducks alone under the bridge.

“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (Psalms 55:8 KJV)

Mallard in Storm ©Flickr Steve Baker

Rain began pouring down into the lake. After a few minutes, the ducklings got used to the sound of the rain. Even though the storm wasn’t as bad as the ducks thought it would be, the weather was getting colder. Soon they would have to fly south for the winter because it was getting colder, but right now they couldn’t leave the lake.

The father duck peeked out from under the bridge and noticed that several students were rushing into a nearby building. The father duck waited for the rain to lighten before he, the mother duck, and the ducklings hurried up the bridge onto the sidewalk. The mother duck and the ducklings followed the father duck toward the front entrance to the building.

Duck at Door ©Flickr Ann Fisher

At one point a group of college students rushed to the door to get out of the rain. The family of ducks quickly followed behind them and stood in the building to dry off and get warm. Eventually the ducklings settled down to take a nap while the stormed died down. Several students watched the family of ducks and took some pictures until one of them opened the door to let them out when the storm passed. When they made it back outside, they all returned to the lake and settled back down on the grass. Eventually the ducklings grew to the point where they were able to fly south for the winter, and the entire family was safe and happy.

Mallards by Lee at Lake Morton

Another interesting bird tale from Emma. This story makes me wonder if there was a storm up where she is now attending college. Maybe she opened the door to let the family in. Makes me Wonder!! Nice story, Emma.

See More of Emma’s Stories

 

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill – Cincinnati Zoo

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Here are some more articles written about our visits to the Cincinnati Zoo: Here is a video by another visitor to the Hornbills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btd7BgdBciQ
Trying to get through the fence/cage Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) Cincinnati Zoo 2016
If you followed the posts while we were on our trip, you are aware that we skipped going to the Cincinnati Zoo because of weather. Home Again After 2,000 Mile Trip
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (Romans 5:3-4 KJV)
Since we have been there twice already, I decided to see if there were some birds that were not written about from those trips. Actually, there are quite a few. This Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill’s photo caught my attention. It is so hard to get a photo through the cages of the zoos. This Avian Wonder was just as hard to capture. After several tries, the Hornbill came into focus and I still remember my excitement. Patience is hard at times, but it does pay off.
Yeah! I got through! Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) Cincinnati Zoo 2016
“But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:25 KJV)
Here are some more articles written about our visits to the Cincinnati Zoo: Here is a video by another visitor to the Hornbills:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btd7BgdBciQ

Weavers At Work

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Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius) by Bob-Nan

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,… (Job 7:6a KJV)

“Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.” (Exodus 35:35 KJV) [This has to do with the Tabernacle bulders, but the wisdom of heart applies here also.]

A friend shared a video with me of the Weaver Birds on Facebook while we were traveling. I thought I would share some of the fantastic weaving ability given these birds by their Creator.

These are just a few of the videos of Weavers at Work

Here’s another video on YouTube taken at the San Diego Zoo

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Previous Articles about the Weaver Birds:

Sunday Inspiration – Weavers and Allies
Wonga Dove and Taveta Weavers at Houston Zoo
Nuggets Plus – The Weaver, The Caller (Ready)
Interesting Things – The Weaver Bird
Baya Weaver – The Model Church

Who Paints The Leaves?

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Avian And Attributes – Sharp Part II

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Sharp-tailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca) ©WikiC

“Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.” (Proverbs 25:18 NASB)

“Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.” (Psalms 52:2 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sharp Part II

The rest of the SHARP definitions. See Part I

SH’ARP, n.
1. In music, an acute sound.
2. A note artificially raised a semitone; or,
3. The character which directs the note to be thus elevated; opposed to a flat, which depresses a note a semitone.
4. A pointed weapon. [Not in use.]
SH’ARP, v.t.
1. To make keen or acute.
2. To render quick.
3. To mark with a sharp, in musical composition; or to raise a not a semitone.
SH’ARP, v.i. To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.

Sharp-tailed Birds

There are seven Sharp-tailed birds:

Sharp-tailed Grass Tyrant (Culicivora caudacuta) ©WikiC

Sharp-tailed Grass Tyrant (Culicivora caudacuta) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the only one in the genus Culicivora. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) ©WikiC

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) (previously: Tetrao phasianellus) is a medium-sized prairie grouse. It is also known as the sharptail, and is known as fire grouse or fire bird by Native American Indians[clarification needed] due to their reliance on brush fires to keep their habitat open. The Sharp-Tailed Grouse is the provincial bird of Saskatchewan.

Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) ©WikiC

Adults have a relatively short tail with the two central (deck) feathers being square-tipped and somewhat longer than their lighter, outer tail feathers giving the bird its distinctive name. The plumage is mottled dark and light browns against a white background, they are lighter on the underparts with a white belly uniformly covered in faint “V”-shaped markings. These markings distinguish sharp-tailed grouse from lesser and greater prairie chickens which are heavily barred on their underparts(Connelly et al. 1998). Adult males have a yellow comb over their eyes and a violet display patch on their neck. This display patch is another distinguishing characteristic from prairie chickens as male prairie chickens have yellow or orange colored air sacs

Sharp-tailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca) ©WikiC

Sharp-tailed Ibis (Cercibis oxycerca) is a species of ibis native to open wet savannas in parts of northern South America. This ibis is distinguished by its notably long tail, which is the longest among all extant ibis species; measuring 250-301mm in males and 256-272mm in females. The tail projects beyond the tips of the folded wings when the ibis stands; and beyond the trailing legs in flight. The plumage is predominantly black with greenish glossing; and with purplish tinges on the upper back, hind neck, wings and tail. The forehead and cheek region are occasionally greyish brown. Juveniles appear similar to adults, but their plumage lacks a metallic sheen.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) ©WikiC

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) – breeding adults are a rich brown with darker feather centres above, and white underneath apart from a buff breast. They have a light superciliary line above the eye and a chestnut crown. In winter, sharp-tailed sandpipers are grey above. The juveniles are brightly patterned above with rufous coloration and white mantle stripes.

This bird looks a lot like the pectoral sandpiper, within whose Asian range it breeds. It differs from that species in its breast pattern, stronger supercilium and more rufous crown. It has some similarities to the long-toed stint, but is much larger than the stint.

Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus) ©WikiC

Sharp-tailed Starling (Lamprotornis acuticaudus), also known as the sharp-tailed glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It inhabits open woodland (namely miombo) in Angola, northern Botswana, the southern DRC, northern Namibia, western Tanzania, and Zambia.

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura) by Dario Sanches

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper (Lochmias nematura) is a passerine bird of South America belonging to the family Furnariidae, the ovenbirds. It is the only member of the genus Lochmias. The species is also known as the streamside streamcreeper.

This bird is about 6 in (15 cm) long, with a short tail and a long, thin, slightly curved bill. The plumage is dark brown, densely spotted white on the underparts. There is a white stripe over the eye and the tail is blackish. The song is an accelerating trill, lasting for about five seconds.

Avian and Attributes – Sharp Part I

More Avian and Attributes

Birds whose first or last name starts with “S”

Good News

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Home Again After 2,000 Mile Trip

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Home Again After 2,000 Mile Trip

We arrived home yesterday and are working on getting back in the routine of being home. The suitcases are unpacked and put away. We enjoyed sleeping in our own bed last night. If you have traveled, even overnight, you know the feeling of a night’s rest in your own bed.

American Wigeon flocks

We offered some of the migrating birds a ride south, but they declined our offer. [NOT!] Actually, we didn’t see sunshine for six days while we were north. Therefore, we wouldn’t have seen the birds anyway to offer them any assistance in their journey south.

“Even the stork in the sky Knows her seasons; And the turtledove and the swift and the thrush Observe the time of their migration; But My people do not know The ordinance of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7 NASB)

Osprey Road by Dan - (Old Bartow Road)

Osprey Road by Dan – (Old Bartow Road)

We have a line of power poles on a road that goes to Bartow, Florida that is lined with platforms for bird nest. The Osprey come back every winter and rebuild their nest. I wonder if they feel like we did when we got to sleep in our own bed?

Because of the rain, overcast skies, and the approaching Hurricane Florence, we made the decision to come home several days early. We skipped the visit to the Cincinnati Zoo unfortunately. No bird photos to share from this trip.

Bird Fossil at Creation Museum

We did get to go through the Creation Museum in Kentucky though. It has changed since we were there 8 or 9 years ago. Improved quite a bit, but they removed the bird [Finch] exhibits. I only found one fossil exhibit of a bird.

Because of a storm outside with lots of lightning, I think I will end this for now and post again tomorrow, Lord willing.

Stay Tuned!

 

Lots of Ducks and Geese

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Mallards

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)”

So far we haven’t seen many birds. My sister-in-law has a pond behind here with Mallards. Also, a Blue Jay has been calling, but has refused to show himself.

The ponds around town, Indianapolis, has lots of Canadian Geese hanging out. The one batch/flock had about 20 or so, and they were all faced south. Maybe they were getting aligned so they could get started South for the winter. Yet, up here it is still summer weather. Maybe they aren’t sure when to leave. Also, the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon is going to come through tomorrow. The rain chance is 100% and flood warnings are being issued starting tomorrow. Welcome to Indiana.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) by Ian

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) by Ian

Dan’s 60th High School reunion starts today and will be having gatherings for the next two days. We plan to leave here Sunday afternoon to go to Cincinnati area. Plans, depending on all this rain, we hope to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and then the Creation Museum. Then mosey home.

“But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” (3 John 1:14 KJV)

So far, praise the Lord, I have been handling this trip. My recent back surgery is still causing pain, but doing okay so far.

Unfortunately, my relative has NO INTERNET!!! :(   So here I sit at McDonalds. Yeah, for free internets! That is why the posts are intermitten. Trust to post photos from the Zoo later. Hope they won’t have raindrops dripping off of them. :)

Stay tuned!

Birds Heading South – We Are Heading North

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Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warbler (Setophaga coronata) breeding ©WikiC

Looking forward to our northern birds to begin heading down for the winter. Actually, there have been reports already of migrating birds in various places around Florida. Unfortunately, some of them currently in Florida may be grounded for awhile until Tropical Storm Gordon blows out of the state.

“I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (Psalms 55:8 KJV)

Hurricane season gets active about the same time the fall migration gets underway. The Lord has given most of the birds the instinct to take cover during these disturbances.

We are currently headed the opposite direction. We are going North for a few days. Hope there will be a few birds left up there to enjoy while we are there. Dan has a High School reunion [60th] to attend. I will be visiting with a niece that I haven’t seen in years. When we get back home, maybe we will have some winter bird visitors already in Florida setting up their lawn chairs for the winter. That will give us some birding photos to take. Summer time is pretty slim on birding.

I am trusting the Lord to help me heal from my back surgery so we can get out and about with the birds again. So far, I am getting better, but still taking it easy. Also hope to get a few photos taken while on trip. Stay tuned!

Avian And Attributes – Sharp Part I

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Sharp-beaked Ground Finch (Geospiza difficilis) Female ©WikiC

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV)

Avian and Attributes – Sharp

SH’ARP, a.
1. Having a very thin edge or a fine point; keen; acute; not blunt. Thus we may say, a sharp knife, or a sharp needle. A sharp edge easily severs a substance; a sharp point is easily made to penetrate,it.
2. Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse; as, a hills terminates in a sharp peak, or a sharp ridge.
3. Forming an acute or too small angle at the ridge; as a sharp roof.
4. Acute of mind; quick to discern or distinguish; penetrating; ready at invention; witty; ingenious.

“Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.” (Psalms 52:2 KJV)

Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) ©WikiC

There are many “Sharp” named birds, but for this post, we will mention two of them. The Sharp-beaked Ground Finch and the Sharpbill. There will be more in a second article.

Sharp-beaked Ground Finch (Geospiza difficilis) ©Nancy Bell Mangoverde

The Sharp-beaked Ground Finch (Geospiza difficilis) is a species of bird in the Tanager family Thraupidae. It is classified as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and it is native to the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. It has a mass of around 20 grams (0.71 oz) and the males have black plumage, while females have streaked brown plumage. This finch was described by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1888.

This relatively small, slender-billed finch is endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where it is found on Fernandina, Santiago, Pinta, Genovesa, Darwin, and Wolf Islands. On the first three islands, it breeds in the humid highlands and disperses afterwards, but on the remaining smaller and lower islands the sharp-beaked ground finch is found in the arid zone year-round. Due to habitat destruction its range has decreased. It was formerly also present in the highlands of several other islands, and it is possible it still occurs on Isabela.

Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) ©WikiC

The Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) is a small passerine bird in the family Tityridae. Its range is from the mountainous areas of tropical South America and southern Central America (Panama and Costa Rica).

It inhabits the canopy of wet forest and feeds on fruit and some invertebrates. It has an orange erectile crest, black-spotted yellowish underparts and scaling on the head and neck. As its name implies, it has a straight, pointed beak, which gives its common name.

Sharpbills are most commonly found in tall dense forests but occasionally venture to the forest edge. Their diet consists of primarily of fruit, but they will also take insects, hanging upside down in from twigs to obtain insect larvae.

Sharp-Beaked Ground Finch – The Bloodsucker..

More Avian and Attributes

Birds whose first or last name starts with “S”

Good News

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Bill It To The White Stork

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White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) by Bob-Nan

“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7 KJV)

This migrating stork was tagged with a tracking device and ended up running up quite a phone bill. Here are excerpts from two different articles about Kajtek, the White Stork.

“A migrating, tagged, male white stork—known to the Polish environmentalists who were tracking him as “Kajtek”—blipped out of contact on 26 April.

That, however, did not stop him from making good use of the SIM card in his GPS tracker, with which the bird—or somebody who found the GPS device and picked it apart in order to get at the card—racked up a $2,700 phone bill.” [SIM card in bird’s GPS tracker]

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) by Ian

“In a Facebook post, the group explains that “for unknown reasons” Kajtek stayed in the area for over two months, “travelling 25 kms in different directions during the day”.

Last month, EkoLogiczna was surprised with a phone bill linked to the SIM card installed in the Kajtek’s GPS tracker for a total amount of 10,000 PLN (€2,278).

“Someone quite simply removed the card from the tracker, put it in a phone and used it for 20 hours of communication,” the group said in the Facebook post.

According to the EuroNatur Foundation, Poland is a major centre of distribution for the white stork, accounting for 40% of the bird’s world population.”

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” (Ephesians 4:28 KJV)

Here are the stories about this:

SIM card in bird’s GPS tracker used to rack up $2,700 phone bill …

Roaming stork lands Polish charity with huge phone bill

USA Today

You Hold Me Up

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Skimmer Baby Leaning against Parents Beak – ©Thomas C – NatlGeog – Pinterest

“If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” (Psalms 94:18-19 NKJV)

A Black Skimmer chick holding on to it’s parent. Adorable!

What verse(s) would you use for this photo?

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Gideon