Tag Archives: Birds

The Broad-billed Prion – The well oiled night mates..

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Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) ©WikiC

Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) ©WikiC

The Broad-billed Prion – The well oiled night mates.. ~ by a j mithra

The Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) is a small seabird, but the largest Prion, with grey upperparts plumage, and white underparts. This species is found throughout oceans and coastal areas in the Southern Hemisphere.

Photo of Broad-billed Prion at the World Bird Guide

Photo from famkefonae (Shows the broad bill up close)

Another great photo up close – IBC

Its colonies can be found on Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, South Island, Chatham Islands, on the sub-antarctic Antipodes Islands, and other islands off the coast of New Zealand and south of New Zealand’s south island. Adults are thought to remain in waters adjacent to colonies; however young birds occur north of the colonies to Australia and South Africa…

It has many other names that have been used such as Blue-billed Dove-petrel, Broad-billed Dove-petrel, Long-billed Prion, Common Prion, Icebird, and Whalebird. The Broad-billed Prion is a member of the Pachyptila genus, and along with five more Prions. They in turn are members of the Procellariidae family, and the Procellariiformes order.

The prions are small and typically eat just zooplankton; however as a member of the Procellariiformes, they share certain identifying features:

First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the Prion are on top of the upper bill. bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between 7 and 9 horny plates. It has a broad flat bill with comb-like fringes called lamellae. These birds have 7 and 9 horny plates..

  • In Hebrew, seven is shevah. It is from the root savah, to be full or satisfied, have enough of.
  • Hence the meaning of the word “seven” is dominated by this root, for on the seventh day God rested from the work of Creation.
  • It was full and complete, and good and perfect. Nothing could be added to it or taken from it without marring it.

Hence the word Shavath, to cease, desist, rest, and Shabbath, Sabbath, or day of rest. God expects perfect words from our mouth, words of faith and healing, words which would give hope and rest to people around us..

How do we use our mouth?

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:20,21)

The solemn amhn (ameen), amen, or “verily,” of our Lord,amounts also to 99, summing up and ending His words. The sum of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet is 4995 (5×999). It is stamped, therefore, with the numbers of grace and finality.

  • God not only expects perfect words from our mouth, but also words of grace..
  • Number nine not only denotes summing up and ending His words Amen, but also the gifts and fruit of the Holy spirit.
  • Physicist say that the most powerful energy is Grace, whose energy is calculated as infinite…

Do we have words of perfect grace in our mouth…

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of (miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) ©www.TeAra.govt.nz

Broad-billed Prion (Pachyptila vittata) ©www.TeAra.govt.nz

This is a large prion measuring 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 12 in) long, with a wingspan of 57 to 66 cm (22 to 26 in) and weighing on average 160 to 235 g. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights.

  • The oil which these birds produce reminds us of how we need to have oil when the bridegroom arrives, like the wise virgins..
  • The Bridegroom is on His way and these birds remind us to be prepared to meet Him..

Are we really ready?

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Mathew 25:13)

Finally, they also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.

  • God calls us as the salt of the earth..
  • As salt which gives taste and as salt which preserves..

It is time for us to switch on the search light and check if we our life is really the salt of the earth…

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Mathew 5:13)

They are gregarious, and they eat crustaceans (copepods, squid, and fish. They utilize a technique called hydroplaning, which is where the bird flies with its bill in the water and it skims water in, and then filters the food. They also surface-seize.

Breeding begins on the coastal slopes, lava fields, or cliffs of the breeding islands in July or August, as they lay their single egg in a burrow type nest. Both parents avian incubation |incubate] the egg for 50 days, and then spend another 50 days raising the chick.

Prion Chick by

The main predators are skuas, although on some islands, cats and rats have reduced this prion’s numbers drastically. Colonies disperse from December onwards, although some adults remain in the vicinity of the breeding islands and may visit their burrows in winter..

They are a social bird; however their courtship displays happen at night or in their burrows. When they need to defend their nest they are very aggressive with calling, posturing, and neck-biting.

  • God wants us to have an encounter with Him at night and that is the reason
  • He asks us to watch and pray..

Jesus Himself set an example of how we need to watch and pray..

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak. (Mathew 26:41)

Even before He was arrested, He was praying. Which means, we need to pray before every important event…?

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:39-46)

The greatest event of all times, the return of the King of kings is yet to occur and the whole world is waiting for that, but, do we watch and pray before this important event or are we sleeping like the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane?

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA, a j mithra

Please visit us at:
Crosstree
a j mithra 21

(Various internet resources including Wikipedia)

Lee’s Addition: (a j gave me a challenge on this one trying to find photos that we have permission to use.)

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Eastern Yellow Robin

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Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Eastern Yellow Robin ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter – 5/10/11

Here’s another familiar Australian species that hasn’t featured as Bird of the Week: the Eastern Yellow Robin. Familiar in mainland eastern Australia I should add, as it’s absent from Tasmania and it is replaced by the closely related Western Yellow Robin in southern Western Australia and southwestern South Australia. It’s familiar because its colourful and confiding and, with human contact, it gets quite tame in places such as picnic areas in parks.

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

The name Robin derives from the apparent similarity between the males of the several red-breasted Australian species (Rose, Pink, Flame, Scarlet and Red-capped Robins) and the European Robin, well known to the original white settlers. These not close related, however, as the European Robin is an Old World Flycatcher (family Muscicapidae) and the Australian, or strictly Australo-Papuan, Robins comprise their own family the Petroicidae. There are behavioural similarities too as a result of a similar lifestyle, and the Eastern Yellow Robin often watches patiently from conspicuous perches (including the trunks of trees) scanning the ground for invertebrate prey.
Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) by Ian

There are two races differing mainly in the colour of the rump. The nominate race, ranging from eastern South Australia to central New South Wales has an olive rump, while the northern race (chrysorrhoa) has a bright yellow rump, visible in the second photo, and is found from northern New South Wales to northeastern Queensland. Australo-Papuan Robins build beautiful cup-shaped nests and camouflage them by decorating the outside with bark, lichen and grasses, as in the third photo.

Links:
Recent non-avian additions to the website include photos of three species of Macropods (Kangaroo family) taken one evening during and after sunset at a waterhole on the recent trip to the Pilliga Forest :
Best wishes
Ian

Lee’s Addition:

What a neat little bird. Definitely different than what I think of a Robin.

If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days. (Deuteronomy 22:6-7 KJV)

In the Birds of the World here you will find the two families – Petroicidae – Australian Robins and the Muscicapidae – Chats, Old World Flycatchers, plus Ian didn’t mention the Turdidae – Thrushes Family, which has our American Robin. Kind of confusing, isn’t it?

See all of Ian’s Bird of the Week articles.

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Birds in Hymns – The Son of God Goes Forth to War

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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Quy Tran

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by Quy Tran

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Matthew 20:22 KJV)

Words: Reginald He­ber, 1812.
(This hymn was sung in the 1975 mo­vie The Man Who Would Be King, which was nom­in­at­ed for sev­er­al Acad­e­my Awards.)

Music: All Saints, Hen­ry S. Cut­ler, in The Hymn­al with Tunes Old and New, by John Ire­land Tuck­er, 1872

Al­ter­nate tunes:

Old 81st, Day’s Psal­ter, 1562

St. Anne, Will­iam Croft, 1708

Warrior, Ar­chi­bald Mac­Don­ald, 1877

In Mrs. Ew­ing’ Sto­ry of a Short Life it is the favorite hymn in the bar­racks, where the sol­diers call it the ‘tug of war’ hymn. The of­fi­cer’s son, who had been crip­pled for life by an ac­ci­dent, begs just be­fore his death that the sol­diers will sing it again. They go un­der his win­dow, and when in the midst of the verse, ‘A no­ble ar­my, men and boys,’ a hand is seen at the win­dow pull­ing down the blind. The brave suf­fer­er is gone. The sto­ry made the hymn wide­ly pop­u­lar among child­ren as the ‘tug of war’ hymn. Telford, p. 410

The Son of God Goes Forth to War

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The Son of God goes forth to war,
A kingly crown to gain;
His blood red banner streams afar:
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train.

That martyr first, whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave;
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong:
Who follows in his train?

A glorious band, the chosen few
On whom the Spirit came;
Twelve valiant saints, their hope they knew,
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant’s brandished steel,
The lion’s gory mane;
They bowed their heads the death to feel:
Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior’s throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of Heav’n,
Through peril, toil and pain;
O God, to us may grace be giv’n,
To follow in their train.
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Birds of the Bible – Sea Gulls

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Mew Gull (Larus canus) by Robert Scanlon

Mew Gull (Larus canus) by Robert Scanlon

the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; (Leviticus 11:16 NKJV)

The Sea Gull has been upgraded to an official Bird of the Bible here on this blog. The article “Birds of the Bible – A Gull?” was written when I first discovered the Gull in my reading, per article. The Gull now has it’s own Birds of the Bible – Sea Gulls page and it shows up in the sidebar along with the others birds mentioned in the Scriptures.

After updating my E-sword program and loading every English Bible Translation they have available, (for free and a few paid ones) I have been comparing the Leviticus 11:13-19 and the Deuteronomy 14:12-18 sections with a spreadsheet. That is the list of unclean birds that the Israelites were told not to eat. (Just because the different versions are being compared does not mean that this writer is in agreement with all of them or their stand.)

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) chick-egg nest ©USFWS

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) chick-egg nest ©USFWS

Here is an analysis of words used in those verses for the Sea Gull:
(Mouse over initials for full name of translation)

Leviticus 11:15 or 16:

gull – ABP+, MKJV
sea-gull or sea gull – DARBY, ESV, NAS77, NASB, NKJB
sea gulls – ERV, GW
seamew – ASV
sea-mew – BRENTON, JPS
sea meaw – RV
sea-hawk – BBE
larus – DRB
Different bird used –
(cuckow) – KJV & WEBSTER ,
(cuckoo) – YLT

Deuteronomy 14:15:

The word was use the same in both verses except in these translations:
LITV used – “gull” in Lev. and “sea gull” in Deut.
MKJV used – “gull” in Lev. and “cuckoo” in Deut.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) Lk Hollingsworth by Lee

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) Lk Hollingsworth by Lee

Why bother in the first place to compare them, you ask? I still find it amazing how different translations vary in their description of the birds. The differences do not affect the doctrines of the Word of God, nor will they affect my faith in the Lord. So far, none of the differences have affected my appetite to eat any of the birds listed. Whether they are Sea Gulls or a Cuckoos, they still won’t end up on my dinner plate.

What it does do though is to give good reason to make the Gull a Bird of the Bible and give them their own page.

And the ostrich, and the owl, and the larus, and the hawk according to its kind: (Deuteronomy 14:15 DRB)
and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind, (Deuteronomy 14:15 ASV)

One of the words used was “larus” which happens to be one of the Genus of Gulls and contains a Mew Gull which sounds similar to a “sea mew or seameaw”. Interesting.  Also the Laridae is the Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Family name.

The Larus Genus includes:
Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)
Belcher’s Gull (Larus belcheri)
Olrog’s Gull (Larus atlanticus)
Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris)
Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni)
Mew Gull (Larus canus)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
California Gull (Larus californicus)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens)
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)
Vega Gull (Larus vegae)
Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis)
Armenian Gull (Larus armenicus)
Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. (Psalms 77:18-19 KJV)

European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) by Keith Blomerley – An adult on the sea trying to steal food from a Common Eider

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Eastern Rosella

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Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Eastern Rosella ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter ~ 05-04-11

In the search for the rare, elusive and/or beautiful it is easy to take the common, familiar and beautiful for granted. This is especially true when something has been used as an advertising icon and an egregious example of this is the Eastern Rosella, used as an icon in Australia for Rosella tomato sauce, soup and chutney, first image. No doubt the brilliant red head and breast of the Eastern Rosella played a part in its selection, but the Rosella company is a bit coy on the subject and mentions that Rose and Ella were the daughters of the original owners when in 1895 they bought the trademark from the makers of a eucalyptus oil cure for rheumatism.

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

When we set up camp in Barradine, New South Wales, for Easter, a pair of Eastern Rosellas were feeding on grass seed close to our camp-site and using the fence of the old Barradine race track
to reach the seed heads. The first photo shows the splendid male on the fence wire and the second photo shows the same bird on the grass. Rosellas are a bit shy usually keep their distance unless they have become used to people and I’ve had difficulty in photographing them, but this pair was fairly obliging.

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

The specific name eximius is Latin for ‘extraordinary, excellent, fine, superb’ so George Shaw, not George Bernard but keeper of the British Museum, was clearly impressed when he named it carefully in 1792. It takes Mother Nature to combine vivid primary colours without appearing garish, and I particularly like the luscious apple green of the rump, seen better in the second photo, an excellent field mark when you spot the birds flying away, as is often the case. The females are beautiful too, though not quite as bright as the males and the third photo shows the female of the pair walking along the top of the fence and the red colour of the head suffused with greenish-brown.

The Eastern Rosella is common within its relatively limited range comprising Victoria, Tasmania (where it is uncommon) most of New South Wales except the arid north-west, and extending into southeastern South Australia and southeastern Queensland. In the rest of coastal and central Queensland it is replaced by the closely related Pale-headed Rosella and the Northern Rosella, also a close relative, occurs in the Top End of the Northern Territory and northeastern Western Australia.

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) by Ian

Rosella taxonomy is confused and there is uncertainty whether these three, or at least the two eastern one, should be treated as a single species as there is some cross-breeding between Eastern and Pale-headed where their ranges overlap in northern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland. At present they are retained as three species but are sometimes collectively called the white-cheeked Rosellas as distinct from the blue-cheeked Rosellas comprising the Crimson, Yellow and Adelaide Rosellas which are now generally regarded as a single species.

Links:
Pale-headed Rosella
Northern Rosella
Crimson Rosella
Yellow Rosella

Best wishes,
Ian

—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: 0411 602 737 +61-411 602 737
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

Wow! What a gorgeous bird of the Parrot – Psittacidae Family. Ian always seem to be in the right place at the right time to get many of his fantastic photos.

This bird reminds me of the coat that was made for Joseph, a coat of many colors. I wonder if the maker of the coat had looked at a Rosella or some other of creations very colorful birds to decide which colors to use.

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. (Genesis 37:3 KJV)

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Birds In Hymns – When The Lord Of Love Was Here

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Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus) by Peter Ericsson

Silver-breasted Broadbill (Serilophus lunatus) by Peter Ericsson

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

Here is another hymn from the past. This time written by Stopford A. Brooke (1832-1916) and composed by George W. Chadwick (1854-1931)

Words by Stop­ford A. Brooke, Christ­ian Hymns, 1881.

Music is called “Arm­strong” (Chad­wick) by George W. Chad­wick , 1888

When The Lord Of Love Was Here

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When the Lord of Love was here,
Happy hearts to Him were dear,
Though His heart was sad;
Worn and lonesome for our sake,
Yet he turned aside to make
All the weary glad.

Meek and lowly were His ways,
From His loving grew His praise,
From His giving, prayer;
All the outcast thronged to hear,
All the sorrowful drew near
To enjoy His care.

When he walked the fields, He drew
From the flowers and birds and dew
Parables of God;
For within His heart of love
All the soul of man did move,
God had His abode.

Lord, be ours Thy power to keep
In the very heart of grief,
And in trial, love;
In our meekness to be wise,
And through sorrows to arise
To our God above.

Fill us with Thy deep desire
All the sinful to inspire
With the Father’s life;
Free us from the cares that press
On the heart of worldliness
From the fret and strife.

And, when in the fields and woods
Were are filled with Nature’s moods,
May the grace be given
With Thy faithful heart to say,
“All I see and feel today
Is my Father’s Heaven.”

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

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My I.O.C. World Bird List – Ver. 2.8 Finally Finished

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Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) by Dario Sanches

Red-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) by Dario Sanches

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

Seems like it has been forever  that I have been reworking all the Family pages of the Birds of the World. The 233 pages were given a complete work-over. When they release the major 3.0 Version sometime this year, these pages should only take minor changes. (I trust) All the indexes and pages are also up to date.

It took a lot of persistence and praise to the Lord for helping me to keep “plugging away.” This verse helps describe my happiness of “finishing the job.”

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalms 98:4 KJV)

In the mean time, I have been adding some new photos as the pages were being updated. This morning I just added many pictures to the Thraupidae – Tanagers and Allies Family. Recently Dario Sanches gave permission to use his photos. He has some really neat ones of Tanagers, and they have been linked to the lists. Thanks, Dario.

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch (Emberizoides herbicola) by Dario Sanches

Wedge-tailed Grass Finch (Emberizoides herbicola) by Dario Sanches

Because of all the Subspecies being added to the list of birds, you may find it helpful when viewing a list to use the “Find” on your browser. Some families have only one member, but a few have 300-400 species listed.

Dan asked me recently why I am taking all this effort to even have the Birds of the World pages in the first place, when they are already on the internet. Was I not wasting my time that could be spent on doing other things on this blog. I have to admit, that the thought had crossed my mind. But, as I work on these pages, I am exposed to birds that I would never see or even know of. When I work on finding photos for them, I just sit back in awe of the Lord’s creative hand in each and every one of these feathered friends. Some are pretty, some are dull, some look funny, and all so well designed, from the tip of the tail to the tip of their beaks. Just seeing how He, the Creator, colored them is beyond description.

And, many of my readers first arrive here at the blog while searching for a specific bird of the world. Those pages are the entry point for many to come here. I trust they enjoy what they find and may they find more than they expected and will linger and look at other pages, which many do. Thanks for reading this yourself. Glad you are visiting, no matter which page brought you here.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

I will leave you with one more of Dario’s fantastic photos, this one of the Brazilian Tanager.

Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius) by Dario Sanches

Brazilian Tanager (Ramphocelus bresilius) by Dario Sanches

P. S. I am still looking for photographers and videographers who would be willing to let their photos be posted here. See our list of Photographers in the sidebar and visit their sites for fantastic photos of birds plus whatever else interests them.

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Birdwatching at Circle B – 4/22/11

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Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) and young by Dan's Pix

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) and young by Dan’s Pix

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)

We were finally able to find a little bit of time to go birdwatching the other day. Our adventure took us back out to the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, FL. It was a cloudless morning, around 64 degrees, when we arrived. Dan had his camera along, but I only used my binoculars. One thing nice about the Circle B is its closeness to home. With fuel prices rising, birdwatching nearer to your local areas may become more necessary.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) by Dan's Pix

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) by Dan’s Pix

We are fortunate, because Circle B is becoming a premier birding spot here in Florida. With 1,267 acres to roam, there is plenty to see. Unfortunately, many of our “winter visiting birds” have packed their bags and gone back North. Fortunately, we still have our “residents” that keep any trip out there interesting.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) by Dan's Pix

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) by Dan’s Pix

One of my surprises was the lack of Wood Storks this trip. Usually there are plenty of them hanging out in the trees early in the morning. Never spotted a one, yet two days later in town we spotted one flying over. They are here, but just wanted to make themselves scarce that Friday.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) by Dans Pix

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) by Dans Pix

Another surprise was finding the American Bittern. We knew there were some out there, but kept missing them. This time I spotted one, whipped out my phone, and called Dan to bring his camera to my location while I kept the Bittern in view. He got one shot just as it had caught something.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) imm by Dan's Pix

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) imm by Dan’s Pix

One of my favorite birds was an immature Little Blue Heron. When they are young, they are white instead of blue. As they mature, the become “blotchy” as the blue starts to come in. This one was right along the walk path and we were able to view it very well.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) with young

Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) with young

We also found some Glossy and White Ibises, Tricolored Herons, Great Blue Heron, more Little Blue Herons, Great Egrets, a Snowy Egret, Cattle Egrets, the American Bittern, Green Heron, Limpkins, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Tufted Titmouce, Carolina Wren and maybe a House Wren, Red-bellied, Pileated and Downy Woodpeckers, Common Gallinules, American Coots, Black-bellied Whistlers with young ones, 3 sets of Sandhill Cranes with young, Red-shouldered Hawk (light phase), Anhingas and Double-crested Cormorants, Redwing Blackbirds and Boat-tailed Grackles.

All in all it was a great morning to be out enjoying God’s Creation of birds and other critters. We also observed 4 young alligators about 2-3 feet long and a Black Racer about 4 feet long stretched out along some bushes.

See our other birdwatching trips to Circle B – Click Here

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Turquoise Parrot

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Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Turquoise Parrot ~ by Ian Montgomery

Maybe I was tempting fate when last week I publicly declared my target species of the Pilliga trip to be the Turquoise Parrot, but fate was kind to me when I did the same thing with the Resplendent Quetzal on the eve of my visit to Costa Rica last year.

In truth I felt I needed a bit of help as I’ve been wanting to get reasonable photographs of these gorgeous birds since taking a very poor one of a female in the Warrumbungles in New South Wales in pre-digital days almost exactly eleven years ago. To that end I’d visited both the Warrumbungles and the Capertee Valley west of Sydney several times over the years, detoured via Warwick in Southern Queensland and camped the night in Chiltern in Northern Victoria, all places where this species has been reported.
Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

We went to the Warrumbungles last Wednesday and we were just about to leave the second site – the Woolshed – recommended by a helpful but not optimistic ranger (‘they haven’t been seen for a month or two’) when Ivor, one of my two sharp-eyed companions, spotted a female on exactly the same powerlines as eleven years ago, but this time she flew off towards the creek without waiting to have her photo taken. A careful search of the creek revealed nothing even vaguely turquoise but eventually we found about 20 birds feeding on the grassy track on the far side.

I spent about 20 minutes sidling up to these birds as gradually as possible. The first two photos are of adult male birds, distinguishable by the reddish shouldered patches, which flew up into a shrub as I approached. The second male seems to be eyeing me quizzically as if wondering what I’m up to. The third photo is of a female feeding on the path.
Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) by Ian

Misión completa, as they said in Costa Rica, and thank you, fate.
Best wishes,
Ian
—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: 0411 602 737 +61-411 602 737
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

What a gorgeous parrot. Wow!

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7 KJV)

I know last week when Ian said he was off on an adventure to find that Turquoise Parrot, I prayed and asked that he find one. I was being a little selfish because I had never seen one and was trusting that his group would spot one. Whichever, fate or prayer, it is a choice we all make. I prefer the later.

The parrots are in the Psittacidae – Parrots Family of the Psittaciformes Order.

See all of Ian’s Bird of the Week articles.

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Formed By Him – “Stone” Birds

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Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) by Peter Ericsson

Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) by Peter Ericsson

Happy Easter to All. He is Risen! He is Alive!

All week we have been posting articles about names of birds that are the same as items that are mentioned in the Scripture that lead up to the Crucifixion and then to today’s bodily Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Christians, these events and the meaning of them are very important. Without the event that is celebrated today, we might as well be any other religion, but Christ is not a religion. Christ was the Son of God, who came to earth, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life because He was sinless, offered Himself to be crucified for the sins of man. He could have called legions of angels to get Him of the cross, but He had come to die for us. He stayed and when He was ready, He died of His own choosing.

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)

There are four “religions” that had a “person” as their leader. Three of those bodies are still in the grave and their bones are deteriating, but Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. He is risen by His own power because He is God, the great I AM. The stone was rolled back, the disciples went inside, Mary looked in, and they were met will the greatest message of all time.

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
(John 20:9-20 KJV)

I am letting Scripture speak for itself. It is God’s Word. It is men and women’s choice to believe, but as for Dan and I, we like what Joshua stated:

Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15 KJV)

They placed a stone in front of the tomb and placed a seal on it to make sure no one entered. I doubt they expected someone to exit. But exit He did! What a Savior!

Satan had tempted him and a stone is mentioned:

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:5-7 KJV)

It was a stone where the angel sat when:

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:1-6 KJV)

“Formed By Him” this week has been remembering the events that led up to the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, on the cross. As we think of this time, maybe seeing birds with names of things that happened will help us not forget the events as we see those birds in the future. All the birds were formed through the Lord Jesus Christ omniscience and omnipotence.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 KJV)

The “Stone” Birds – Birds with “stone” in their names:

The New World Quail  – Odontophoridae Family has the:

Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus petrosus) ©WikiC

The Stone-curlews, Thick-knees – Burhinidae Family has five Stone-curlews:

Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) by Ian
Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) ©©
Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius) with young by Ian
Great Stone-curlew (Esacus recurvirostris)
Beach Stone-curlew (Esacus magnirostris)

The Sandpipers, Snipes – Scolopacidae Family has two Turnstones:

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)

The Pachycephalidae – Whistlers and Allies Family only has a:

Sandstone Shrikethrush (Colluricincla woodwardi)

The Phylloscopidae – Leaf warblers and allies Family has a:

Limestone Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus calciatilis)

Limestone Wren-Babbler (Napothera crispifrons) by Peter Ericsson

Limestone Wren-Babbler (Napothera crispifrons) by Peter Ericsson

The Pellorneidae – Fulvettas, Ground Babblers Family only has one bird:

Limestone Wren-Babbler (Napothera crispifrons) by Peter Ericsson

Whereas the Muscicapidae – Chats, Old World Flycatchers Family has eight Stonechats:

Canary Islands Stonechat (Saxicola dacotiae)
European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
Siberian Stonechat (Saxicola maurus) by Peter Ericsson
Stejneger’s Stonechat (Saxicola stejnegeri)
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) (Common)
Madagascar Stonechat (Saxicola sibilla)
Reunion Stonechat (Saxicola tectes) female
White-tailed Stonechat (Saxicola leucurus) by Nikhil Devasar

And the Fringillidae – Finches Family has a:

Brimstone Canary (Crithagra sulphurata)

Think about the events that we celebrate as “Easter.” Is He your Savior?

Romans 3:10 KJV
(10)  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 5:8-12 KJV
(8)  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
(10)  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
(12)  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 10:9-13 KJV
(9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11)  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(12)  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
(13)  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

May this be the best Easter you ever had.
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If you missed the “Easter Bird” mini-series, here are the links to the other articles.

“Palm” Birds
“Whip” Birds
“Thorn” and the
“Sword and Piercer” Birds
“Blood” Birds

See:

Gospel Message

Wordless Birds
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More Formed By Him Articles

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Formed By Him – “Blood” Birds

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Blood-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum sanguinolentum) ©©LipKee

Blood-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum sanguinolentum) ©©LipKee

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22 KJV)

As we continue the mini-series of the “Easter Birds”, today we look at the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ on the cross. When we see these “Blood” Birds, may we be reminded of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for us.

Just before being taken by the soldiers, Christ has been praying:

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44 KJV)

John tells us:

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34 KJV)

The Bible teaches all through the Old Testament about the sacrifices that were carried out for the forgiveness of sin. They had to do this time after time because, as Hebrews 9 explains:

Hebrews 9:6-15 KJV
(6) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
(7) But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
(8) The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
(9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
(10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
(11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
(12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

There are many verses that speak about the need of Christ shedding His blood, dying, and Praise the Lord, for rising from the tomb. (Opps, that is for tomorrow.) Here are few of those verses:

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9 KJV)

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:6-7 KJV)

Blood-colored Woodpecker (Veniliornis sanguineus)

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
(Ephesians 2:13 KJV)

Blood-eared Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoematotis) ©©barloventomagico

Blood-eared Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoematotis) ©©barloventomagico

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:14-17 KJV)

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV)

Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) ©Arthur Grosset

Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) ©Arthur Grosset

The “Cross” birds were considered, but the Crossbills, which are in the Finches – Fringillidae Family, were the only birds with “cross” in their name. Also, “Crown” Birds were considered, but there were too many. If you missed the mini-series, they are the “Palm”, “Whip”, “Thorn” and the “Sword and Piercer” Birds.

See:

Gospel Message

Wordless Birds
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More Formed By Him Articles
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Cedar Waxwing – Fruit Passer…

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Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) by J Fenton

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) by J Fenton

Cedar Waxwing – Fruit passer… ~ by a j mithra

As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: (Leviticus 14:6)

Historians say that the cross that Jesus carried was made from Cedar wood. Of all the trees why did Jesus choose the cedar? The verse above which says about two birds, the cedar wood, the scarlet and the Hyssop does clearly reflects the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. The two birds reflect Jesus and Barabas. One bird was sacrificed and the other was let free. Jesus was crucified and Barabas freed. The Cedar wood reflects the cross which Jesus carried. The scarlet reflects our sins. The hyssop reflects of how vinegar was soaked in a sponge and stuck in hyssop’s branch and offered to Jesus, when He said that He was thirsty.

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. (John 19:29)

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. (Mathew 27:28)

Twigs of Cedar placed with lingerie and kept in cupboards containing fur can keep away moth. The cross has the power to keep away all evil from our lives.

The Cedar is used to build the skeleton of the canoe. The cross has the power to take us through flood, fire and wilderness.

The most valuable constituent of Cedar oil is thujone. Native Americans of the eastern United States and Canada used thujone for generations to treat menstrual problems, headaches, and heart ailments. Loggers drank tea made from white cedar twigs to relieve rheumatism. During the seventeenth century, some people called the eastern white cedar the “tree of life,” because they believed that its sap had healing powers. In the late 1800s, the US Pharmacopoeia (the US compendium of quality control test and information on drugs) listed thujone as a treatment to stimulate the uterus and as a diuretic to increase urine flow. The leaves have the power to heal rheumatic, pulmonary, burns and prevent paralytic movement. It is also used as dye.

This tree is called the “Tree of Life”. Is that the reason Jesus, the life chose to carry a Cedar cross.. It was on the Cedar cross that Jesus, took the stripes to heal us from all disease.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:2-5)

Cedar Waxwing Eating by Steve Slayton

Cedar Waxwing Eating by Steve Slayton

The Cedar waxwing may have been inspired by the qualities of Cedar from where it has borrowed its name. There is so much to read about this bird in this interesting website. But, one interesting quality of this bird stands apart. These birds are communal feeders. As we all know, the Cedar Waxwing eats berries and sugary fruit year-round, with insects becoming an important part of the diet in the breeding season. Its fondness for the small cones of the Eastern Redcedar (a kind of juniper) gave this bird its common name.

When the end of a twig holds a supply of berries that only one bird at a time can reach, members of a flock may line up along the twig and pass berries beak to beak down the line so that each bird gets a chance to eat. This reminds us of how we need pronounce the love of Jesus to the others so that they too may taste and see that the Lord is good..

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) by Daves BirdingPix

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) by Daves BirdingPix

But, the sad part is we have never thought of doing this, spreading the gospel to the unreached. If only we all had done this, by this time our churches would be overflowing. If only we carry the cross…..?

At least on this Good Friday, the day which denotes the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for you and me, shall we make up our mind to do what we haven’t done for the Lord all these years? Shall we pass the fruit of the Holy spirit, so that those who haven’t tasted the Lord yet, may taste the goodness and mercy of our Lord?

These birds share the fruits, but, we call ourselves as Christians, borrowing the name from Christ, but when are we going to share the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)

Have an awesome day at the feet of Jesus on the cross…

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

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