Tag Archives: Birds

Ian’s Bird of the Week – White-breasted Whistler

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White-breasted Whistler

White-breasted Whistler

Newsletter: 10/13/2009

As I was driving south from Katherine, NT, on the first day of my return journey home and faced with the prospect of repeating in reverse the long drive through Mount Isa, Adventure whispered seductively in my ear ‘why not go home via the Gulf of Carpentaria and look for White-breasted Whistlers?’. So, I turned left at Daly Waters and drove to Karumba via Borroloola, NT (first night) and Burketown, QLD (second night). That drive involved about 700 km of gravel road and half a dozen river fords, but I was rewarded on day 2 by great views (no photos though) of a Grey Falcon on the Northern Territory side of the border with Queensland.

Female White-breasted Whistler

Female White-breasted Whistler

I found a female and young White-breasted Whistler – and insufferable numbers of little biting sandflies – in the mangroves at Karumba Point, but no males so I decided to do the sensible thing and go out with Ferryman River Cruises on the Norman River: http://www.ferryman.net.au/ (07) 4745 9155. Not only did Alison and Glen know their birds and where to find them but are also enthusiastic members of the bird of the week list. So, the three of us had a great morning on the river and they found me the White-breasted Whistlers and other good things like Red-headed Honeyeaters. They also have some friendly Black-necked Storks (Jabirus) and various raptors only too ready to put on a good display in return for garfish. So, if you’re ever in Karumba, you know what to do.

White-breasted Whistlers, particularly the females, look like Rufous Whistlers but are much more robust with large, (invariably muddy) hooked bills adapted for feeding in mangroves on invertebrates such as small crabs. The males, first photo, are more distinctive with a completely black head, a rufous collar and a white breast. The large, hooked bill is much more like that of the related Shrike-thrushes and the specific name lanoides refers directly to Lanius, the generic name for (true) Shrikes. The second photo is a young male in the middle of acquiring adult male plumage but still has the streaky buff breast of young birds and females. The third photo shows a female peering coyly through the mangroves. Rufous Whistlers were also present at Karumba Point and the first bird that I got excited about and photographed turned out to be just that. White-breasted Whistlers occur in mangroves in northwestern and northern Australia from Carnarvon in the west to western Cape York in the east.

Recent additions to the website include:
Immature Mangrove Golden Whistler
Additional photos of:
Grey Whistler
Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Hooded Parrot
Red-collared (Rainbow) Lorikeet
Barking Owl

White-breasted Whistler (Immature)

White-breasted Whistler (Immature)

The bushfires in Bluewater are now all under control thanks to the efforts of the fire service and the SES and my house still stands! My thanks to those of you who expressed their concern. I was glad, though, that I cut short my trip to Sydney as the situation was still threatening when I returned.

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

Lee’s Addition:
Australasian Whistlers make up the bulk of whistlers (Australia with 8 and New Guinea with 15). There are 41 species in 6 genera. They also are found in Southeast Asia and some Pacific Islands. They are known for the melodious songs and I had hoped to find a recording of the bird whistling, but couldn’t find one. Maybe someone can leave a comment with a link to a recording.

I did find a video by Nick Talbot, of a Rufous Whistler singing. It is posted on my Whistlers and Allies page.

They have a head that is rounded and fairly large. “One of their earlier alternative names was ‘thick head’ (from which the Latin family name, Pachycephalidae, is derived).” (From Complete Birds of the World, National Geographic) The birds are between 12-20 cm. or 5-8 in. in length and only weigh .5-1.5 oz. or 13-44 g. Also from the book, “Obvious features are the fairly large, rounded head, short, thick neck, and short, stubby, thick bill. The wings are short and broad, with 10 primaries; in most species the wings are rounded, but in two (including the most migratory), the wing-tips are pointed. Tails vary in length, being longest in the larger species; they have 12 feathers and are squared-ended or slightly notched. The legs and feet are strong, especially in the larger species.”

The whistlers do most of their feeding among the upper foliage of trees and feed on spiders and insects they find on leaves or “hovering in flight.”

Glad he made that different trip home so we can share in his find. I am also glad the fires were in control.

Keep up the great photography and newsletters.

In that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the remotest part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. (Isaiah 7:18 NASB)

See also Ian’s Whistler Pages:
Gilbert’s Whistler
Grey/Brown Whistler
Golden Whistler
Mangrove Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
White-Breated Whistlers

Birds of the Bible – Stork II

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Wood Storks in Top of Tree by Lee

Wood Storks in Top of Tree by Lee

Yesterday, Dan and I went out to the Circle B Bar Reserve for some birdwatchng. I think I would have to call it, “Stork Day.” From our photos, I have counted well over 100 Wood Storks and that doesn’t count the ones we didn’t photograph. It is time to find out some more about the stork.

From the first Birds of the Bible – Stork article,we found out that the stork is on the unclean list of birds that were not to be eaten by the Israelites. (Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18). Jeremiah 8:7, tells of “her appointed times” (migration) and Zechariah 5:9 mentions the “wings of a stork.”

Psalms is going to provide our thoughts for today.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. (Psalms 104:16-17)

The Whole Tree

The Whole Tree

As you can tell from the photos, the storks like to hang out in the trees. The trees were loaded with them. We were out there recently (September 18th) and I did not see any on that visit. Jeremiah was correct, “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times;” Migration has been underway and these are either resting while on their trip or they are going to be here for the winter.

“Storks (family Ciconiidae) make their nests of sticks, reeds and grass, in tall trees. When the chicks hatch, their thin, featherless skin is extremely vulnerable to the direct rays of the sun. The parent bird has two responses to the high temperature problem — if water is nearby, the stork fills its large beak, returns to the nest, and douses the tiny chicks with cooling water. If this is not sufficient, the parent then performs a most remarkable feat — it stands over the young and spreads its large wings over the entire nest, thus shading the chicks from the sun’s rays! Often it will do this for hours at a time.” from “Birdbrains?” at Answers in Genesis

Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan

Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan

When the Lord created the Stork, the knowledge to protect their babies was put in them. Our God and Savior has promised to meet our needs. If He cares about the birds, how much more does he care about us?

“Storks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills, belonging to the family Ciconiidae. They occur in most of the warmer regions of the world and tend to live in drier habitats than the related herons, spoonbills and ibises; they also lack the powder down that those groups use to clean off fish slime. Storks have no syrinx and are mute, giving no bird call; bill-clattering is an important mode of stork communication at the nest. Many species are migratory. Most storks eat frogs, fish, insects, earthworms, and small birds or mammals. There are 19 living species of storks in six genera.

Storks tend to use soaring, gliding flight, which conserves energy. Soaring requires thermal air currents. Ottomar Ansch??tz’s famous 1884 album of photographs of storks inspired the design of Otto Lilienthal’s experimental gliders of the late 19th century. Storks are heavy with wide wingspans, and the Marabou Stork, with a wingspan of 3.2 m (10.5 feet), shares the distinction of “longest wingspan of any land bird” with the Andean Condor.

Their nests are often very large and may be used for many years. Some have been known to grow to over 2 m (6 feet) in diameter and about 3 m (10 feet) in depth. Storks were once thought to be monogamous, but this is only true to a limited extent. They may change mates after migrations, and migrate without them. They tend to be attached to nests as much as partners.

Storks’ size, serial monogamy, and faithfulness to an established nesting site contribute to their prominence in mythology and culture.

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Limpkin Page Updated 10-13-09

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Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)II at Saddle Creek By Dan'sPix

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)II at Saddle Creek By Dan'sPix

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 150:6)

CLASS – AVES, Order – GRUIFORMES, Family – Aramidae – Limpkin

Limpkin Family Aramidae
Limpkin Aramus guarauna

Finding Photos for Limpkins was not a problem for us. That is one of the birds we see very frequently in this area.

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Information from Wikipedia with editing

“The Limpkin (also called “carrao”, “courlan”, “crying bird”), Aramus guarauna, is a bird that looks like a large rail but is skeletally closer to cranes. They are in the GRUIFORMES family. It is found mostly in wetlands in warm parts of the Americas, where it feeds primarily on apple snails of the genus Pomacea. Its name derives from its seeming limp when it walks.”

Range and habitat
The Limpkin occurs from peninsular Florida (and formerly the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia) and southern Mexico through the Caribbean and Central America to northern Argentina. In South America it occurs widely east of the Andes; west of them its range extends only to the Equator.

Limpkin & Baby at Saddle Creek By Dan'sPix

Limpkin & Baby at Saddle Creek By Dan'sPix

It inhabits freshwater marshes and swamps, often with tall reeds, as well as mangroves. In the Caribbean, it also inhabits dry brushland. In Mexico and northern Central America, it occurs at altitudes up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

Description
The Limpkin is a somewhat large bird, 66 cm (26 in) long, with a wingspan of about 102 cm (40 in) and a weight of about 1.1 kg (2.4 lb). Its plumage is drab—dark brown with an olive luster above. The feathers of the head, neck, wing coverts, and much of the back and underparts (except the rear) are marked with white, making the body look streaked and the head and neck light gray. It has long, dark-gray legs and a long neck. Its bill is long, heavy, and downcurved, yellowish bill with a darker tip. The bill is slightly open near but not at the end to give it a tweezers-like action in removing snails from their shells, and in many individuals the tip curves slightly to the right, like the apple snails’ shells. The white markings are slightly less conspicuous in first-year birds. Its wings are broad and rounded and its tail is short. It is often confused with the immature White Ibis.

This bird is easier to hear than see. Its common vocalization is a loud wild wail or scream[4][5] with some rattling quality, represented as “kwEEEeeer or klAAAar.” This call is most often given at night[4] and at dawn and dusk. It has been used for jungle sound effects in Tarzan films and for the hippogriff in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Other calls include “wooden clicking”, clucks, and in alarm, a “piercing bihk, bihk…”.
Sound provided by xeno-canto.org
Behavior and feeding
Limpkins are largely nocturnal and crepuscular, except that in Florida refuges, where they do not fear people, they are active during the day. Even so, they are usually found near cover.

Because of their long toes, they can stand on floating water plants; they also swim well. They fly strongly, the neck projecting forward and the legs backward, the wings beating shallowly and stiffly, with a jerky upstroke, above the horizontal most of the time.

Snail remains at Lake Hollingsworth by Lee

Snail remains at Lake Hollingsworth by Lee

forage primarily in shallow water and on floating vegetation such as water hyacinth and water lettuce They walk slowly with a gait described as “slightly undulating” and “giving the impression of lameness or limping”, “high-stepping”, or “strolling”, looking for food if the water is clear or probing with the bill. They feed on small aquatic life, principally apple snails. The availability of this one mollusk has a significant effect on the local distribution of the Limpkin. When a Limpkin finds an apple snail, it carries it to land or very shallow water and places it in mud, the opening facing up. It deftly removes the operculum or “lid” and extracts the snail, seldom breaking the shell. The extraction takes 10 to 20 seconds. It often leaves piles of empty shells at favored spots.

Freshwater mussels are a secondary food source. Less important prey items are land snails, insects, frogs, and lizards.

Reproduction
Males have territories of several hectares, where they call loudly and chase other males away. Nests are built on the ground, in dense floating vegetation, in bushes, or at any height in trees. They are bulky structures of rushes, sticks or other materials. The clutch consists of 5 to 7 eggs, averaging 6, which measure 6.0 cm × 4.4 cm (2.4 in × 1.7 in). Their background color ranges from gray-white through buff to deep olive, and they are marked with light-brown and sometimes purplish-gray blotches and speckles. Both parents incubate for about 27 days. The young hatch covered with down, capable of walking, running, and swimming. They follow their parents to a platform of aquatic vegetation where they will be brooded. They are fed by both parents; they reach adult size at 7 weeks and leave their parents at about 16 weeks.

Montezuma Oropendola by Donna L. Watkins

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By Donna L. Watkins (Guest Author)

© 2008 Donna L. Watkins – Montezuma Oropendola – La Selva
The Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) is a New World tropical bird and I’ve been getting quite a show from the colony that is nesting here at La Selva Reserve in Costa Rica.

The unforgettable song of the male is sung during his bowing display and consists of bubbling with loud gurgles. The male, while the female is hopefully watching, will execute a complete somersault around a branch while singing his medley of tunes. (View video at bottom of article.)

Male and female both have loud calls, but the male’s display that seems like he’s pretending to be a monkey swinging on the branch, is what keeps your attention. I’ve been here 8 days now and I am still fascinated by the show. There are definitely those who outdo others. Some just don’t take the dip far enough, and others look as if they’re playing “dead man’s fall.” I just don’t know how they can get themselves back up again so gracefully.

In a rare form of non-monogamous breeding, 3-10 Montezume Oropendola males establish a colony in a tree, often isolated, and defend a group of 10-30 females that will mate and nest in the colony. (see video below)

The males engage in fighting and aggressive displays, competing among themselves to mate with the females. Usually the most dominant and heavy males mate and are fathers to most of the colony’s young.

© 2008 Donna L. Watkins – Montezuma Oropendola – Finca Luna Nueva
Male and female differ greatly in size. The male is 20″ in length (50 cm) and weighs over 18 ounces (520 gm), while the female is 15″ (38 cm) and weighs about 8 ounces.

Adult males are mostly chestnut-colored with a blackish head and rump with a show-off tail that is bright yellow. There is a bare blue cheek patch and a pink wattle that gives the bird an odd appearance, but who could resist it? Females are similar with a smaller wattle.

Its range is listed as Gulf-Caribbean slope of Southern Mexico and southern Pacific slope of Nicaragua and Costa Rica to Central Panama. It’s quite a common bird in parts of its range often seen in flocks foraging in trees for small vertebrates, large insects, nectar, and fruit. Outside the breeding season, this species moves around, so it’s fortunate for me that I am getting to enjoy them during breeding season.

The Montezuma Oropendola inhabits forest canopy, edges and old plantations. They have chosen a tree in an open area here at La Selva. They’re easily bothered while foraging, but are very confident when on their breeding tree.

Oropendolas weave a large bag-like nest 2-6 ft. long that hangs from the ends of tree branches with many on the same tree. It’s woven of fibers and vines high in a tree.

Almost always built by females who also incubate the 2 dark-spotted white or buff eggs at the bottom of the pouch for 11-14 days. The male guards the nest. The nestlings are fed by the female with the young fledging in 30 days. There are generally about 30 nests in a colony, but up to 172 have been recorded.

To imagine the size of the pouch nests that can be from 2-6 feet long, keep in mind that the male is 20 in. long and the female 15 in. I’m not sure whether it’s a male or female at the top of one of these nests, but it shows how long the pouches are regardless.

References:
Costa Rica: The Ecotravellers’ Wildlife Guide by Les Beletsky
http://www.Wikipedia.com
View La Selva photo ablum.

Provided by and with Donna’s permission.

She has a nice video at the bottom of her post – Costa Rica: Montezuma Oropendola at The Nature in Us

Eye of the Beholder – Ibises and Crane

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Sandhill Crane at Cirle B by Tommy Tompkins

Sandhill Crane at Cirle B by Tommy Tompkins

Last week while reading by the window that overlooks our small backyard, my eye caught movement. When I looked out, under the tree in the shade stood a Sandhill Crane surrounded by 8 or 9 White Ibises. The Ibises walked toward my way and were digging and checking out our lawn. The group kept moving and digging around as Ibises will do. They exited left of my view and the Sandhill was still standing in the same spot. Soon, from the left of view the Ibises came back and this time there were 11 of them. They walked back toward the crane and exited right. Crane still standing. Then a few minutes later, back they came right to left and this time there were 13 of them. The Crane was still standing there. Off they went to the left of my view. You got it, the crane was still standing there. Then, here they came the last time, left to right, and there were 14 of them this time. My stately Sandhill Crane was still standing there. All of this took place in about a 30 minute time span.

White Ibises at Lake Morton by Dan

White Ibises at Lake Morton by Dan

Needless to say, my reading was slowed down by all this activity. The ibises were digging around and yet they kept on the move. They put their beaks in the ground and pound up and down about 5 or 6 times and then move on and repeat the process over again. One or two of them will find something good to eat and will stay in the same spot to continue to dig. When they look up and see that the group has moved on, they immediately scurry off to catch up with the others. They have a funny little way of walking. This was repeated many times as they looked up and then followed the crowd.

I can come up with several applications for what was going on, but I will only choose one of them, for now.

God has given us His Word, the Bible, and in it we learn the truths about God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who are one and are the great I AM.  The Word reveals truths about creation, salvation, sin, God’s attributes such as love, mercy, grace, judgment, justice, long-suffering, etc. As the Sandhill Crane stood, so should we stand firm in the truths taught in the Bible. We should not waver or try to change what has been written. Jesus has provided salvation, through His death on the cross, and invites us to accept His gift of salvation.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Many people know the truth about Jesus, the Cross, God, creation, heaven, hell, etc., but do not apply it to their heart or soul. They either think, there is some other way and are always searching for some new “angle” of belief. Be it different religions, non-religion, atheism, or what ever.

Off on another search - American White Ibis by Bob-Nan

Off on another search - American White Ibis by Bob-Nan

Others who do accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, want to find some new “angle” to what the Bible teaches, by perverting it, or trying to twist it to where their “sin” is justified. Maybe are just not really “walking with the Lord” and want to live in sin or they become false teachers.

Both groups, unbelievers or believers, are like the Ibises who go away from the truth (crane), and try new things, then almost come back, sort of, and then scurry off to find something different. Even those who settle down, look up and see the crowd going a certain way, and run after that new thing.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

May we all seek the truth of God, accept the Lord’s salvation, and then live our lives according to God’s Word.

See:
The Gospel Message
Wordless Birds

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Yellow-rumped Munia/Mannikin

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Yellow-rumped Munia by Ian Montgomery

Yellow-rumped Munia by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter – 10/6/2009

Although last week’s bird, the Gouldian Finch, was a welcome encounter in Wyndham my main target in the Kununurra district of NE Western Australia was another finch, the Yellow-rumped Munia or Mannikin (members of the genus Lonchura are usually called Mannikins in Australia and Munias overseas).

This species has a very restricted distribution, occurring only in the eastern Kimberley and in northwestern Northern Territory. It is supposed to be quite abundant in the Ord River irrigation area near Kununurra. We searched quite diligently in many of its favourite locations without finding any and it wasn’t until, on the return journey, I saw this single bird in the company of Chestnut-breasted Munias/Mannikins at a water hole in the Keep River district on the Northern Territory side of the border.

Yellow-rumped Munia by Ian Montgomery

Yellow-rumped Munia with Chestnut-breasted Munias by Ian Montgomery

Compared with the almost meretricious plumage of the Gouldians and the exuberance of the bathing Chestnut-breasteds, ‘restrained elegance’ comes to mind in both the appearance and behaviour of the Yellow-rumped: tasteful but subtle colours and decidedly demure beside its frolicking companions. Even when drinking, as in the second photo, it sipped delicately from a high perch as if not wanting to spoil its costume. The Yellow-rumped is closely related to the more widespread Chestnut-breasted and, in addition to consorting together, they sometimes interbreed.

I’m in Sydney briefly for last night’s presentation to Birding NSW. It was an enjoyable evening with a delightful group of people but I am returning home prematurely this afternoon. There were several bushfires burning near my house in unseasonably hot and dry weather and I don’t feel comfortable being away longer than necessary.

I’ve posted a dozen photos of the Gouldian Finches at Wyndham to the website to join several that I took at Mornington Station in the Kimberley five years ago: http://www.birdway.com.au/estrildidae/gouldian_finch/index.htm .

Best wishes,
Ian
—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: +61-7 4751 3115
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:

 

Checked out Ian’s Gouldian Finch photos and they are really neat.

The Munia/Mannikins are in the Waxbill Family of Estrilidae. Their genus, Lonchura, consists of the following birds of which I have included links to photos and videos:

Bronze Mannikin –  Video Lonchura cucullata
Black-and-white Mannikin – Video Lonchura bicolor
Red-backed Mannikin Lonchura nigriceps
Magpie Mannikin Lonchura fringilloides
White-rumped Munia Nik – Video Lonchura striata
Javan Munia  –  Video Lonchura leucogastroides
Dusky Munia –  Video Lonchura fuscans
Black-faced Munia –Video Lonchura molucca
Scaly-breasted Munia Ian’s  – Video Lonchura punctulata
Black-throated Munia  –  Video Lonchura kelaarti
White-bellied Munia Lonchura leucogastra
Streak-headed Munia  –  Video Lonchura tristissima
White-spotted Munia Lonchura leucosticta
Five-colored Munia –  Video Lonchura quinticolor
Tricolored Munia Lonchura malacca
Chestnut Munia – Video Lonchura atricapilla
White-headed Munia –  Video Lonchura maja
Pale-headed Munia  –  Video Lonchura pallida
Great-billed Munia Lonchura grandis
Grey-banded Munia Lonchura vana
Grey-headed Munia Lonchura caniceps
Grey-crowned Munia Lonchura nevermanni
Hooded Munia Lonchura spectabilis
New Ireland Munia Lonchura forbesi
Mottled Munia Lonchura hunsteini
Yellow-rumped Munia Ian’s Lonchura flaviprymna
Chestnut-breasted Munia Ian’s  –  Video Lonchura castaneothorax
Black Munia Lonchura stygia
Black-breasted Munia  –  Video Lonchura teerinki
Eastern Alpine Munia Lonchura monticola
Western Alpine Munia –  Video Lonchura montana
Sooty Munia Lonchura melaena
Timor Sparrow Lonchura fuscata
Java Sparrow Ian’s Lonchura oryzivora
Pictorella Munia Ian’s Heteromunia pectoralis
https://leesbird.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/39-216-9166-white-rumped-munia-lonchura-striata-2by-nikhildevasar.jpg

Two verses come to mind about these birds. While I was looking for extra photos of the birds, I found many of these birds have been kept as pets and also the diet of most of these is grain and seeds.

 

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. (James 3:7)
And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. (Matthew 13:4)

Birds in Hymns – How Great Thou Art

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Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalms 145:3)

Author: Carl Boberg, 1859-1940
Tr. By Stuart K. Hine, 1899-
Musician: Swedish Melody
Arr. By Stuart K. Hine, 1899-

(by Sean Fielder)

How Great Thou Art

American Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva) by J Fenton

American Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva) by J Fenton

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,

Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin;

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

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HYMN HISTORY:

Northern Parula (Parula americana) by Reinier Munguia

Northern Parula (Parula americana) by Reinier Munguia

Boberg wrote the poem “O Store Gud” (O Great God) in 1885 with nine verses.

The inspiration for the poem came when Boberg was walking home from church near Kronobäck, Sweden, and listening to church bells. A sudden awe-inspiring storm gripped Boberg’s attention, and then just as suddenly as it had made its violent entrance, it subsided to a peaceful calm which Boberg observed over Mönsterås Bay. According to J. Irving Erickson:

Carl Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck, where they had participated in an afternoon service. Nature was at its peak that radiant afternoon. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon sharp lightning flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. The thunder pealed in loud claps. Then rain came in cool fresh showers. In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared.

When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him… From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush…the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening. It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.[7]

According to Boberg’s great-nephew, Bud Boberg, “My dad’s story of its origin was that it was a paraphrase of Psalm 8 and was used in the ‘underground church’ in Sweden in the late 1800s when the Baptists and Mission Friends were persecuted.”  The author, Carl Boberg himself gave the following information about the inspiration behind his poem:

“It was that time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest colouring; the birds were singing in trees and everywhere. It was very warm; a thunderstorm appeared on the horizon and soon thunder and lightning. We had to hurry to shelter. But the storm was soon over and the clear sky appeared.

“When I came home I opened my window toward the sea. There evidently had been a funeral and the bells were playing the tune of ‘When eternity’s clock calling my saved soul to its Sabbath rest.’ That evening, I wrote the song, ‘O Store Gud.'”

[edit] Publication

Boberg first published “O Store Gud” in the Mönsterås Tidningen (Mönsterås News) on 1886 March 13.

The poem became matched to an old Swedish folk tune. and sung in public for the first known occasion in a church in the Swedish province of Värmland in 1888. Eight verses appeared with the music in the 1890 Sions Harpan.

In 1890 Boberg became the editor of Sanningsvittnet (The Witness for the Truth). The words and music were published for the first time in the 16 April 1891 edition of Sanningsvittnet. Instrumentation for both piano and guitar was provided by Adolph Edgren (born 1858; died 1921 in Washington D.C.), a music teacher and organist, who later migrated to the United States.

Boberg later sold the rights to the Svenska Missionsförbundet (Mission Covenant Church of Sweden). In 1891 all nine verses were published in the 1891 Covenant songbook, Sanningsvittnet.  These versions were all in 3/4 time. In 1894 the Svenska Missionsförbundet sångbok  published “O Store Gud” in 4/4 time as it has been sung ever since (cf. Time signature).
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Wikipedia – How Great Thou Art – History
SermonAudio – How Great Thou Art – Audio

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

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The Gospel Message

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The Gospel Message is that Jesus Christ, the Creator, came to earth and died for us. It is up to us to accept, by faith, what He has done for us. He loves us, and wants to be our Savior, Lord, and King.

Please read the basic message of the whole gospel below and seriously consider that your eternal soul is very important to God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.

A.  God

  • He exists  (Hebrews 11:6)
  • He is holy  (1 Peter 1:15)
  • Man must be perfect to reach God  ( Matthew 5:48)
  • The measure of God’s holiness is the law  ( Romans 2:12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
  • He has judged sin  (Romans 6:23)

B.  Man

  • He is a sinner  (Romans 3:23)
  • He cannot save himself  (Ephesians 2:8,9)

C.  Jesus Christ

  • He died because of our sins  (1 Corinthians 15:3)
  • He rose again  (1 Corinthians 15:14)
  • He is the only Messiah (Savior)  (John 14:6), (1 Timothy 2:5)
  • He paid the price for our sins  (1 Corinthians 6:19 – 20), (Hebrews 7:27)
  • That He is Lord, that is the right ruler of all, including us  (Romans 10:9, 10)

D.  Grace

  • Salvation is a free gift.  (Ephesians 2:8,9)
  • We can’t earn it  (Ephesians 2:8,9)

E.  Faith

  • We must totally yield ourselves to Christ  (Acts 16:31)
  • We accept what God has done  (John 13:20)
  • We trust in Christ alone for salvation  (John 14:6), (Ephesians 2:8,9, 10)
  • Repentance is inherent in Biblical Faith  (Acts 2:36)

F.  Commitment

  • We must be willing to turn from our sins and follow Christ  (2 Corinthians 5:15)

(The verses will pop up when mouse is placed over them)

If you have any further questions or would like assistance accepting Christ as your personal Savior, please contact me at Lee@Leesbird.com or contact my pastor, Rev. Nathan Osborne III.

wsbirdsbirdhouse(Pastor Osborne provided the above outline)

As much as we enjoy bird watching and enjoy seeing how many we can see or how many we can count on a list, remember the following verses:

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37)

When I Consider! – Turkey Vulture

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Turkey Vulture Tree at Saddle Creek by Lee

Turkey Vulture Tree at Saddle Creek by Lee

We get to see lots of Turkey Vultures in this area. I have seen trees just loaded with them. They are ugly to look at, but are very useful.

The following is the October 6th’s “Evidence from Biology” article from A Closer Look at the Evidence, by Richard and Tina Kleis:

“The Turkey Vulture has incredible farsighted vision capable of seeing dead or dying objects several miles beyond what the human eye can detect. Yet it is designed with dull, weak, talons and a thin beak, forcing it to eek out an existence eating rotting flesh or decaying vegetables. Since the vulture eats the remains of animals that have died of disease, it has a digestive tract designed to destroy deadly bacteria (including anthrax!). The Turkey Vulture also has the ability to sanitize itself and its surroundings using a special disinfectant found in its own excrement. The same chemicals which kill the deadly bacteria in its stomach continue to kill the germs outside its body!

Turkey Vulture by Ian Montgomery

Turkey Vulture by Ian Montgomery

Because the vulture’s head is usually covered in blood, pieces of rotten flesh, and bacteria, it is especially vulnerable to disease. Therefore, this particular bird was created without feathers from the neck up. As the turkey vulture stands in the sun, the ultraviolet radiation kills any remaining bacteria.

By removing the carcasses of decaying animals, the turkey vulture serves an important purpose of limiting the spread of disease and preventing potential epidemics among both man and beast. One wonders how the turkey vulture could have evolved all of the specialized characteristics. The creation solution is that they were created with the original vulture-type bird. The survival characteristics needed for our fallen world were either given after the Fall or developed from originally created abilities.”

Character Sketches, Vol. III, p. 121-124

The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (Psalms 145:17 KJV)

Lee’s Extras:
We have mentioned the Vulture many times on the blog and especially in the places below. After all, they are one of the unclean birds that the Jewish people were not allowed to eat. After reading the above article, you can understand why they were off the “menu.”

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: (Job 28:7 KJV)

Birds of the Bible – Vulture
Vulture
Vulture Photos
Vulture Videos
Accipitridae – Kites, Hawks & Eagles

More When I Consider! articles

Blog Updates – 10-05-09

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Cinnamon Bittern by Phil Kwong

Cinnamon Bittern by Phil Kwong

I have been working behind the scenes to make some changes and additions:

Some Updates today on the blogs:

Bittern

Bittern Photos

Sunbittern

Torrey’s Topical Textbook – Birds

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Gouldian Finches

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#1 Red-headed Gouldian Finch by Ian

#1 Red-headed Gouldian Finch by Ian

Newsletter 10-03-09

I’m now back home in North Queensland, so it’s perhaps appropriate to select as bird of the week one photographed at the farthest point reached during the trip: Wyndham on the Cambridge Gulf in NE Western Australia. I wanted to go to Wyndham, 100 Km from Kununurra, only because it is on the coast and the journey didn’t seem complete without reaching it. When there, we discovered from the locals that 600 Gouldian Finches were coming in at sunrise to drink at sprinklers in the town.

#2 Black-headed Gouldian Finch by Ian

#2 Black-headed Gouldian Finch by Ian

600 of any endangered species is an awful lot and too good to miss, so a couple of days later I got up at 3:45 am and drove the 100 Km to get there just before sunrise. The usual spot for the finches was very quiet – the Gouldian Finch Recovery Team had been banding them there on previous mornings and had probably put them off it – but I found them at another watering hole nearby. It was possible to drive right up to it, so I stayed in the car and photographed them out of the car window to disturb them less. Naturally, I was too busy to count, but 600 was probably a fair estimate and at one point I had two flocks totally maybe 200 birds in attendance. Most of the birds were juveniles, so they would appear to have had a good breeding season. This was also the case at another water hole near Mary River in Kakadu where we saw maybe 50 Gouldians.

#3 Red-headed with Juveniles

#3 Red-headed with Juveniles

Gouldians come in three forms, depending on the colour of the facial mask. The first photo shows a Red-headed (with, out of focus, a Black-headed in the background and a juvenile in the foreground). The second shows a Black-headed about to drink, beside two juveniles. The third shows two Red-headed birds drinking with juveniles in various degrees of acquiring the adult plumage. The Black-headed is the commonest form (about 75%), then the Red-headed (about 24%) with 1% or less Golden-faced. The females are like the males but less strongly coloured.

I’ve started adding photos from the trip to the website. So far I’ve added:

White-quilled Rock-Pigeon
Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon
Banded Fruit-Dove
Ground Cuckooshrike
Green-backed Gerygone

I’m making a brief visit to Sydney next week to give a talk, with lots of photos, on my 2008 trip to Alaska to Birding NSW on Tuesday 6th Oct. The meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend and is in the Mitchell Theatre, Level 1, Sydney Mechanical School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney (between Park and Bathurst): http://www.birdingnsw.org.au/ . The meeting starts at 7:00 pm and my presentation is being preceded by a book launch by author Peter Roberts.

Best wishes,
Ian
—
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: +61-7 4751 3115
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Website: http://birdway.com.au

Lee’s Addition:
What neat looking finches and what an adventure Ian has been on. I am not sure which was the “earlier bird.” 3:45am is my sleeping time! Thanks, Ian, for getting there so early so we can enjoy your great photos.

 

Here are some quotes from Wikipedia about the Gouldian Finch:
The Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae (or Chloebia gouldiae), also known as the Lady Gouldian Finch, Gould’s Finch or Rainbow Finch , is a colourful passerine bird endemic to Australia.”

Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) by Ian

Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) by Ian

“The Gouldian Finch was described by British ornithological artist John Gould in 1844 and named after his wife Elizabeth. It is also known in America as the Rainbow, Gould, or Lady Gouldian Finch (although Mrs Gould did not hold the title Lady). In Australia it is always called Gouldian Finch. It is a member of the weaver-finch family Estrildidae, which is sometimes considered a subfamily of Passeridae.”
“Gouldian Finches are about 130–140 mm long. Both sexes are brightly coloured with black, green, yellow, red and other colours. The females tend to be less brightly coloured. One major difference between the sexes is that the male’s chest is purple, while the female’s is a lighter mauve colour.

Gouldian Finches’ heads may be red, black, or yellow. People used to think they were three different kinds of finches, but now it is known that they are colour variants that exist in the wild.[1] Selective breeding has also developed mutations (blue, yellow and silver instead of green back) in body colour and breast colour.”

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. (Genesis 37:3 ESV)

“Juveniles have distinctive colours. Their heads, sides and necks are grey, and their backs, wings and tail feathers are olive green. Their undersides are pale brown. Beaks are blackish with a reddish tip. Their legs and feet are light brown. Newly hatched Gouldian finches are pink and naked until about 12 days old when the beginnings of feathers start to appear. Very young birds also have blue, phosphorescent beads on the sides of their beaks to help their parents see them in the dark.”

“Like other finches, the Gouldian Finch is a seed eater. During the breeding season, Gouldian Finches feed mostly on ripe or half-ripe grass seeds of Sorghum Spc. During the dry season they forage on the ground for fallen seed. During the wet season, Spinifex grass seed [Triodia Spc] is an important component of their diet. So far Gouldians have been recorded as consuming 6 different species of grass seed but during crop analysis researchers have never so far found insects.”

“Gouldian finches generally make their nests in holes in trees, generally within a kilometre or so of water. They usually breed in the early part of the dry season, when there is plenty of food around. The male courtship dance is a fascinating spectacle. When a male is courting a female, he bobs about ruffling his feathers to show off his colours. He expands his chest and fluffs out his forehead feathers. After mating, a female lays a clutch of about 4–8 eggs. Both parents help brood the eggs during the daytime, and the female stays on the eggs at night. When the eggs hatch, both parents help care for the young. Gouldian Finches leave the nest at between 19 and 23 days and are independent at 40 days old.

Young Gouldians are very fragile until their final moult. Some breeders believe parent-raised Gouldians have greater success rearing young than those fostered by other species, such as society or spice finches.

It has been shown scientifically that female finches from Northern Australia are controlling the sex of their offspring, according to the head colour of their male counterpart. Gouldian Finches should not be mated with Gouldian Finches of a different head colour (black-head with red-head etc.) as such a mating will result in an inbalance in the sex ratio of the young, with a greater proportion of male offspring being produced.”

Bird Song Quiz from Birds and Bloom

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Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. (Psalms 104:12 ESV)

Play the Video from Birds and Bloom Magazine and see how many you get right. I did not get 100% because I do not see some of them in this area.

Visit their videos page at http://www.youtube.com/user/birdsandblooms