And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
John Jacob Niles, 1933 – Collector of the music
Music – I Wonder as I Wander, Appalachian carol by Carl Rütti (1949 – )
I Wonder As I Wander
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.
Mallards flying off by Ian
John Jacob Niles (Dates B-D) Collected by John Jacob Niles in Murphy, NC in July 1933 from a young traveling evangelist Annie Morgan. According to Niles, he asked her to sing the song repeatedly until he had memorized it. It was published in his 1934 Songs of the Hill-Folk. Written in a minor key, it’s qualities of pensiveness make it one of today’s most popular carols.
A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. (Psalms 72:1-2 KJV)
Words by James Montgomery (1771-1854), 1821
[This hymn] is a metrical version of the Seventy-second Psalm. It was written as a Christmas hymn and was first sung on Christmas Day, 1821, at a great convocation of the Moravians in their settlement at Fulneck. At a Wesleyan missionary meeting, held in Liverpool on April 14 of the following year, 1822, when Doctor Adam Clarke presided, Montgomery made an address and closed it by the recital of this hymn with all of its verses…Doctor Clarke later used it in his famous Commentary in connection with his discussion of the Seventy-second Psalm.
Music: Ellacombe, Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle (Württemberg, Germany: 1784); adapted & harmonized by William H. Monk in the 1868 appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern, number 366
Birds in Christmas Hymns
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.
He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.
By such shall He be fearèd while sun and moon endure;
Beloved, obeyed, reverèd; for He shall judge the poor
Through changing generations, with justice, mercy, truth,
While stars maintain their stations, or moons renew their youth.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
Arabia’s desert ranger to Him shall bow the knee;
The Ethiopian stranger His glory come to see;
With offerings of devotion ships from the isles shall meet,
To pour the wealth of oceans in tribute at His feet.
Kings shall fall down before Him, and gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
For He shall have dominion o’er river, sea and shore, Far as the eagle’s pinion or dove’s light wing can soar.
For Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end:
The mountain dews shall nourish a seed in weakness sown,
Whose fruit shall spread and flourish and shake like Lebanon.
O’er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest;
From age to age more glorious, all blessing and all blest.
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His name shall stand forever, His name to us is Love.
American Yellow Warbler (Dendroica aestiva) singing by J Fenton
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11)
Written as – El Cant Dels Ocells – Traditional Catalonian Carol
Translator Unknown
Carol of the Birds
1. Upon this holy night,
When God’s great star appears,
And floods the earth with brightness Birds’ voices rise in song
And warbling all night long
Express their glad heart’s lightness Birds’ voices rise in song
And warbling all night long
Express their glad heart’s lightness
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus mexicanus) by Michael Woodruff
2. The Nightingale is first
To bring his song of cheer,
And tell us of His glad – ness:
Jesus, our Lord, is born
To free us from all sin
And banish ev’ry sadness!
Jesus, our Lord is born
To free us from all sin
And banish ev’ry sadness!
Savannah Sparrow singing by Ray
3. The answ’ring Sparrow cries:
“God comes to earth this day
Amid the angels flying.”
Trilling in sweetest tones,
The Finch his Lord now owns:
“To Him be all thanksgiving.”
Trilling in sweetest tones,
The Finch his Lord now owns:
“To Him be all thanksgiving.”
Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara koenigi) Pixdaus
4. The Partridge adds his note:
“To Bethlehem I’ll fly,
Where in the stall He’s lying.
There, near the manger blest,
I’ll build myself a nest,
And sing my love undying.
There, near the manger blest,
I’ll build myself a nest,
And sing my love undying.
*
Found another version of the Carol of the Birds and it appears to be Australian Birds.
The Carol of the Birds
(Wheeler/James)
Brolga (Grus rubicunda) by Ian
Out on the plains the brolgas are dancing
Lifting their feet like warhorses prancing
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing
Crana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.
Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) by Ian
Down where the tree ferns grow by the river
There where the waters sparkle and quiver
Deep in the gullies bell-birds are chiming
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.
Silver-crowned Friarbird (Philemon argenticeps) by Ian
Friar birds sip the nectar of flowers Currawongs chant in wattle tree bowers
In the blue ranges lorikeets calling
Carols of bush birds rising and falling
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.
*
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10 KJV)
Words: Birdie Bell (1877-?), 1886.
Music: Boxelder, Asa Hull, 1886
Birds in Christmas Hymns
Welcome To Christmas
Beautiful anthem the first Christmas wakened
Ages ago over Bethlehem’s plain;
Greeting the shepherds with magical accents,
Bringing deliverance from sin’s deep stain.
Refrain
Ring out a welcome to Christmas’ fair morning, Herald its coming, each fresh, youthful voice; Ring out a welcome, a bright cheery welcome! Christmas is dawning, let earth rejoice!
Peerless the singers, and wondrous their singing;
Glorious theme: Lo, a Savior is born!
Royal Deliverer, His praises are ringing,
Hailing with joy the auspicious morn!
Refrain
Ring out a welcome to Christmas’ fair morning, Herald its coming, each fresh, youthful voice; Ring out a welcome, a bright cheery welcome! Christmas is dawning, let earth rejoice!
Shall we not join in the loud, swelling chorus
Sending the message from mountain to sea;
Let fairest Peace spread her dove-like wings o’er us,
Making our hearts His fit home to be.
Refrain
Ring out a welcome to Christmas’ fair morning, Herald its coming, each fresh, youthful voice; Ring out a welcome, a bright cheery welcome! Christmas is dawning, let earth rejoice!
(This is the series posted last year and will be re-posting them again this year along with regular articles.)
Blue-naped Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia cyanea) by Dario Sanches
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:7-11 KJV)
Tomorrow, December 15th, a new mini series will begin. From the 15th until Christmas Day, a different Birds in Christmas Hymns will be posted daily. All of these are in the public domain, so they will be some of the older hymns. (There will be other articles added also.)
It is amazing how many times when you are singing that “birds” appear in songs and hymns. These all relate to the birth of Jesus and the nativity. As Christians, this is one of our greatest holidays, with only Easter and the resurrection of our Savior as the Greatest. Without the virgin born birth of the Lord Jesus as the Christ Child, we wouldn’t have a sinless Savior to die and shed His blood for our salvation at Calvary.
May you enjoy this upcoming season and this little mini series. Below is the video of our pastor telling about the birds at Christmas time. This was from our Christmas Cantata a few years ago.
God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (suitable, admirable) and He approved it. (Genesis 1:21 AMP)
Here is an interesting link to Answers in Genesis about the “beginning of birds.” It is a 5 minute video by David Menton, Ph.D.
“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:26 NASB)
I am still working a little behind the scenes on the IOC Version 3.2 update. My eye surgery has slowed me down somewhat. With the new families that were added (see Updating to IOC Version 3.2 Underway ) I am making quite a few changes. Because of those families, I am working backwards to make room for the new pages.
Also, my eye surgery went well for a week, then when I got up from a nap last Thursday, my vision was blurred. After two visits to the Doctor, they say all is well, that something floated across inside. So far it is still there a week later. Right now, my vision is less than before the surgery. So, I have not been writing as many articles as normal. Continue to keep my in your prayers. They have definitely been felt.
Red-tailed Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron milnei) and Black-throated in forefront by Lee
While working on the Leiothrichidae – Laughingthrushes Family, I was enjoying remembering our visit to Zoo Miami this year. Those Laughingthrushes are sort of fun to watch. They hop around instead of walking. We were able to see the Sumatran (Black and White), Black-throated and the Red-tailed Laughingthrushes. I call the Sumatran “Joe Cool.” We have also seen the Red-faced Liocichla at the Riverbanks Zoo SC and the Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) by Dan at National Aviary PA
Here are the Families Updated to IOC 3.2 Version from Laughingthrush to Grosbeaks, Saltators & Allies:
Ian’s Bird of the Week – Powerful Owl ~ by Ian Montgomery
Newsletter – 12/9/2012
My apologies again for a tardy bird of the week, so here is something special. Well, special for me, anyway, as it has been a serious bogey bird for me. All addicted birders and bird photographers have their bogeys, in the sense of ‘an evil or mischievous spirit, a cause of annoyance or harassment’ usually a species that is invisible to the victim or hides whenever the victim is around.
Powerful Owls first cast an evil spell on me on 11 February 1999 when one in Pennant Hills Park made my film camera malfunction so that the entire film was hopelessly underexposed – you can see the wicked gleam in its eye below. As soon as I picked up the film from the chemist the following day, I went back to Pennant Hills Park but the owl was no longer there or no longer visible.
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) by Ian 2
Shortly after that I moved from Sydney and switched to digital photography (nowadays we take instant photographic feedback for granted). Since then, whenever I’ve visited Sydney I’ve looked for Powerful Owls in all their usual haunts – Pennant Hills Park, Mitchell Park, Beecroft, Warriewood, Royal Botanic Gardens, Royal National Park, etc. – without success.
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) by Ian 3
Last Tuesday I gave a talk on parrots to Birding NSW in Sydney and inquired about POs. Yes, one had been seen in its favourite tree, the White Fig, near the entrance to Government House the previous Saturday. I went there on Wednesday and searched the tree for at least 20 minutes but the owl remained invisible until I decided to leave. Delighted with its success, it let its guard down, the spell weakened and I got the briefest visual sensation, like a shimmering mirage, of a barred tail. Powerful Owls are big 60-65cm/24-26in in length, it was then quite visible from the ground and not very high up, so a spell is the only explanation.
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) by Ian 4
The next day, I went birding with Madeleine Murray and we abandoned plans to look for the owl (they’re quite visible to her) and went instead to Port Hacking, south of Sydney, where, lo and behold, we found another one, or to be more accurate Mad found it after I’d walked straight past it as the spell hadn’t entirely dissipated – it normally does so quite quickly after it has been broken once.
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua) by Ian 5
The Powerful Owl is the largest of the Hawk Owls (genus Ninox) and exceeded in size only by the world’s largest owls such as the Grey Grey and the larger Eagle Owls. It is found in eastern and southeastern Australia usually within 200km of the coast from central Queensland to eastern South Australia. It has large territories ranging in size from 3-15 square kilometres so it is nowhere common and is listed as Vulnerable. However, it seems to be quite tolerant of selective logging and can survive in patchy forests. It feeds mainly on arboreal mammals such as possums, but will also take flying foxes (fruit bats) and roosting birds.
Best wishes
Ian
**************************************************
Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Tel 0411 602 737 ian@birdway.com.au
Check the latest website updates: http://www.birdway.com.au/#updates
**************************************************
Lee’s Addition:
Glad you sent us a Bird of the Week, Ian. I was starting to worry about you, that maybe you were sick or something. The wait was worth it because this is a beautiful Owl. I am glad you are no longer under this bird’s “evil spell on” you.
The Powerful Owl is part of the Strigidae – Owl Family. To see more photos of them, check out Ian’s photos and our Family page here:
Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? (Job 39:27 KJV)
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)
Last night we went on my first birdwatching adventure since my eye surgery. After an article was shown to me, by a friend, we had to check it out. And it is only about 3 miles from our house.
We arrived around 4:30 pm and we had other birdwatchers coming to see the event. At first there were quite a few Boat-tailed Grackles up on the tower. When the first young Eagle arrived, they promptly chased him off.
When the second Eagle came in, he landed and the Grackles decided it was time to leave. From there on, the mostly young eagles came in one or two at a time. Wow! I have never seen that many Bald Eagles together at one time. By the time we left there were 25 that had come to the tower. When one landed, as the article said, they would start greeting each ofter. The lady standing by us keep coming up with stories they might be telling, like; “How was your day?”, “You should see the large fish that I caught”, “Went over to …..” It was fun.
The setting Sun
We also saw 2 Sandhill Cranes, 12 Lesser Scaups on the pond, 2 Killdeer, 4 White Ibises flying by and of course the Grackles. It was a nice evening and we watched the sun set over the pond.
The Tower with 20 Bald Eagles
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. (Luke 17:37 KJV)
The tower is 190 feet tall and we were standing back quite a bit. I know my eye is blurry, but considering how zoomed in these photos are, I think they are not bad. Shot several videos trying to get the sound of their greetings, but every one was talking during them. We were all as excited as the Eagles to see each other and have their chats.
What an event.
Here is the tower as we saw it without the aid of the camera.
As many of you know I have just gone through eye surgery this last Thursday. (Prayer for Eye Surgery) Today, Monday, I am getting clearer vision daily, but my activities are still limited. I was able to attend church last evening and even went out afterwards with our friends. The Doctor said it was “his easiest surgery of the day and every thing went just like it should.” (I was his last patient) also told me I was his “best patient of the day.” When he walk out I told the nurses that were with me that he probably tell all his patients that. They told me that they had never heard him say that to anyone.
I told you all of that to thank you for your prayers for my Doctor and for my nervousness. Both were answered mightily. The Lord helped direct his hand and since I had to be awake, helped me stay still. They can’t put you out because you must have your eyes open. My eye was numbed, but I saw part of what was going on.
Well, guess where my mind went yesterday? I started wondering how many times “eye” and some “bird” showed up in the same verse. With enlarged type, my search found around 20 verses. Some of my upcoming Bible Bird blogs will investigate these verses. Have you ever searched your Bible to find out about a certain word or words? There are over 600 verses which have “Eye” in it. I enjoy using my “e-Sword” search and compare modes. Makes for some interesting topics to study from God’s Word.
In fact, some articles that have already been written on the main blog. (These are just a few of them)
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5 KJV)
There are more and will be covered later.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8 KJV)
Interesting verses, but not directly related to birds:
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psalms 94:9 KJV) (Our Creator)
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12 KJV)
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (Psalms 119:18 KJV)
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalms 32:8 KJV) (How?)
Again, thank you for your prayers. I still have several weeks of recovery ahead of me, so please remember me in your prayers as you think about it. Prayer is felt when it is being answered.
As many of you know I have just gone through eye surgery this last Thursday. (Prayer for Eye Surgery) Today, Monday, I am getting clearer vision daily, but my activities are still limited. I was able to attend church last evening and even went out afterwards with our friends. The Doctor said it was “his easiest surgery of the day and every thing went just like it should.” (I was his last patient) also told me I was his “best patient of the day.” When he walk out I told the nurses that were with me that he probably tell all his patients that. They told me that they had never heard him say that to anyone.
I told you all of that to thank you for your prayers for my Doctor and for my nervousness. Both were answered mightily. The Lord helped direct his hand and since I had to be awake, helped me stay still. They can’t put you out because you must have your eyes open. My eye was numbed, but I saw part of what was going on.
Well, guess where my mind went yesterday? I started wondering how many times “eye” and some “bird” showed up in the same verse. With enlarged type, my search found around 20 verses. Some of my upcoming Birds of the Bible blogs will investigate these verses. In fact, some have already been written. (These are just a few of them)
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5 KJV)
There are more and will be covered later.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (Psalms 17:8 KJV)
Interesting verses, but not directly related to birds:
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Psalms 94:9 KJV) (Our Creator)
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. (Proverbs 20:12 KJV)
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (Psalms 119:18 KJV)
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (Psalms 32:8 KJV) (How?)
This is just a sampling. There are over 600 verses which have “Eye” in it. I enjoy using my “e-Sword” search and compare modes. Makes for some interesting topics to study from God’s Word.
Again, thank you for your prayers. I still have several weeks of recovery ahead of me, so please remember me in your prayers as you think about it. Prayer is felt when it is being answered.
Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) by Lee at NA
Is Eagle’s Weight Our Weight? ~ by a j mithra
The strike force
of the eagle’s talon
is as powerful
as twice the force
of a rifle bullet…
Pound for pound,
an eagle’s wing
is much more stronger
than the wing of an airplane.
An eagle can kill
a young deer
and fly away with it.
These are some of the
amazing facts
about the Eagle..
We all want to fly high
like an Eagle..
Isn’t it?
We wouldn’t mind
waiting for a bus
or wait in a que
at a Cinema theatre,
or wait for a long time
in a bank..
But,
do we really take time
to wait at the feet
of the LORD?
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 
