Three-wattled Bellbird – The Noise Maker

May 1, 2010 by a j mithra

Three-wattled Bellbird – The Noise Maker by a j mithra

Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculata) Immature male by Kent Nickell

The Three-wattled Bellbird lives between eastern Honduras and western Panama. In Costa Rica it lives on both slopes of the country..

It breeds in the cloud forests and in the foothill and highland moist forest at 1,200-2,100 m, and occasionally down to 750 m. In the non-breeding season, birds undertake complex migrations ranging up to 3,000 m (in Costa Rica), and then descending to the foothills and lowlands on both the Pacific and Caribbean slopes…

There is protection, anointing and guidance under the Pillar of the Cloud…
These birds seem to know the secret of living a protected life under the clouds..

The Bible says that we are the temple of the Living God, but, can we say that, we dwell under the Pillar of the Cloud?

During the days of Moses, the Pillar of the Cloud hovered above the tabernacle, from where Moses took orders from the Lord…
From where do we take orders? Man or God?

And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. (Exodus 33:9)

Maybe that is the reason that, we are not able to hear the voice of the Lord…

Three-wattled Bellbird © Pete Morris

The Three-Wattled Bellbird swallows the fruits of trees, particularly those in the Lauraceae family, of which the avocado is a member. Avocados, known as Butter-fruit in India, have the highest protein content of any fruit. Avocados contain more potassium than bananas. One avocado contains 81 mcg of lutein, an important nutrient for healthy eyes. Leaf and seed extracts have been used for a variety of medical application, including treatment of diarrhea and dysentery and as an antibiotic.

What kind of food do we eat?
These birds not only eat healthy food, but they eat medicinal food too..
People spend more money on medicine rather than on food..

Why?

Is it because, now a days, people don’t eat to live, but they live to eat..

And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. (Proverbs 23:2)

At close range, the vocalization of many in Costa Rica is heard as a complex three-part song, is thought to be among the loudest bird calls on Earth, audible to humans from over 0.5 mi (0.80 km) away. The song is different in Nicaragua and in also Panama, and these songs also include an extremely loud, but less bell-like, note.

Based on limited spectral analysis, researchers believe that the Bell-bird makes its unusual anvil-like sound by singing up to three notes simultaneously. This is a trick which takes the young birds a while to perfect. This one seems to be producing pitches of roughly 1280, 1365, and 1450 Hz, approximately E6, F6, and F-sharp6 in the musical scale. These three notes, each a semi-tone apart, produce a very rough, dissonant “bonk” giving the bird its name.

A link to the Three-wattled Bellbird. A male is displaying and you can hear his call, by Max Roth.

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/video/three-wattled-bellbird-procnias-tricarunculatus/male-displaying-treetop-perch

The three-wattled bellbird, which inhabits the cloud forests, is rarely seen in the mist-shrouded treetops, though the male’s eerie call, described as a “ventriloqual bonk!’ haunts the rainforest… as long as the sun is shining.

The purpose for which God created us is to worship and worship alone…
But, are we worshipping the Lord at all times or just in a Sunday morning service?

These Birds may not have a song but still their BONK saves them from predators…

You may not have a good voice but still your noise can frighten the devil..
You know? God loves your NOISE and not your VOICE…

These birds sing as long as the sun is shining..

We, the church too can sing only as long as the Sun of Righteousness shines on us..
Darkness is fast descending, let us keep singing , for the hour of the Lord has come..
If we don’t sing here, how can we sing in heaven?
After all, only practice makes us perfect…

The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. (Psalm 115:17)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

The four Bellbirds are in the Cotingidae Family of the Passerifromes Order. The Cotinga family has Bellbirds (4), Cotingas (25), Plantcutter (3), Berryeater (2), Fruiteater (12), Cock-of-the-rock (2), Phia (9), Fruitcrow (4), Capuchinbird (1), and Umbrellabird (3). They all seem to have interesting names.

The Sage in the sagebrush…

April 30, 2010 by a j mithra

The Sage in the sagebrush… – by a j mithra

Hello,

Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) by Kent Nickell

My name is Mr. Greater Sage Grouse–also known as the sage cock, sage hen, sage chicken, and formerly, western sage grouse which is the largest member of a family of hen-like terrestrial birds known as grouse.

At one time, Washington State had an abundant population of sage grouse. Hunting, loss of habitat because of expanding farm lands and other human development, and devastating wildfires have reduced our population to fewer than 1,500 birds. We are currently a state-threatened species and a federal candidate species.

We, the Sage grouse are herbivores and we eat soft plants, primarily big sagebrush. Big sagebrush is essential to our lives cos, all through our lives, you can find us in or near dense stands of sagebrush. Our female flock nests on the ground under the shrub and seek cover from predators and weather beneath it.

Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) by Kent Nickell

From fall through spring the leaves and more succulent stems of big sagebrush make up from 90 to 100 percent of the our diet. During summer and early fall, we leave the dense sage and move to scattered patches of sagebrush found near seeps, streams, or irrigated fields where we eat green forbs and insects, both of which are high in protein and allow rapid growth of young chicks.

One of the most interesting aspects about us is nearly complete reliance on sagebrush. Our habitat requirements are so specific that we are frequently referred to as “sagebrush obligates,” that is, we birds cannot survive in areas where the shrub, with which we share the name, has been removed…

Like us, you Christians too, share the name Christ with which you are identified…
We, the Sage Grouse cannot live without Sage brush plants..
We cannot survive if Sage brush plants are removed from our lives…

Christians means CHRIST IN US…
But, there are so many in your church who do not have Christ in their lives, but, they call themselves as Christians…

Your Bible says,

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)

The Bible also says,

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Corinthians 5:17)

Let your hearts judge if you are worthy of calling yourselves as Christians….

I wish you should know more about the sage brush plant, our eternal home..

Sage Grouse (Centrocercusurophasianus) by Dave's BirdingPix

Sagebrush has bacteriostatic, astringent, and antioxidant properties. Sagebrush kills bacteria, inhibits free radicals, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic actions, and so is most useful as a cleansing first aid wash for disinfecting wounds and skin irritations. Tea made from the leaves as a medicine for digestive problems, headache and cold. The leaves can be very useful in your kitchen as a means of protecting stored dried food from insects and rodents…

We have our home, where there is food and protection…
How protected is your home? Do you have a healthy environment?
Do you live a healthy life like the way we live?
Don’t you realize how well you should take care of your health?

Your body is the temple of JESUS, do you know that? Have you not read the following verse in your Bible?

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1Corinthians 3:16,17)

Whenever you think of sage brush, think of us, the Greater Sage Grouse..
We need you..

If only you could take care of the environment, this earth will not only protect you, me and all other living thing, but also will provide us food, water and shelter…

By protecting the earth, you are not only protecting us but protecting your race too…

Live and let us live…

Yours,

The Greater Sage Grouse
Have a Thoughtful day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

Sage Grouse are in the Phasianidae Family of the Galliformes Order. There are 181 members in the family which also includes Turkeys, Chickens, Ptarmigans, Partridges, Snowcock, Francolins, Spurfowls, Junglefowls, Pheasants, Peafowls and others. None of them are on the “unclean-do not eat” list.

Video of a male Sage Grouse displaying

Birds of the Bible – Swans II

April 30, 2010 by Lee

And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, (Leviticus 11:18 KJV)

Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) ©Wikipedia

Swans have been written about before with Birds of the Bible – Swan I and Swan Loyalty. Because of the Lord’s amazing creation of the birds, there is always more to find out about them. In the first Swan blog it was mentioned that there are 6 Swans in the Anatidae family. Well, that is incorrect. There are 6 swans in the Cygnus genera (division of a family), but there is another genera called Coscoroba. This genera has only one swan, the Coscoroba Swan. So, there are 7 Swans.

The Coscoroba has the ones who study birds (taxonomist and others) in a quandary. They are not sure if it is a swan, duck or goose. “Externally, the body, head and legs appear to be more like a goose than a swan. As an example, their body is much smaller in comparison to other species of swans; the largest species average double the weight and have a wingspan at least 40% larger. Since they are smaller in size compared to other swan species, coscoroba swans require shorter distance to lift off from the ground or water. In contrast to other species of swan, coscoroba swans have a shorter neck and longer legs. Another feature that distinguishes coscoroba swans from other species is that feathers cover their facial skin, instead of bare skin extending from the bill to the eye. This species also lacks the characteristic basal knob found on all other five species of swans. Compared to other swans, the bill of a coscoroba swan is smaller and more resembles the bill of a duck.” (Animal Facts, Woodland Park Zoo)

They went on to say that it sounds more like a goose, doesn’t carry young on back like swans and that their young look more like young whistling ducks. Considering that the Anatidae family consists Ducks, Geese, and Swans, sounds like they are all in the same “created kind” for sure. They have been doing as they were command by God to:

And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth. (Genesis 1:22 NKJV)

Coscoroba Swan (Coscoroba coscoroba) ©Arthur Grosset

The Coscoroba Swan lives mainly in the southern part of South America and prefers shallow areas of lagoons, swamps, ponds, or areas with lots of vegetation. They are between 34.6-45.2 inches and males can be as much as 11.9 pounds and the female 10 pounds. “Inside the bill, there are serrated comb-like structures called lamellae, which help filter food. When eating, swans scoop up water and food, hold it in their mouth and squeeze out the water through the lamellae.”

They are all white except for the 6 black feathers at the tips of their wings. Speaking of flying, here are some interesting facts. (When migrating, the flock maintains visual contact as much as possible and will call out to each other to stay united during inclement weather or poor lighting conditions. During migrations, coscoroba swans may fly with flamingos or black-necked swans (C. melanocoryopha). Migration routes may take place at extreme elevations; researchers have noted swans flying at elevations of 26,277 feet (8,000 m). These high altitudes allow the birds to take advantage of stronger air currents. Additionally, swans almost always fly in a V-formation to save energy, as the bird in front creates a slipstream for the bird behind it to fly through.” (Animal Facts)

There are many more fascinating facts about these swans and the others, but these should help you appreciate Our Lord’s love and care for His Creation.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28 KJV)

See:
Coscoroba Swans Avian Web (Nice Photos)

Wordless Birds

Flight 7…

April 29, 2010 by a j mithra

Flight 7… – by a j mithra

Number seven signifies completeness and that is the reason GOD took rest on the seventh after creation..

The wing shape of birds has its basis in survival value…
There are Seven Basic Wing Shapes and arrangements for different flying styles;

1. FAST TAKEOFF AND DODGING WINGS

Sooty (Blue) Grouse (Dendragapusfuliginosus) byIan

Birds such as pheasants and grouse that usually inhabit dense cover and need to dodge quickly between obstructions have wings that allow twisting flight at short distances..

Built for fast takeoff and dodging, this type of wing is relatively short but broad and cupped,
with flexible tips that can be set at varied angles without twisting the whole wing.

GOD expects us to be swift to hear, swift to lend a helping hand to the poor and the needy..

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, …….. (James 1:19)

2. SOARING BIRD’S WINGS

Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) by Daves BirdingPix

Soaring Birds tend to have broad wings. The Turkey Vulture has extremely broad wings for soaring. The breath of this wing type and the arrangement of the slotted primary feathers make it most efficient for soaring over land.

Black and Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, Broad-winged hawks, Northern Harriers, Condors, Ravens, and some gulls have this kind of wings.

GOD wants us to wait in HIS presence and get wings of an Eagle to soar high even above storms… How long do we wait in HIS presence?

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)

3. HIGH SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY FLIGHT WINGS

White-throated Swift by Dave's BirdingPix

Some birds of prey and most other fast-flying birdshave developed High Speed Maneuverable wings. These wings of swifts, swallows, shorebirds, and waterfowl, and other small-to-medium-sized birds with rapid flight. Are extremely flat, moderately long narrow, and triangular, and tend to be swept backwards, like the wings of a high-speed jet fighter.

How many of us hasten to give our tithe and offering?
How many of us hasten to honor the servants of GOD?

Look at Abraham,

And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. (Genesis 18:6)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) by W Kwong

4. SLOW FLAPPING FLIGHT WINGS

The kind of wings characteristic of Slow Flapping Flight are large and distinctly arched.

Herons, Egrets, and Ibises have this type of wing, and their style makes them immediately recognizable as belonging to one of those families, even when see from a distance.

GOD expects of us to be

….slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19)

5. LONG DISTANCE OCEANIC SOARING WINGS

Christmas Frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi) by Ian

Seabirds, such as Shearwaters and Albatrosses, have a high-aspect wing, but one that is adapted for Long Distance Gliding — long, narrow, flat, and pointed, with no slotting of the primary feathers. The longest feathers are the outermost primaries.

Pointed wings like these are best suited for Long Distance Oceanic Soaring. Other birds with this type of wings are Gulls and Frigatebirds, which glide almost endlessly above the sea.

God wants to set us on high place; HE wants us to be high above everyone around us… But, not until we love HIM the way HE loves us…

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

6. LONG DISTANCE GLIDING WINGS

Black-necked Stork (Jabiru) (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) by Ian

Still another Long Distance Gliding variation is found in the type of wing typical of storks and some vultures, a slotted, high-lifting structure. The wings are broad to provide more wing surface and short to make use of subtle variations in air currents.

We are on a very long journey; a journey of righteousness, a journey of perseverance, a journey of faithfulness and a journey of love…How calm are we on our journey?

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Mathew 5:41)

7. MOTIONLESS FLIGHT

Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) Reinier Munguia

Hummingbirds’ wings are pointed and swept back, and they rotate at the shoulder, not at the wrist, as do those of most other birds. This allows the wing to be turned over in midstroke, so that backward motion cancels forward motion and the bird remains motionlessly poised in the air to sip the nectar of flowers. This bird then can execute Motionless Flight.

GOD created everything and took rest on the seventh day… HE created man on the sixth day so that, man shall worship HIM on the seventh day which is the first day for man on this earth…

Even in the list of flying styles of birds, the seventh flying style is MOTIONLESS FLIGHT… The birds seem to lay emphasis on the importance of the seventh day isn’t it?

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalms 46:10)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Updated on 8/8/11
Sorry about not crediting Paul Noll’s explanations and quotes of wing types. (Per comment)
See Bird Wing Shapes, by Paul Noll.
Lee

The White-crowned Sparrow – The Restorer

April 28, 2010 by a j mithra

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) by Ray

The White-crowned Sparrow – The Restorer ~ by a j mithra

Bird watchers who have flocked to north Norfolk, UK, to see a rare sparrow have boosted the funds of a local church. They have donated so much money to Cley church; there are plans to feature the bird in a new stained glass window.

A rare bird’s appearance in a coastal village, which has attracted hoards of twitchers from across the country, has swelled church coffers.

The white-crowned sparrow is normally found in America, but it turned up 3,000 miles off course in Cley in January and is still being spotted feeding and flying around the village. The medium-sized sparrow has only been seen four times before in Britain and Ireland and its appearance in Richard and Sue Bending’s garden prompted an influx of bird watchers.

They have gathered en masse outside the home of Richard and Sue Bending. It was last Thursday that retired clergyman Mr. Bending, 60, and wife, 59, a retired librarian, first spied the bird scratching among leaf litter in their walled garden. The couple – who consider themselves bird-lovers but not die-hard twitchers – thought that the visitor, with its striking black-and-white striped head, was unusual but could not find it in their book of native varieties. We borrowed a book from the library, it was then that we realized it could be a White-crowned Sparrow,” said Mr Bending

Although Cley Reserve, run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, attracts thousands of nature lovers, the village visit by the bird – with distinctive black and white stripes on its head – has lifted the village’s profile on the bird-spotting map.

The presence of this rare bird had inspired people to give for God…

Has our presence inspired people to do something for God?

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart (2 Corinthians 3:3)

It’s the first occasion a white-crowned sparrow has ever been seen in East Anglia.

Ian’s Bird of the Week – White-winged (Black) Tern

April 27, 2010 by Ian

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) by Ian

Newsletter – 4/25/2010

The weather is improving here, so I went birding a couple of times last week. The first time I went to Hodel Road, Giru, just south of Townsville, which goes through an area of marshy coastal grassland that can turn up interesting birds. At this time of the year, it can be good for White-winged (Black) Terns starting the migration back to the northern hemisphere and some, like the one in the first photo, may be in the unmistakable breeding plumage, with black bodies and pale wings. I’ve bracketed (Black) as this qualifier is usually added in Australia, while Birdlife International calls it just ‘White-winged Tern’.

More usually in Australia, we see White-winged Black Terns in non-breeding plumage – like the one in the second photo – and care needs to be taken to distinguish them from the related, slightly larger, Whiskered Tern in the same plumage. Perhaps the best field mark is the shape of the black band on the head. In the White-winged Tern it forms a vertical hoop over the crown of the head; in the Whiskered Tern it forms a horizontal hoop around the nape and the crown is whitish. There are also differences in the patterns of the upper wing. In the White-winged the dark leading edge (visible in the second photo) and the whitish rump gives the bird a patchier appearance than that of the more homogeneous Whiskered.

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) by Ian

Some points that may be of interested to bird photographers relate to birds in flight coming towards the camera and to backgrounds. Telephoto lenses have very a shallow field of view, particularly at the high shutter speed/large aperture combination necessary to freeze the motion of the bird. This means that even if the auto-focus has operated correctly, the bird may have moved out of focus during the lag while the photo is taken. Some cameras have an autofocus option to compensate for constant movement, called ‘AI-Servo’ on Canon SLRs, and this is the occasion to use it.

The problem with backgrounds is that the autofocus may miss the bird and grab the background instead. Birds against the sky are easier than against the ground – unless there are clouds with high contrast. Practicing tracking birds in flight is the solution here, and I use a single focus point in the centre of the viewfinder. This gives much more control over auto-focusing and not only with birds in flight but also in spatially complex shots such as a bird in a tree with branches around it.

On the website, I’ve been experimenting with changes to the layout of bird photos. The changes involve technical aspects such as getting rid of frames, but the advantages from a user’s point of view include being able to bookmark individual photos (rather than just species), and scroll bars to prevent thumbnails extending way below the window. If you’re interested, have a look at http://www.birdway.com.au/otididae/australian_bustard/source/australian_bustard_99577.htm – I’d welcome your feedback.

The other birding outing last week was to get photos of nesting Chowchillas at Paluma (this gallery uses the new layout and has 600px-wide images instead of 500)

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

Lee’s Addition:

The White-winged (Black) Tern is in the Laridae Family of the Charadriiformes Order. There are 102 members of the family. Only 39 of those are Terns, the rest are Gulls, Noddy, Skimmers, and Kittiwakes. They are small terns generally found in or near bodies of fresh water across from Southeastern Europe east to Australia.

Their behavior like the other “marsh” terns (Chlidonias), and unlike the “white” (Sterna) terns, these birds do not dive for fish, but fly slowly over the water to surface-pick items on the surface and catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects and small fish. In flight, the build appears thick-set. The wing-beats are shallow and leisurely.

Their breeding habitat is freshwater marshes across from southeast Europe to central Asia. They usually nest either on floating vegetation in a marsh or on the ground very close to water, laying 2-4 eggs in a nest built of small reed stems and other vegetation. In winter, they migrate to Africa, southern Asia and Australia. It is a scarce vagrant in North America, mainly on the Atlantic coast, but a few records on the Pacific coast and inland in the Great Lakes area.

The White-winged (Black) Tern is another of the neatly created birds which shows the Handiwork of God.

Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20 NKJV)

Peterson Field Guide Videos Updated

April 26, 2010 by Lee

Below are some of the latest updated Peterson Field Guide Videos. These 2010 versions have been updated on the following pages. The videos are very informative and well done.

American Robin by Dan

Araripe Manakin – The Indicator of Environmental Quality…

April 23, 2010 by a j mithra

Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) by ©AGrosset

The Araripe Manakin is endemic to a very small ribbon of forest at the foot of the Chapada do Araripe escarpment, in Brazil…

It seems particularly fond of the moist forest near the streams and springs that flow out of the escarpment…

The survival of these birds depends upon the availability of water resources..

Have we ever felt that our survival also depends upon JESUS, the LIVING WATER?

Unfortunately, this supply of water also generates the biggest threat to the species as the area is a bit of an oasis in that region, and the supply of water has led to the development of both agriculture and recreational facilities…

Many of us are dry in spirit, but, instead of looking up to the Pillar of Clouds to wet our spirit,
where are we looking?

JESUS said,

but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life. (John 4:14)

Araripe Manakin (Antilophia bokermanni) by ©AGrosset

Found along the slopes of the chapada (plateau) in the lower and middle stories of tall forests where there are plenty of vines, as well as clearings…

It is associated with water springs and is therefore a good indicator of environmental quality..

If we live on JESUS, THE VINE, the world would look at us as an indicator of the spiritual quality of the church….

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: (Isaiah 44:3)

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

The Araripe Manakin is in the Pipridae Family of the Passeriformes Order.

See:

Araripe Manakin

Birds of the Bible – Church Camp In Philippines

April 23, 2010 by Lee

Wanted to share some information on what the Lord has done through this website. This will be a two part article. I just heard about some of the results of a church camp that took place a few weeks ago. The ECBF Junior camp in Daraitan, Tanay, Philippines. Below is a video they just released on YouTube.

I got involved when Myra left a comment on our site at Birdwatching From A Christian Perspective. She asked permission to use some of the material for an upcoming camp. Of course, permission was granted and we have communicated several times since then through comments and e-mails.

I’ve asked her to do a write-up about the camp and that will be in Part II. Here are some things that I have learned through our contacts. I am sure Myra won’t mind me sharing these.

“I learned about birdwatching from an American missionary several years ago. I didn’t know it was possible to birdwatch where I live — Taytay, Rizal, a rather crowded town east of Manila. The missionary said they could birdwatch where they live which was not far from where I live. So have been a casual birdwatcher ever since. I watch butterflies too.”, by Myra

Then as camp grew near, she sent me a partial section of the camp manual. When I received it, I wept from the knowledge that the Lord was using my small efforts on this blog to help others around the world. Here is part of that manual:

Let’s Be Bird Watchers!

Bakit mabuting libangan ang bird watching?

“Ang ibon at mga hayop ay marunong pa sa iyo, Sa kanila ay magtanong at ikaw ay matututo.” Job 12:7
Masdan ninyo ang mga ibon: hindi sila naghahasik ni nag-aani o kaya’y nagtitipon sa bangan. Gayunman,pinakakain sila ng inyong Amang nasa langit. Hindi ba’t higit kayong mahalaga kaysa mga ibon. (Mateo 6:26)
Sapagkat ang buhay ay higit na mahalaga kaysa pagkain, at katawan kaysa pananamit. Isipin na lang ninyo ang mga uwak: hindi sila naghahasik ni nag-aani man; wala silang bangan ni kamalig, gayunma’y pinakakain sila ng Diyos. Gaano pa kayo – higit kayong mahalaga kaysa mga ibon. (Lucas 12:23-24 )
Para maging birdwatcher:

Look around – magmasid.
Look for birds that are common near you. Where? Sa ibabaw ng mga poste, sa mga linya ng kuryente, sa mga parke, sa garden spots ng resort o subdivision.
Listen! Each bird has the own different note or song: Psalm 104:12(birds sing) ; Ecclesiastes 12:4 (birds make sounds); Song of Solomon 2:12 (birds have voices)

Some birds -maganda ang boses
Some birds- sintonado / malakas / masakit sa tenga ang boses
Some birds- madaldal.
Some birds- madakdak.

After you find birds to watch, observe them.
How? Take note of their:

Colors
Size (Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Very Big)
Sounds
Beak (Pahaba, deretso lang, naka-curve, matulis, etc.)
Posture (hukot, deretso, laging nakatingala)
Wings (mahaba, maiksi, matulis, pabilog, etc.)
Tail (long, short, patulis, parang fork, parang pamaypay, etc.

Movements. What are they doing? Kumakain / naghahanap ng makakain / gumagawa ng pugad / may dala-dalang damo. Malikot, sa lupa naglalakad, sa bukid nakatayo , nakatayo sa ibabaw ng kalabaw

Assignment: Use some of your free time during this camp to bird watch. Describe below some of the birds you see or hear.

Like many of you, I can not read much of it, but they could and so can our Omnipresent and Omniscient Creator who knows all languages.

One more excerpt from her email I received this morning and then you can see how their camp went.

“There are a few pictures in the video that show us under some trees on a hill. That’s where I asked the kids to be absolutely silent for ten minutes and just try to listen to as many bird calls as possible. I heard at least five bird calls coming from all directions and so did many of the kids. One of the staff said those ten minutes took away months of stress. You helped in more ways than you thought you did!”

Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. (Job 37:14 NKJV)

The American Dipper – The Intercessor

April 22, 2010 by a j mithra

The American Dipper – The Intercessor ~ by a j mithra

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) by Daves BirdingPix

A chunky bird of western streams, the American Dipper is North America’s only truly aquatic songbird. It catches all of its food underwater in swiftly flowing streams by swimming and walking on the stream bottom. Dipping may help them deal with a crazy visual field that is constantly in motion…

Maybe the relentless up and down motion changes the light angle, allowing dippers to see into the water. Or it may help them remain oriented next to the forever moving current. Or it may be a way of communicating near noisy streams–except that dippers sometimes dip even when they’re alone….

Unless we are in communion with GOD, the Light, through prayers, we will never be able to deal with the visual field that is constantly in motion. We will never be able to see the Light at the end of the tunnel…

Do we have a personal relationship with GOD?

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Mathew 6:6)

Formerly known as the water ouzel, this bird was rechristened by ornithologists several years ago because of its curious habit of dipping, bending and straightening its knees. So who knows?

Maybe their habit of dipping just helps these little birds keep fit for those incredible dives into raging torrents…

They’re absolutely amazing….We can’t even stand up in these streams, but here are these tiny birds that dive right into raging white water.”

Those who kneel before GOD, can stand before anything…

Prayer helps us stay fit and is the secret behind coming out unscathed, even after diving into the raging water…

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Mathew 21:22)

Young birds may practice dipping while still in the nest, and adults do it repeatedly when resting between feeding dives, while courting, during territorial disputes and when alarmed…

The dipping rate tends to rise with the degree of arousal to as many as 60 dips per minute.

Do we teach our children about the importance of prayer when they are young?

How many times do we dip, I mean, kneel before GOD during alarming situations?

…that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4:10)
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) by Ian

The American Dipper chooses a nest site, invariably along a stream, that provides security from floods and predators. Availability of suitable nest sites appears to limit its populations. To be able to survive in cold waters during the winter, the American Dipper has a low metabolic rate, extra oxygen-carrying capacity in its blood, and a thick coat of feathers.

Unlike most other songbirds, but similarly to ducks, the American Dipper molts its wing and tail feathers all at once in the late summer. The bird is flightless during this time.

American dippers occupy an unusual niche in the songbird world. Inextricably tied to racing streams, they routinely feed where few other terrestrial animals dare to go. They rear young just feet from churning whirlpools. They are splendidly adapted for their aquatic life-style, yet even in the wilderness have trouble finding appropriate nest sites. Abundant oil from an oversized gland above the tail keeps dipper feathers virtually waterproof. A flap of skin covers the nostrils while submerged, and translucent eyelids permit underwater sight. Dippers rarely venture more than a few yards from water, and even when airborne they follow a stream’s zigzagging course….

Our lives would be safe when we dare not venture away from the Living Water and just follow the course of JESUS, the Living Water…

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

Dippers build their traditionally elaborate nests over the fastest moving part of a stream normally on mid-stream boulders or rock ledges just above the water….

Researchers discovered that area bridges offered a viable alternative as nesting sites. And in subsequent research, the biologist found that bridge nests in the valley actually produced more young than the natural nests in her study area…

Bridges actually are a key to dipper’s reproductive success in many areas….

We are the key to the extension of GOD’s kingdom… Do you know that?

GOD has called us to bridge the gap between the lost and the LAMB…

The success of populating the flock of GOD depends on our availability…

GOD is searching for someone who would stand in the gap for HIS people, are you ready to bridge the gap?

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. ( Ezekiel 22:30)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

Dippers are in the Cinclidae Family of the Passeriformes Order. There are 5 Dippers in the family; White-throated, Brown, American, White-capped, Rufous-throated Dipper.

Video of an American Dipper

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Black-fronted Dotterel

April 20, 2010 by Ian

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Black-fronted Dotterel ~ by Ian Montgomery

It is easy to think of waders, such as sandpipers and plovers, in terms of challenges – both the survival challenges that long distant migrants face and the identification challenges that these migrants, usually in non-breeding plumage, pose for birders. So, it’s easy to overlook the unchallenging ones – distinctive native species, easy on the eye and easy to identify that are delightful members of the Australian countryside such as the Black-fronted Dotterel.

The Black-fronted Dotterel is a small plover: at 16-18cm/6-7in in isn’t much longer than the proverbial sparrow (14-16cm). It shows a marked preference for shallow fresh water, only rarely occurring in saline environments, and can manage with quite small and transient pools. It is widespread throughout Australia and Tasmania, absent only from the most arid regions of western central Australia, and also resident in New Zealand. The first photo shows a bird – males and females are identical – on the wetland in Pentland on the Flinders Highway west of Townsville, a popular drop-in spot for passing birders. The second photo was taken at sunset at Bowra, a wonderful property near Cunnamulla in southwestern Queensland, long managed in a bird-friendly way by the McLaren family and now being purchased by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy ( http://www.australianwildlife.org/Bowra.aspx ).

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) by Ian

Unlike the migrants, residents such as the Black-fronted Dotterel, don’t have a separate breeding and (drab) non-breeding plumages. Because of irregular rainfall patterns, they can breed at any time of the year and need to be able to respond quickly and attract mates at short notice. They nest in exposed positions on the ground, so they compromise by having bold patterns with small splashes of colour on the bill and eye-ring that break up the outline of the bird, rather than blend into the background, and can be surprisingly difficult to see when crouched motionless.

On the related subject of migrant plovers, this is a good time of the year to look for birds in, or acquiring, breeding plumage. We did one of our regular wader counts at Lucinda, near Ingham north of Townsville, last week and there were still numbers of Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers around. I’ve posted photos of these – and a Grey-tailed Tattler – in breeding plumage to the website:
Lesser Sand Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Grey-tailed Tattler

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:

I always enjoy finding out about Ian’s Birds of the Week. Never know what he will show us. I trust you enjoy finding out about birds in other parts of our fantastic world as well.
The Dotterels are in the Charadriidae Family of the Charadriiformes Order. There are 67 birds in the family that includes Plovers, Lapwings, Killdeer, Wrybill, and the Dotterels. There are only 6 Dotterels; Red-kneed, Eurasian, Hooded, Shore, Black-fronted, and Tawny-throated. The Inland Plover was the Inland Dotterel

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. (Isaiah 41:18 KJV)

The Inspired and the Inspiring Rose-breasted Grosbeak

April 20, 2010 by a j mithra

The Inspired and the Inspiring Rose-breasted Grosbeak – by a j mithra

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) by Rob Fry

The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak lives and breeds in North America, but then migrates to Mexico and Central America. East of the Great Plains, the deciduous woodlands belong to the rose-breasted grosbeak with its colossal white bill, an appendage that is often stained with wild berry juice.

This bird is considered as the most stunningly dressed of all our Neotropical migrants.Yet the “rosebird” of olden days is heard more often than seen as it flies through the forest penthouse, whistling and if inspired, it may sing all night. Who is our inspiration?

When JESUS becomes our inspiration, we cannot but sing 24×7….
Why is it hard for us to praise HIM at all times? Is it because we don’t love HIM the way HE does?
Why is it not possible for us to say like David?
Just think!

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

Rose-breasted grosbeak nests are so loosely built that it is sometimes possible to count the eggs from below. The parent birds share incubation duties and the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak participates in incubation of the eggs, accounting for about 1/3 of the time during the day, the female incubates over night….

The female bird incubates overnight?
Do we understand what the bird seems to teach us about its overnight incubation?
We feel so nice to call ourselves as the bride.. Isn’t it?
But, the question is, does the church – the so called bride, watch and pray for the lost?

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1Thessalonians 5:5,6)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) by Quy Tran

The male will care for the fledglings while the female starts a second nest. She becomes so possessive of a good mate that other females vying for his attention will be driven away. Both sexes sing quietly to each other when they exchange places. The male will sing his normal song while near or actually on the nest. The female song is generally a simplified version of the male song. Occasionally, the female sings full “male” song, apparently to deceive its mate about the presence of intruders and force him to spend more time at the nest..

Our worship has the power to force JESUS to spend more time with us…
It is easy to praise God when we are in the comfort zone, but singing in times of trouble, not only brings HIS presence, but also deliverance…
After all, our LORD dwells among the praises of the angels in heaven…
Remember, HIS presence is the essence of life…

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
a j mithra

Please visit us at: Crosstree

Lee’s Addition:

The Grosbeaks are in the Cardinalidae Family of the Passeriformes Order. In fact, the Family is the last one in the Passeriformes order. The 45 members of the family include not only the Grosbeaks (17), but the Dickcissel (1), Chats (3), Cardinals (2), Pyrrhuloxia (1), Saltators (14), Buntings (7).

Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus

Birdwatching from a Christian Perspective

Tag Archives: Birdwatching

Three-wattled Bellbird – The Noise Maker

The Sage in the sagebrush…

Birds of the Bible – Swans II

Flight 7…

The White-crowned Sparrow – The Restorer

Ian’s Bird of the Week – White-winged (Black) Tern

Peterson Field Guide Videos Updated

Araripe Manakin – The Indicator of Environmental Quality…

Birds of the Bible – Church Camp In Philippines

The American Dipper – The Intercessor

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Black-fronted Dotterel

The Inspired and the Inspiring Rose-breasted Grosbeak

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