Tag Archives: Birdwatching

Stork – The Kind Mother – by A. J. Mithra

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Stork – The Kind Mother

Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) on nest by Nikhil

Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) on nest by Nikhil

The Hebrew word for stork
Is equivalent to “KIND MOTHER”,
and the care of storks for their young,
in their highly visible nests,
made the stork a widespread emblem
of parental care.

The image of a stork carrying an infant
wrapped in a sling held in its beak
is common in popular culture
and again a symbol of parental care…

As the chicks eat lots of food,
the parents find and eat the food.
Then they come back to the nest
and spit up the food for the chicks to eat..

We are so privileged, for,
JESUS gave HIMSELF
as THE LIVING BREAD
and as THE LIVING WATER,
so that we may have life eternal…
Father and mother may forsake,
but, JESUS will never leave us
nor forsake us..

It was widely noted in ancient natural history,
that the stork would prefer to be consumed
with the nest in a fire,
rather than fly and abandon it.
Such is its commitment towards its family..

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) by Ian

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) by Ian

How committed are we to JESUS?
We say that JESUS is our nest,
I mean SHELTER,
but, how many of us would still
have the courage to walk into the fire
like those three young men?
Do we have the courage to face
persecution like Stephen?
Or will run away from JESUS
and sit in the enemy’s camp like Peter?
When JESUS becomes our NEST,
HE shall give us our ETERNAL REST…

And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped. (Isaiah 10:14 KJV)

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,
A. J. Mithra at Crosstree

Click to see more of A. J.’s articles

See the Stork page (a Bird of the Bible)

Storks are in the Ciconiidae Family of the Ciconiiformes Order

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Emu – The Model Father by A. J. Mithra

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Emu – The Model Father

Emu (Dromaiusnovaehollandiae) by Ian

Emu (Dromaiusnovaehollandiae) by Ian

Mr. Emu is the most loving and caring
of all fathers of the bird community..
He not only builds the nest
in a semi-sheltered hollow
on the ground from bark,
grass, sticks and leaves
all by himself, but also incubates
the eggs alone and takes care of the chicks
all by himself..

JESUS neither sleeps nor slumbers
just to take care of all our needs..

During incubation,
he does not eat, drink or defecate,
but stands only to turn the eggs,
which he does about 10 times a day.
He will lose a third of his weight
during the eight week incubation period
and will survive only on stored body-fat
and on the morning dew,
that he can reach from the nest..

If these birds can survive
on morning dew,
we too are still surviving cos of
THE KING’S favor,which is like the morning dew…

Emu (Dromaiusnovaehollandiae) with chicks by Ian

Emu (Dromaiusnovaehollandiae) with chicks by Ian

Mr. Emu stays with the growing chicks
for up to 18 months,
defending them and teaching them how to find food.

JESUS is our shield and our defense,
we are the apple of HIS eyes..
HE is with us all the days of our lives..
Once as Mr. Emu starts brooding,

Mrs. Emu mates with other males,
but that’s still okay with Mr. Emu.
He’s really very kind because
as many as half the chicks in the brood
he incubates are fathered by others.
Incubation takes 56 days….

Surely. no one would like to be an Emu,
cos, we want our mate to be faithful…
How faithful are we to JESUS, our bride-groom,
who we also call as our Eternal father?
Are we with HIM all the days of our lives?
Are we loyal to HIM?
Just think….

The king`s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass. (Proverbs 19:12 KJV)

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,

A. J. Mithra

To see more of A. J.’s articles – Click Here

Emus are in the Dromaiidae – Emu Family which is one of the Casuariiformes Order

Birds of the Bible – Dove’s Eyes and Voice

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White-winged Dove by Reinier

Here are some interesting thoughts about the Eyes and Voice of a Dove. We had an Eurasian Collared Dove land in our yard today. What a lovely bird, with such a soft color. I always enjoy watching them.

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) Eye up close by Reinier

The Eyes of A Dove:

How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.” (Song of Solomon 1:15 NASB)

Solomon is describing his love with terms that today we do not hear in that connection. How romantic to have your eyes compared to a dove’s eyes. At first it seems rather weird, but when you know what dove’s eyes actually look like, you realize that they ARE very beautiful.

Then she describes Solomon.

“His eyes are like doves Beside streams of water, Bathed in milk, And reposed in their setting. (Song of Solomon 5:12 NASB)

John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible says of this verse, referring to the meekness of Christ:
“his eyes are like “doves’ eyes”; not fierce and furious, but loving and lovely; looking upon his people, under all their trials and afflictions, with sympathy and concern, to deliver them out of them: and like the eyes of doves. ”

The Voice of A Dove:
Then in chapter 2, Solomon goes on to use the dove again to describe her voice.

“Come, my shy and modest dove– leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing.” (Song of Solomon 2:14 MSG)

“It is fixed: She is stripped, she is carried away, And her handmaids are moaning like the sound of doves, Beating on their breasts.” (Nahum 2:7 NASB)

Audio by Andrew Spencer of Mourning Dove’s song.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible says, “as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts; mourning like doves, inwardly and secretly, not daring to express their sorrow more publicly, because of their enemies; but knocking and beating upon their breasts, as men do upon tabrets or drums, thereby expressing the inward grief of their minds; see Eze_7:16.”

Audio of Mourning Dove beating its wings by Andrew Spencer

Sounds are from Xeno-canto.org

See the Dove and Pigeons Page

Doves are in the Columbidae Family of the Columbiformes Order

Birds in Hymns – Yes, God is Good

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Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. (Psalms 135:3 KJV)

Words: John H. Gur­ney, Psalms and Hymns for Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: 1851), based on Eliz­a­beth L. C. Fol­len’s lyr­ics in Hymns for Child­ren (Bos­ton, Mass­a­chu­setts: 1825).

Music: Tru­ro, from Psalm­o­dia Evan­gel­i­ca, by Thom­as Will­iams, 1789 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tune:
•Williams, from Tem­pli Car­mi­na, be­fore 1890 (MI­DI, score)

Yes, God is good; in earth and sky,
From ocean depths and spreading wood,
Ten thousand voices seem to cry,
“God made us all, and God is good.”

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at Lake John Rookery, Lakeland, FL By Dan

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) at Lake John Rookery, Lakeland, FL By Dan

The sun that keeps his trackless way
And downward pours his golden flood,
Night’s sparkling hosts, all seem to say,
In accents clear, that God is good.

The merry birds prolong the strain,
Their song with every spring renewed;
And balmy air, and falling rain,
Each softly whispers, “God is good.”

I hear it in the rushing breeze;
The hills that have for ages stood,
The echoing sky and roaring seas,
All swell the chorus, God is good.

Yes, God is good, all nature says,
By God’s own hand with speech endued;
And man, in louder notes of praise,
Should sing for joy that God is good.

For all Thy gifts we bless Thee, Lord,
But chiefly for our heavenly food;
Thy pardoning grace, Thy quickening word,
These prompt our song, that God is good.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

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Is the Bride Ready? – A. J. Mithra

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Is the Bride Ready? – A. J. Mithra

Migration the most amazing
natural phenomena on earth..
The longest migrations
of all are those of birds.

Crane Migration over Israel

Crane Migration over Israel

Israel, which is located
right at the junction
of three continents,
is crossed by migrating birds
of 300 different species,
on a scale unparalleled
anywhere in the world…

Studies over the past decade
shows that about
500 million birds cross
Israel’s narrow airspace
twice every year
in the course of their migrations…
Between one to two million raptors
migrate through Eilat,
in Israel each spring.

Is this large scale
migration and breeding in Israel,
a trial run for the feast
which GOD has planned
for these birds
when JESUS returns
as THE KING?

The Birds are
preparing themselves
for the biggest
marriage feast ever…

The BRIDE-GROOM is on HIS way,
Is the bride ready?

And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Speak unto the birds of every sort, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh and drink blood. (Ezekiel 39:17)

Your’s in YESHUA,
A. J. Mithra at Crosstree

Updated 5/29/10: Changed name from Migration over Israel to present. I missed aj’s updated changes – (corrected by editor).

Click to see more of A. J.’s articles

Palestine-Israel: A Crossroad for Bird Migration

Cassowary Seed Spreaders – A. J. Mithra

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Cassowary Seed Spreaders

Cassowaries eat mainly
large colorful fruits,
and they are considered
as the vital “keystone” species
cos they eat,
and therefore distribute
so many large tropical rain forest fruits.

SouthernCassowary(Casuariuscasuarius) from Wikipedia

SouthernCassowary(Casuariuscasuarius) from Wikipedia

In fact, the Southern Cassowary
is probably the single most important
seed disperser of the
Australian tropical rain forest.
So far, over 200
Australian tropical rain forest plants
have been recorded
to be eaten by cassowaries

Though the bird is hard to be seen,
their scat can be quite
common and conspicuous,
and can contain up to
1 kilogram of seeds….

The survival of the rain forests
of Australia depends upon
the survival of these birds…

Have we ever realized that
the extension of God’s kingdom
depends upon how far and wide
we sow JESUS, THE SEED?

How dare we expect to reap
goodness and mercy to follow us
all the days of our lives
when we haven’t sowed
JESUS, THE SEED??

If a bird can sow
hundreds of seeds,
in how many lives
have we sown,
JESUS,THE SEED?

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:6 (KJV)

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,
A J Mithra

His website is CROSSTREE
More of A. J.’s articles here.

Cassowaries are in the Casuariidae Family of the Casuariiformes Order

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Pheasant Coucal

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Pheasant Coucal(Centropus phasianinus) by Ian

Pheasant Coucal(Centropus phasianinus) by Ian

Newsletter – 3-6-2010

White I was making a cup of coffee this morning and pondering what to choose as Bird of the Week, this Pheasant Coucal supplied the answer by posing on a small tree, having just had a drink in the pond below. Coucals, like other cuckoos, are shy birds so I photographed it through the window – first photo – before carefully opening the French door onto the verandah to try to get a clearer view. I got the door open all right, but it spotted me raising the camera and large lens and took off before I had managed to take more than a couple of shots – second photo.

Pheasant Coucal(Centropus phasianinus) by Ian.jpg

Pheasant Coucal(Centropus phasianinus) by Ian.jpg

Pheasant Coucals are splendid birds: large (to 70cm/28in in length), red-eyed with richly patterned short wings and a long tail. In breeding plumage, the head and body is blackish with shiny feather shafts and the bill is black. In non-breeding plumage the black, of both the plumage and the bill, fades to buff.

Their usual call is a wonderful “deep, hollow, descending, descending ‘coop-coop-coop-coop-coop’, like liquid glugging from bottle” to quote Pizzey and Knight. They also have a sharp alarm call that sounds coarse paper being torn suddenly. There are several territories near my place, mostly along the creek, so the sound of their ‘bottle’ call is very characteristic of summer and I realise how much I’ve missed it when they start calling in the spring.

The range of the Pheasant Coucal includes coastal north western, northern and eastern Australia from the Pilbara to the Sydney region. It is generally common, but less so at the edge of its range in central New South Wales. It also occurs in New Guinea and related species, such as the Greater Coucal, are found in the warmer parts of Asia and in Africa.

Unlike other cuckoos, Coucals build their own nest and were until recently placed in their own family (the Centropidae). Genetic studies have shown that they close affinities with other cuckoos, and it is now usual to treat them as a subfamily of the cuckoos (Centropodinae within Cuculidae).

The Pheasant Coucals fly very poorly. The usual strategy is to climb to the top of a tree and glide with a few wing-beats to the destination. Sadly, they lack traffic sense and are frequently casualties on highways. Here in North Queensland, they are called ‘pheasants’ in the same way Bush Stone-Curlews are called ‘curlews’.

Links:
Pheasant Coucal
Greater Coucal

Recent additions to the website:
Photos of Brown Goshawk and Collared Sparrowhawk in flight
Diamond, Brown Cuckoo– and Bar-shouldered Doves .
Little Corellas in flight
Double-barred Finch
Southern Cassowary and Emu and
Rainbow Lorikeet (including Orange-collared race)

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:
Here is the sound of a Pheasant Coucal (duet from a pair in undergrowth) by Vicki Powys from xeno-canto:

What a neat bird. From the pictures, the bird seems sort of plain, but very beautiful. Since they are closely related to the Cuckoos, they are in the Cuculidae family, which is in Cuculiformes order.

and the owl, and the night-hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after its kind, (Leviticus 11:16 YLT)

See the Cuckoo page

Birds in Hymns – Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

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For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. (Psalms 47:7 KJV)

Words: Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, 1774.
Music: Autumn by Fran­çois H. Bar­thé­lé­mon, 1785
Al­ter­nate tune: Wellesley by Liz­zie S. Es­ta­brook, 1878

Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

Mighty God, while angels bless Thee,
May a mortal sing Thy Name?
Lord of men as well as angels,
Thou art every creature’s theme.
Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days.
Sounded through the wide creation
Be Thy just and endless praise.

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) by Nikhil Devasar

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) by Nikhil Devasar

For the grandeur of Thy nature,
Grand beyond a seraph’s thought;
For the wonders of creation,
Works with skill and kindness wrought.
For Thy providence, that governs,
Through Thine empire’s wide domain,
Wings an angel, guides a sparrow,
Blessèd be Thy gentle reign.

For Thy rich, Thy free redemption,
Bright, though veiled in darkness long,
Thought is poor, and poor expression;
Who can sing that wondrous song?
Brightness of the Father’s glory,
Shall Thy praise unuttered lie?
Break, my tongue, such guilty silence!
Sing the Lord Who came to die.

From the highest throne of glory
To the cross of deepest woe,
All to ransom guilty captives;
Flow my praise, forever flow!
Reascend, immortal Savior;
Leave Thy footstool, take Thy throne;
Thence return, and reign forever,
Be the kingdom all Thine own!

See Video of Hymn by pipeorgan8

Song Sparrow in white flowers by Daves BirdingPix

Song Sparrow in white flowers by Daves BirdingPix

Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, (1735-1790)

“Robinson’s wi­dowed mo­ther sent him at age 14 to Lon­don, to learn the trade of bar­ber and hair dress­er. How­ev­er, his mas­ter found he en­joyed read­ing more than work. Con­vert­ed to Christ at age 17, Ro­bin­son be­came a Meth­od­ist min­is­ter. He lat­er moved to the Bapt­ist church and pas­tored in Cam­bridge, Eng­land. He wrote a num­ber of hymns, as well as on the sub­ject of the­ol­o­gy. His lat­er life was ev­i­dent­ly not an ea­sy one, judg­ing from a well known sto­ry about his hymn Come, Thou Fount of Ev­ery Bless­ing. One day, he en­count­ered a wo­man who was stu­dy­ing a hymn­al, and she asked how he liked the hymn she was hum­ming. In tears, he re­plied, Madam, I am the poor un­hap­py man who wrote that hymn ma­ny years ago, and I would give a thou­sand worlds, if I had them, to en­joy the feel­ings I had then.” (CyberHymnal)

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More Birds in Hymns

See ~ Wordless Birds
Most information from The Cyber Hymnal – Mighty God, While Angels Bless Thee

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Birds in Hymns – I Am His, and He Is Mine

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The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV)

Author: George Wade Robinson, 1838-1877 – Its melody is lively and upbeat. Born in Ireland, Robinson was educated at Dublin’s Trinity College, and later at New College in London. Later he became a pastor in Dudley.

Music: Everlasting Love, James Mountain, 1843-1933 – The melody of “I am His, and He is Mine” was written under the name “Everlasting Love” by James Mountain in 1876. The melody of this hymn was written because the composer was about to publish a first edition of his hymnal, Hymns of Con­se­cra­tion and Faith. He took the words of Robinson’s hymn.

I Am His, and He Is Mine

Loved with everlasting love, Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above, Thou hast taught me it is so!
Oh, this full and perfect peace! Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine;
In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) by Quy Tran

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) by Quy Tran

Heav’n above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green!
Something lives in ev’ry hue Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine;
Since I know, as now I know, I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here, Doubt, and care, and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine;
While He whispers in my ear, I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His; Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart!
Heav’n and earth may fade and flee, Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine;
But while God and I shall be, I am His, and He is mine.

ICR Devotionals just covered this song.
Stanza 1 – Everlasting Love
Stanza 2 – Appreciating God’s Creation
 Stanza 3 – His Everlasting Arms
Stanza 4 – While God and I Shall Be

Updated 3/13/2010

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

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Bar-tailed Godwits – Self Control

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Bar-tailed Godwits – Self Control  –  by a j mithra

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Nikhil Devasar

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Nikhil Devasar

With the help of
satellite tracking,
researchers found that,
Bar-tailed Godwits made
the longest non-stop flight
of any bird…
A female Bar-Tailed Godwit,
flew nonstop for eight days
and covered 7,242 miles
from Alaska to New Zealand….
These birds use
the air’s low pressure
to help them migrate
and they take advantage
of the 500 to 800 miles
of strong tailwinds
of the low pressure..
Many a time,
when we face low pressure
in life,
we feel down and out,
weak and weary,
distracted and disturbed
all along our life’s journey….

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Ian

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) by Ian

All because,
we don’t have the
fruit of self control..
We also fail to realize that
the low pressure
is the launching pad
on our quest to top…
Look at the price
this little bird had paid
to do what no one else
could do!
She didn’t eat or drink,
she didn’t shop or sleep
during her journey..
GOD paid a priceless price
for all our sins..
But,
what price are we
going to pay
to reach our destiny?
This bird neither slept
nor supped for eight long days..
Do we have that self control,
to fast at least once a week?
Do we have that self control
to keep wake all night
and pray for at least once a month?
GOD IS IN NEED OF PEOPLE
TO STAND AT THE GAP
AND PLEAD FOR ALL THOSE
DYING SOULS..
HELLOOOOO….
IS ANYONE LISTENING?

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1Corinthians 9:25 (A S V)

Have a blessed day!

Yours in YESHUA,
A. J. Mithra at Crosstree

Click to see more of A. J.’s articles

Godwits are in the Scolopacidae Family of the Charadriiformes Order

See also:
Great Travelers Have Great Stories to Tell

Clark’s Nutcracker by A J Mithra

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Clark’s Nutcracker

Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) ©USFWS

Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) ©USFWS

Clark’s Nutcracker
is a small shy bird,
stores around
22,000 to 33,000 seeds
during the growing months
in 2,500 different locations,
sometimes at a distance of
nearly 10 miles apart..

If this small little bird
can prepare so well
for the winter months,
how prepared are we to meet
THE SEED – THE WORD?

The amazing part is.
this small little bird
can still remember
the locations
where it hid the seeds..
Such is its remarkable
memory power..

Do we at least remember that
we are fearfully
and wonderfully made
by GOD and that
HE gave HIS precious life
for you and me?

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14 KJV)

Have a blessed day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
A. J. Mithra at Crosstree

Click to see more of A. J.’s articles

Lee’s Addition:
Nutcrackers are in the Corvidae – Crows, Jays family of the Passeriformes order

Bird brained-it could be a compliment! (Oct 9, 2009 by Ken Ham)

Nice Video of a Clark’s Nutcracker

Birds of the Bible – Pleasant to the Sight

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ANS-Anat Wood Duck and Mandarin Duck

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9 KJV)

While searching for articles about birds I came across this article. The quote below is also appropriate for birds. I believe many of them definitely qualify as “pleasant to the sight.”

“The answer that came to my mind was suggested by Genesis 2:9, where we read that God created fruit trees not only good for food but also “pleasant to the sight.” We normally expect to find aspects of beauty as well as utility in the artifacts of human creation; how much more should we expect beauty to abound in the handiwork of God! Even creationists seem to forget that God is not only the Great Engineer, but the Great Artist as well.

Unfortunately, just like the engineering marvels of God have been corrupted by mutations and other effects of the bondage to corruption occasioned by our sin (Romans 8:18-20), so its beauty has been marred. The God whose faithful care daily sustains what He has made will not leave it so. But with the creation that “groaneth in travail,” we also wait for that time when “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, but the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 6:11).” (From, Nature’s Challenge to Evolutionary Theory, by Gary Parker, Ed.D., ICR)

Thought you might enjoy seeing some “Pleasant to the Sight” birds. It was hard to narrow the choices down. These are from the Non-Passerines. Used the Passerines last week.

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