I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. (Psalms 77:11-12 KJV)
In 2008 Birds of the Bible – Review was written. Needless to say, many more articles have been added since then. Please take some time over the next few days and check out articles that you may have missed or you are new and didn’t know of their existence.
Scripture tells us to remember the Lord’s blessings and all His benefits. I consider watching birds one of the Lord’s great blessings. The previous articles were written in an attempt to honor the Lord through telling about His birds. I trust you will dig around and discover some interesting new or old avian friends to read and learn about.
Another reason for this blog is to ask for prayer for me. On Wednesday last week, I had a Squamous Cell Cancer removed from my neck, just under my chin. They attempted to remove it 6 months ago, but didn’t get it all. This time, he cut it out and I have an inch and half row of stitches. On Saturday, it started turning red and irritating me. Monday when I went back to have it looked at, it was infected. So, now I am on an antibiotic, which makes me sort of drowsy. It hurts to lift my head up to look at the monitor (it pulls on the stitches), so the blogs have slowed down. My stitches are supposed to come out next Tuesday, the 8th of October.
Praise the Lord, with over 1,500 articles and 1,100 pages of material, surely there is something you haven’t read before. There are tabs or menus along the top which help you find different topics. Check them out. By you reading, it will also help my page view counts while I am in a “coasting” mode. Thank you.
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) by Clement Francis
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If the Coppersmith Barbet chicks
don’t return
to their nest early
their parents will not allow them in!
If we don’t return
in to the kingdom early
would Jesus take us in?
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Mathew 25:13
Nuggets Plus – Watchout ~ by A J Mithra
Lee’s Addition:
What a beautiful bird, but also what a solemn warning.
The Coppersmith Barbet, Crimson-breasted Barbet or Coppersmith (Megalaima haemacephala), is a bird with crimson forehead and throat which is best known for its metronomic call that has been likened to a coppersmith striking metal with a hammer. It is a resident found in the Indian Subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Like other barbets, they chisel out a hole inside a tree to build their nest. They are mainly fruit-eating but will take sometimes insects, especially winged termites. They belong to the Megalaimidae – Asian Barbets Family.
I found AJ’s remark about the youngster failing to get back to the nest on time interesting and found these remarks on Wikipedia.
Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) by MAMuin
Keeps solitary, pairs, or small groups; larger parties occasionally on abundantly fruiting Ficus trees. Fond of sunning themselves in the morning on bare top branches of tall trees, often flitting about to sit next to each other. The flight is straight, with rapid flaps.
They compete with other cavity nesting birds and frugivores. Megalaima asiatica have been noted to evict them from their nest holes, while Red-vented Bulbuls have been seen to indulge in kleptoparasitism, robbing the male of berries brought to the female at the nest.
The nest holes are also used for roosting and some birds roost alone in cavities and these often roost during part of the day. Immatures will roost with the parents but often return to roost early so as not to be prevented by the parents from entering the roost cavity.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. (Matthew 25:1-13 ESV)
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)
To the rock flies the cony, the stork to her nest,
When tempests are gathering and black is the west;
So swift, by life’s trials o’erwhelmed and oppressed,
I fly to my refuge, Jehovah, my rest!
The nest, whither speedeth the storm beaten bird,
Aloft, on the fir top by tempests is stirred;
But the nest of my refuge no storm wind can smite;
’Tis the breast of Jehovah; I’m safe from afright.
The rock where the cony securely may hide
Is set in the mountain’s cold, pitiless side;
But the rock of my safety, the home of my quest,
’Tis the heart of my Savior: How warm and how blest!
Then blow, thou wild tempest, I fear not thy might,
Tho’ blackly thou lowerest, my prospect is bright;
Jehovah, my Savior, I fly to Thy breast;
Dear rock of my refuge! Dear sheltering nest!
Storks Shadowing Baby in Lakeland by Dan
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (Psalms 62:7 KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalms 91:1-2 KJV)
Alice Boise Wood (?-1919) was the daughter of Professor James R. Boise, Wood was the first woman to graduate from Chicago University. She went on to teach Greek there, and was known as a poet.
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
Wood Stork by Dan at Lake Morton
The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times
Well, here is another reason why God prefers to make a covenant with the birds. The stork knows her appointed time. Every bird keeps up to the appointed time from dawn to dusk. Their breeding and migration are also set to an appointed time. Birds neither breed nor migrate as and when they wish. Even their nests are built on an appointed time at the appointed direction using the appointed material.
Storks build their nests where others would never dream of spending their nights. Its choice of nesting site that ranges from a high tension electric wire to a high-rise building. They prefer high places so that it would be easier for them to locate a stupendous meal for their ravenous chicks that eat almost 60% of their body weight. Why should they risk their lives and build their nests in such dangerous places? The storks know their appointed places as well as they know their appointed breeding time.
Some of the oldest stork nests in Europe are more than seven feet wide and ten feet deep has been in use for hundreds of years and still are being used by storks as breeding homes when they begin to arrive in April from their African wintering grounds. How well they organize themselves before migration is quite amazing. Male storks arrive a few days earlier, mend their nests and then would wait for his mate to arrive.
Our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ had left us more than 2000 years back; not to mend an old depleted castle in heaven but to build a new mansion with streets of Gold, from where we would reign with Him for years to follow. He is not going to wait for the arrival of His bride like the male stork that awaits its mate but would descend like a thief to take His bride with Him. No clocks, no calendars yet, the birds prepare for their rigorous seasonal excursion weeks in advance and return to the same nest every year.
We are not going for a yearly excursion to heaven. This is going to be a once in a lifetime journey, that would take us to rest with Him forever and ever. How well are we preparing for this eternal journey? How do the birds do this every year? They should know their appointed time isn’t it? Do we know our appointed time? If only we had known our appointed time, God would’ve made a covenant with us isn’t it? We need to pray like David for God to reveal to us our appointed time…
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Psalm 39:4
Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis) by Nikhil
The turtle……. observe the time of their coming..
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
When do the turtles come?
Where do they come?
Why do they observe the time of their coming?
Earth’s magnetic fields and astronomical cues are a couple of the many different hypothesis found to influence turtle’s migration. Though the usage of astronomical cue hypothesis among turtles doesn’t have concrete evidence, the earth’s magnetic field hypothesis should stand good since scientific evidence proves that turtles do have magnetic interceptors. They may not see the sun, moon and the stars while they are in the ocean but still, the reason that they are able to time their migration to perfection. Wikipedia explains the magnetic field hypothesis like this.
“In regards to the magnetic field hypothesis, there are three main concepts that should be considered. The concepts include electromagnetic induction, magnetic field chemical reactions, and magnetite. In regards to electromagnetic induction, it is assumed that the sea turtles have electroreceptor. Although evidence has been found in other species such as rays and sharks, no evidence has shown that there are electroreceptors in sea turtles making this hypothesis invalid. A second concept from the experimentation by Irwin involves chemical reactions which are commonly found in a variety of species of newts and birds. The strength of the magnetic field affects the chemical reactions within the bodies of the newts and birds. The final concept includes the magnetic crystals that form during the magnetic pulses from the earth’s magnetic fields. These magnetic crystals formed by magnetite give the turtles directional information and guides in migration. The magnetite affects the cells of the nervous system of the sea turtle by producing a signal that references the forces of the magnetic field and the direction and magnitude that is applied. If this magnetite is used in the migration, when the earth’s magnetic poles reverse at the dipole moment, they signal that the sea turtle nervous system receives will change the migration direction. Regardless of the hypothesis, hatchling turtles have the ability to determine the direction and inclination angle of which they are swimming with aide from magnetic fields” (Wikipedia)
Science says that if the earth’s magnetic field is stronger, the electromagnetic storms would be too severe and if the earth’s magnetic field is weaker, the ozone shield and life on land would be inadequately protected from stellar and solar radiation. In other words, God controls the magnetic field of the earth so well that it has turned earth to be the fittest planet for lives to survive. While God controls the magnetic field, the turtles rely on this magnetic field to ignite its migration. Don’t we see how turtles observe the time of their coming?
Turtles migrate, so they need to know the time of their coming. You may wonder what does this have to do with us, humans. Do we observe time when we go to church? Or do we go as when we please. We rush to school, college or office on time. At times we are not bothered to even skip our breakfast in order to reach on time. We don’t seem to understand that God would be eagerly waiting for us in church even before the service starts. Jesus is not only preparing a mansion for us in heaven, He even waits for the last soul to come into His flock. Don’t we have a God who waits eagerly for His lost son?
…..But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Out of the ten servant maids, only five were ready for the appointed time to meet the Bride, while the rest had gone out to but oil. If they had observed the timing of Jesus, they would’ve filled their lamps long ago with oil and wouldn’t have waited for the last-minute isn’t it? God says that He knows our going out and coming in. Can we say the same? How well do we observe God’s time? The turtle’s body is in tune with the earth’s magnetic field. How well is our body, the temple of the true Living God tuned to do His will? Is this the reason why God preferred to choose the wildlife to make covenant I wonder…
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
Common Crane (Grus grus) by Nikhil Devasar
The crane…… observe the time of their coming
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
The migration of cranes are another good example of how these feathered friends time their migration based on the angle of sunlight , length of the day and the hormonal changes that happen before migration. The hormonal changes allow them to gain weight by way of fat reserves that they gain due to change of diet. Whooping crabs feed on lots of blue crabs to gain weight before migration. These maybe the real reasons for cranes to migrate.
We will soon have to depart on a permanent migration to heaven; but not before we have a mid-air meet with the King of kings Lord Jesus Christ. How many of us truly believe or surely have the assurance that we will meet our creator before we embark on our journey to heaven? We all want to go to heaven but we don’t want to die. Many out there are bent on somehow going to heaven. They worship, they pray, they tithe, they willing and fervently do almost all that the Bible asks us to do. But, they are scared to die. Isn’t it strange? Should we not prepare for the date and the time of our departure?
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14
But, the actual take off of cranes happens on days that are very sunny. This sunny weather warms some areas more than the others like the walkway is hotter than the lawn and the land is hotter than lakes and streams. This difference in temperature causes air to rise from the warmer areas and causes an air thermal. These airs thermal not only causes the cranes to stay aloft for longer durations but also helps them fly hundreds of miles in a single day using very little or no energy at all. They will also wait for the right day and will not depart until the day has the right length before their marathon journey. The cranes know its appointed time, if only we know our appointed time God would have surely made a covenant with us instead of wildlife species isn’t it?
The church is eagerly (?)waiting to depart to meet the King. No one knows the time that God has slated for this major space schedule. But still, though we don’t know the moment of actual occurrence, why most of us have set up benchmarks and some are even trying to raising their spiritual bench mark to measure up to the yardsticks spread by the rulebook of God? We take the following verse as a supporting document to lay emphasis on our fickle faith. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Mathew 24:44.
But then, there is another verse which says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. If a crane could know their coming, do we not have the privilege to seek dispensation from God? He did not give His precious life on the cross for the cranes isn’t it? Since He bore the cross for us, He is sure to reveal our going out from this world, in other words His coming in to this world to transfigure us in order to make us worthy citizens of heaven. Before Jesus left for His heavenly sojourn,”….. He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. Do we spread the gospel as was told by His? Did we the person who sits next to us at office? Or have we spread His good news to our classmate in school or college? Well, it is still uncertain if we have reached the person who lives next door to spread the gospel. How dare do we expect God to reveal His coming in when we do not find the courage to even talk about Jesus in public? Go back to the first sentence of this paragraph. God clearly says, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.. Does it not mean that God expects us to serve Him and in return He shall reveal His secrets I wonder…
Barn Swallow by Dan
The swallows observe the time of their coming
“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.” Jeremiah 8:7
European swallows spend the winter in Africa south of the Sahara, in Arabia and in the Indian sub-continent. While the British swallows spend their winter in South Africa: travelling through western France, across the Pyrenees, down eastern Spain into Morocco, and across the Sahara. Some birds follow the west coast of Africa avoiding the Sahara, and other European swallows travel further east and down the Nile Valley. Outside of the breeding season some species may form large flocks, and may also roost communally. This is thought to provide protection from predators such as sparrow-hawks and hobbies. These roosts can be enormous; one winter roosting site of Barn Swallows in Nigeria attracted 1.5 million individuals, says Wikipedia.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Mathew 18:20
God did not give the Bible for swallows but still how did they know that communal roosting would give them protection from predators. The church had proliferated endlessly from the first congregation of hundred twenty members at the upper room to millions under thousands of denomination and doctrines around the world. In spite of this phenomenal growth, the church is being targeted and thrashed in so many countries. If only the church had unity, the whole world would have known about the power of a united church. The power of unity is thus shown in the following verse. “And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.” Leviticus 26:8. Do we ever have a chance of witnessing those days in our life time?
The upper room congregations of those hundred and twenty disciples were touched by tongues of heavenly fire, Contemporary Churches gather in so many different places from a small upper room to a gigantic stadium. Yet nothing quite stunning as that had happened as it did on the day of the Pentecost. Though the churches are not on fire for God, church buildings and believers are being set on fire for following Christ. Why? Is it ‘cause of lack of faith in God or lack of oneness of mind among churches?
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
For Christ’s sake let us stand united like swallows so that God would make covenant with us…
While leading the Israelites in the wilderness, Moses never moved forward till the Pillar of Cloud moved from the Tabernacle. He moved when the Pillar moved and camped where the Pillar stood. God has not given us the Pillar of Cloud; instead He has sent His own spirit to guide us. The Pillar of Cloud resembles the anointing of God. Do we wait for the Spirit of God to lead us in all that we do? There are times we start doing things without asking for God’s direction and life turns miserable. If only we had listened to the voice God…
“For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Luke 12:12
Emu Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee
Emu needs lots of water every day and they run behind rain clouds in the hope that they would get water. Do we really run behind the Living Water? Do we still have the thirst that was found during the initial days when we gave our life to the Lord? Most of us would certainly answer in the negative. So, let us start learning from the beasts and the birds in particular, so that God would make a covenant with each one of us. And that’s what Prophet Job prescribes for us in his book…
“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.” Job 12:7-8
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Birds of the Bible – The Hidden Covenant ~ by AJ Mithra
Hosea 2:14 says, “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her” Did He not allure us and bring us from the wilderness of sin? He has been so kind to us that He still comforts us with His words, songs and above all with His presence and peace that passeth all understanding. What does this verse got to with the covenant? Hosea 2:16 has the answer to it. “And I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth,and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.”
So? Does it not mean that we need to sing as in the days of our youth and as we sang when we came out of Egypt? Do we sing and worship the way we used to when we first met Jesus? Who would forget the day of salvation! The day when our hearts overflowed with the joy and peace that had never been experienced ever before! Do we have the same joy over the years?
Life has not been too kind for most of us. Battered and bruised we still are trying to come to terms with living a life that is pleasing unto God. During times of trouble, murmuring and self-pity takes our priority above singing and worshipping God. Look at the fowls of the air. Rain or shine they still keep singing like preset robots. No matter what kind of weather it is, the birds never stop their concert. Is God expecting this bird-kind of worship from us? Some of us may not know this bird-kinda worship. Here is how the birds sing.
Sombre Hummingbird (Aphantochroa cirrochloris) By Dario Sanches
“Early Singer”
Dawn Chorus is part of every bird’s daily routine. They never venture out in search of food before they finish their dawn chorus. Do we dawn chorus everyday or just the morn-chorus every Sunday? Do we know why birds dawn chorus?
Since they use most of their energy in singing and flying, birds have to eat once in every ten minutes like the hummingbirds, to once in couple of hours like raptors, depending upon the species,. How much energy do we use in singing for God is another question which we may have to ponder a little late! Coming back to where we left, birds do not eat from dusk to dawn, which can be called as an everyday hibernation period. If birds don’t eat well the previous evening, the chances of staying alive to deliver the dawn chorus the next morn is very minimal. So they need to eat well to stay fit to render their dawn chorus so as to advertise that they are still alive.We boast that we worship Jesus – The Life, the way and the truth. But, do we advertise every dawn that we are still alive? God says, “I love those who love me; And those who seek me early shall find me” Proverbs 8:17.
“Those who seek me early shall find me”, which means those who don’t seek early shall not find isn’t it? How early do we seek Him? The Israelites had to collect the dew wrapped manna before sunrise, else manna would melt and they may have to starve for the day. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1 & 14. The word of God is our daily manna. In other words, Jesus is our manna. Well, how many of us collect our daily manna before sunrise? Most of us are starving in spirit, is it because we seek God when the sun is over our heads? “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6
God expects a dawn chorus from us and not a morn chorus. Each new morn would be a great blessing, when we kneel before God before our feet touches the ground. And it would be even more blessing when we open our mouth wide to praise and worship our eternal Father before we actually utter the first word for the day. Light is better seen in the dark. Remember, that Jesus is the Light. He expects us to seek Him early and not yearly. May be God will make a covenant with us if we too start singing not just the Sunday morn chorus but the dawn chorus like birds,.
“Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.” Psalm 108:2
Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster) by Peter Ericsson
“High voltage Singer”
Coming back to the question, “How much energy do we use in singing for God?” posted in the previous paragraph; it isn’t fair, yet, there is no other choice but to compare our singing with the singing of the birds. The song of a 5-gram Black-bellied Sunbird or that of a 45-gram Spectacled Spiderhunter can be heard as far as 300 to 400 meters. If they are as big as the Homo sapiens, their songs can be heard as far as 3 to 4 kilometers. If at all we sing, how loud do we sing for God? Paul and Silas sang and the earth shook inside the jail. But, these days, the singing inside a church doesn’t seem to even reach the roof of the church.
The secret lies in the noise that we make for God. All those who shouted for the Lord found immense favour from the Him. The noise of Joshua and his men tore down the walls of Jericho. We should know the size of the walls of this mighty for, to comprehend the real power of praise. The Archeologists who excavated the burnt city, explain the walls of Jericho like this,
The fortifications of Jericho were massive.
These walls were structured on a three-tiered plan. The walls started with an earthen rampart, or embankment, which ran from ground level, upwards on an incline to a stone retaining wall. The stone retaining wall stood 12 to 15 feet in height (4-5m).
On top of the stone wall, stood another wall made of mud-bricks, 6 feet (2m) thick, and 20 to 26 feet (6-8m) high. Together, these two walls combined to form a fortification 32 to 41 feet high.
To put this into perspective, envision a 4 story tall building. Such was the height of the walls of Jericho.
On the other side of the double wall, the embankment continued to climb upwards. At the summit of the embankment, another mud-brick wall stood.
At their base, the walls of Jericho stood 46 feet (14m) above ground level outside the retaining wall. To the Israelites below, Jericho seemed impenetrable.
The illusion created by the two walls on the bottom, and the large wall at the crest of the embankment, seemed to stand nearly 10 stories in height from ground level! From this height, the Israelites must have seemed like ants, and surely were deemed no threat whatsoever.”
None of us would have faced an enemy as big as this fort of Jericho in all our life. In other words, our trials and tribulations would look much smaller compared to the walls of Jericho. If a mighty fort can buckle under the power of praise, will not our shouts of praise melt away our miseries and misfortunes? Sadly we don’t seem to use it to good effect: but birds do it with what little energy they have and that maybe the reason God chose to make covenant with them,
Maybe God will make a covenant with us if we too start singing loud like these little avian singers.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1
Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) by Nikhil Devasar
“LP (Long Play) Singer”
There are birds that sing for long durations. Birds like grasshopper warbler’s solo may last for over two minutes, nightjars may “chur” nonstop for eight minutes, a skylark may belt an unbroken heartfelt song for 18 minutes and an Oriental Magpie Robins would practice singing for more than half an hour to woo a potential female. To establish territories and to court females there is a bird called Dickcissels that would spend about 70 percent of the day singing while establishing territories and courting females. How long do we sing and worship every day to woo God’s presence. For God loves to dwell among our praises and the Bible says it too.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm22:3
From dawn to dusk to summer to winter, every little movement of the planets and the billions of stars, the blooming of the flowers and the fruiting of the trees, every tiny creation under the sky are set in perfect motion each following different rhythmic patterns ensuing perfect harmony. There can be no better musician that God Himself. He orchestrates the whole universe like only He alone can. And that is the reason God assigned Moses to do something which he has never done before.
Before bidding goodbye for the last time to the people whom he led from Egypt through the wilderness, Moses was entrusted the job of teaching a song to the Israelites that God had personally composed.
Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:19-22
Moses did teach God’s real big song immediately to his people and that can be found in Deuteronomy 32. How would our church respond if our pastor taught us that same big song? Faces frown when worship session extends beyond the stipulated time by a few minutes and if still continues for another few more minutes, worship turn to murmur. That is ‘cause most people find themselves so restless when it comes to spending that extra few minutes in the presence of God. We measure our praise and worship but we want immeasurable blessings from God.
Maybe God wants us to sing for longer durations like our flying friends so as to make a covenant with us…
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”Psalm 34:1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) by Dan
“All Season Singer”
“Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” Isaiah 6:2-3
Since creation the Cherubs and Seraphs had been singing Holy, Holy, Holy, non-stop 24×7. I wonder how they don’t get bored singing the same song for thousands of years. Most birds sing the same family song generation after generation after generation. The Northern Mocking birds sing all through the day and many a time can be heard even during the night. These slender birds never seem to get bored with singing. They also continue to add new sounds to their repertoires all through their lives. Don’t be surprised if someone says that a male Northern Mocking bird would learn more than 200 songs in its lifetime. That is their lifestyle, singing new songs all through the day and even during nights. A single male would sing longer than a male that has a family.
We prefer to worship only when life is on a rollercoaster. Do we sing and praise God at all times, during dark times in particular? May be that is the reason why God had not made a covenant with us yet is it? The Catholic Bible says that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego worshipped right inside the fiery furnace that was set to heat seven times more than normal. And our God who loves to dwell among praises descended down and took the three young men for a stroll right in the middle of the furnace. Wear on the garment of Praise and worship, for it is fire-proof you know! Think of Paul and Silas, who were battered and bruised for no fault and was thrown into the prison. Undeterred, they preferred to sing and praise God at the darkest hour. That’s when God shook the foundation of the prison, broke their bondage and also of the other inmates of the prison. Wear the garment of Praise and Worship and you will find that no chain can bind you or jail you…Hundreds of years passed between these two significant incidents. Sandwiched between those two incidents is another great worshipper is King David, who knew the secret of Praise and Worship and that is the reason he says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1
Maybe God is waiting to hear us sing at all times to make a covenant with us..
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) By Dan’sPix
“New Song Singer”
Some birds sing just one song all through their lives. But there are birds that have vast repertoires of over thousands songs too… Brown thrasher can sing 2,000 songs while an Red-eyed Vireo had been recorded to have sung 20.000 songs in a day. Northern mocking birds often learn new songs. Sometimes it may end up learning about 200 new songs every year, during adulthood the male needs to improvise its singing capabilities by practicing for hours together to impress upon its probable mate. The male that sings the most complex songs are in demand among the eligible females. Most female prefer to mate with the male which sings the most complex songs since, she thinks that the male that sings the most complex songs is best suited to raise and look after the family.
Male Black-throated blue warblers that had bred and reproduced successfully would sing to its offspring to influence their vocal development. If young birds fail to learn songs from their fathers, they would starve to death. Bird vocalization is absolutely necessary for the young birds to grow into a successful adult.
How many parents take time to teach new songs to their children? How many parents feel that children should go to Sunday school regularly? Raising a child is not about feeding clothing and sheltering alone . It is about teaching them survival traits which would help them rise into a successful parent in future. Those survival traits include worship, prayer, tithing, knowledge in the word of God and so on. Do we teach them to sing for God? If we as parents fail to teach them the power of worship and how it can change any bad situation, who else would? We don’t have to be musically trained to teach them new songs. The least could be family prayer both at dawn and dusk. Wherein we have the habit of singing hymns and choruses that would help parents expose their children to new songs. If a father smokes in front of his children, he is sure to see one of them smoke in the near future. And if a mother gossips in front of her child, she would surely end up seeing her child gossip too. Do we want to define machismo and femininity by smoking and gossiping? What we are is what our children are going to be. The ones who learn to worship God singing new songs even in times of trouble are the ones who are capable of overcoming any situation, bad or worse.
God doesn’t expect us to sing the same song over and over again; we have a better choice to sing new songs every day. Our God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19. David knew the secret of touching God’s heart. Maybe that is the reason he made it a point to sing new songs for God. We may not sing thousands of song, do but do we have the habit of singing a few new songs for God? Is that the reason why God chose to make a covenant with birds instead?
“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
Birds neither have a worship leader nor a worship team to lead them in singing. They know God’s plan in their lives. They also know that God had created them to sing and so they sing. No matter what, rain or shine, they never cease to sing. They sing on time, the time that God had set for each one of them. They do not overlap their singing instead they share space even in their singing. Homo Sapiens love to talk, talk and talk 24×7. We talk about our family and finance, sports and corruption, love and sex, marriage and divorce. At the end of the day most of all that we spoke through the day is found to be just rubbish. But birds always talk about global warming, climate change and natural disaster.
Duetting among birds not only help them stay close to each other but also to locate each other in dense foliage. Initially this behavior was thought be a battle of sexes, where duetting behavior reflects the struggle between bonding pair. But recent studies show that duetting is not about singing romantic duets but it is all about aggressive audio warfare, where it bonds a potential pair in defending territorial invasion by other bonding pairs.
Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Mathew 18:20. When two are three gather in His name do they fill the air with “gossip” or “worship?”
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:21
God created man to just worship. But, we do every other thing except worshipping. Worse still, man’s priorities shifted from worshipping the One to be worshipped to worshipping the worship or the worship leader or the choir or the musician. Most churches feel that it’s the talent of the worship leader or the worship team or the selection of songs that is crucial in pulling off a successful worship session. It is time for us to switch on the search lights and check on how we worship God. Do we worship God in truth and in spirit? Don’t we prefer this worship leader than that worship leader? Don’t we feel that this worship team is better than the other worship team? Did we not say that the presence of God is mightier when that guy sings or plays the keyboard? Are we spiritual Christians or emotional Christians? Most believers treat church as a concert hall rather than a place of worship. That must be the reason why they prefer to listen to worship rather than to participate in worship. The reason they give, “I don’t have a good voice” God doesn’t look for a good voice but for a joyful noise.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4
Pale-yellow Robin (Tregellasia capito) in nest by Ian
“Silent Singer”
Most birds do not sing all through the day. As told earlier, they have a set time for their everyday concert, what researchers call as “Bird clock”. They know when to sing and when to stay silent. Do we know when to stay still and when to worship? The Bible calls us as the “Royal Priesthood”. Bible explains the robe of the Royal Priest like this.
“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collararound this opening, so that it will not tear.
Make pomegranatesof blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them.
The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe.” Exodus 28:31-34
The gold bells and the pomegranates that alternate around the hem of the robe show us how to live the life of a true worshipper. Bells make noise and pomegranates stay quite. In other words the alternate arrangement of gold bells and pomegranates seems to say that we need to know when to make a joyful noise and when to keep quite. Music is also an amalgamation of notes and pause. In other words music is not complete without pause. The birds know it well and help them sync so well with the bird clock. A royal priest also ought to know when to make noise and when to give a pause.
“And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not.” Exodus 28:35
The sound of the bell should keep ringing while the priest is inside the holy place before the Lord. The sounds of the bells would die only if God slays the priest only after having found him to have sinned. This only substantiates the fact that we, the so-called royal priesthood need to make a joyful noise in His presence and if we don’t, it sounds like we are dead. We need to remember that, “The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.” Psalm 115:17.
Of all the languages, silence is the most powerful language on the face of the earth. Now that we know when to make noise, we also need to know when to pause too. The life of Jesus itself shows us importance of being still in silence. On more than one occasion Jesus did show us what silence can do. Jesus echoed the language of silence in the most profound mode on the cross of Calvary. If not for His silence, we would still be waiting for redemption. It was His silence that broke the shackles of sin to set us free from the clutches of satan. How silent are we in His presence? Do we take time to listen to Him or just go blah-blah in His presence?
Birds know when to sing their mating songs and when not to. They have a specific season for mating; unlike human beings whose birthday fall on every single day from January through December and that includes February 29th, the leap day too. Romancing for birds is seasonal, purposeful and decisive: whereas for Homo sapiens, it is more of lust than of commitment, a commitment to God’s eternal plans, per se. There is a season for everything. Do we adhere to God’s timing? In His time He makes all things beautiful and not in our time. Birds must be intrinsic to God’s time. That must be the reason for God to make a covenant with these feathered singers isn’t it?
“a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,” Ecclesiastes 3:7
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Birds of the Bible – The Hidden Covenant ~ by AJ Mithra
(Written by A J – layout, photos, and sounds added by Lee)
Today, Dan and I are celebrating our 50th Wedding Anniversary or our Golden Anniversary. It is hard to believe that is was 50 years ago that we began our journey through life together. On July 26, 1963 we said our “I do”s and now here we are on July 26, 2013 enjoying this day together. Praise the Lord for His grace and guidance over the years.
Our pastor asked Dan yesterday how it feels to be married fifty years? Dan told him, “My grandfather told me while going through the reception line at our wedding, ‘Son, your first 50 years will be the hardest. The rest is easy’.”
We were both Christians when we got married and have tried to keep the Lord at the head over the years. He has blessed us beyond measure even though at times He slipped from the Number One position because of our attitudes. If you were to ask how do you stay married and in love for these many years, then the Lord is the answer.
On our 25th Anniversary, my sister sent a poem to us, that I would like to share:
Marriage Takes 3
I once
thought marriage
took just two to make a
go but now I am convinced
it takes the Lord also. And
not one marriage fails where
Christ is asked to enter as
lovers come together with Jesus
at the center. But marriage seldom thrives
and homes are incomplete till He
is welcomed there to help avoid
defeat. In homes where God
is first it’s obvious to see
those unions really work
For marriage still
takes three.
(Perry Tanksley)
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And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:4-6 KJV)
We have always had many common interest. Number one, our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our current other interest is our birdwatching activities which readers of this blog are familiar with. Dan is the photographer, who takes the good pictures, and I attempt to write about our adventures.
Lee – Taken 6/27/13
Praise the Lord for 50 years with my two best friends, the Lord and Dan.
One of my readers of the blog had this in his post. After checking the internet, I found that it was free to use. So, now I am sharing it. I think it is adorable. Not sure who originally put it together, but, thank you.
When I showed it to Dan and ask him what I could write about it, he gave me the following example:
All those birds are from different species, yet they are all heading in the same direction. The Bible tells us:
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, (Acts 17:26 NKJV)
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV)
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 NKJV)
Praise the Lord that it matters not where you are from, the Lord Jesus Christ has made salvation available to “whosoever.”
Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. (Proverbs 26:2 NKJV)
Wanted to share an article I came across about Swallows.
A recent article from the UK’s Daily Mail declared, “Swallows are evolving shorter wings because they keep getting hit by traffic.” Now, the article explains the results of a recent study from the journal Current Biology. The study examined cliff swallows, both living and dead, that build their mud nests on highway overpasses, to see if there were certain traits in swallows that favored their survival. The researchers argued that natural selection should “favor individuals that either learn to avoid cars or that have other traits making them less likely to collide with vehicles.” The study found that the swallows that survived had shorter wingspans, while the ones that died had longer wings…..”
“three enthusiastic brothers, ages 10, 11, and 13, are combining their interest in writing, creationism, and web design to launch the Virtual Creation Zoo. Their goal is to declare the glory of our Creator, and these three boys are doing it! “
May you enjoy your day and may you remember our founders and their sacrifices to form our country. More than that, may you remember the Lord and His Word which provided the principles to govern this country.
Unfortunately, many today are trying to remove those principles from our laws and morality. Today, many are:
“You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— (Deuteronomy 12:8 NKJV)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15 NKJV)
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2 NKJV)
Our leaders are more worried about being “politically correct” instead of doing what is right based on the Word of God. Chunk by chunk, Christianity and it’s principles, which guided our Founding Fathers, are being removed from our country. In place, things that are clearly taught as sin are now the “right” of the people to do, while the “rights” of Christians are being taken away. We are on the way to becoming a pagan nation. So this year, the 4th of July is sadder than last year.
Yet, the Lord has still allowed us to live in the greatest nation, because of those great Founding Fathers that believed in God. They applied the principles found in God’s Word to found this great nation. I am thankful that, so far, we still have the privilege to openly worship our Lord in our churches. I am thankful the Lord let me be born here.
The Bald-headed Eagle (Bald Eagle) – Birds Illustrated by Color Photography, 1897
George Washington
1st U.S. President
“While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.”
--The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.
John Adams
2nd U.S. President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
“Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God … What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.”
--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.
“The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only Principles in which that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their address, or by me in my answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all these Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.
“Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general Principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the Existence and Attributes of God; and that those Principles of Liberty, are as unalterable as human Nature and our terrestrial, mundane System.”
--Adams wrote this on June 28, 1813, excerpt from a letter to Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson
3rd U.S. President, Drafter and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event.”
--Notes on the State of Virginia, Query XVIII, p. 237.
“I am a real Christian – that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.”
--The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, p. 385.
John Hancock
1st Signer of the Declaration of Independence
“Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. … Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.”
--History of the United States of America, Vol. II, p. 229.
Benjamin Franklin
Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Unites States Constitution
“Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped.
“That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever sect I meet with them.
“As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion, as he left them to us, is the best the world ever saw, or is likely to see;
“But I apprehend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, however, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more respected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbelievers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure.”
--Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790.
Then Jesus said … “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:16-21 NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6 NKJV)
I want to thank all of you who have been praying for me while I went through my eye surgery on Monday. As you can see, my left ey is just barely pinkish. The follow up visit on Tuesday was great. The eye Doctor said all was looking good and they test me at 20/20 for distant vision. Last week I couldn’t even see the Big E at the top of the chart.
My close vision is not so well and will have to be corrected with reading glasses. (They put in a “distant vision” lens) I have actually been going around with no glasses on for the first time in years. I also was noticing the leaves on the trees again, not just green trees.
As I said in a reply to the first article, I knew lots of people were praying for me. With four attempts to put in the IV and four nurses trying, I stayed calm. That is not my normal behavior when that happens. At the time, I could feel your prayers and I am very thankful for every one of them. The Lord was very close to me and helped the nurses and the doctor to do their jobs well.
We have been having VBS at our church this week and we have been helping with the photos. Dan caught me while I was sitting down on the job. My photos have actually turned out decent this week.
One of the classes – VBS 2013 by Lee
The colors are so crisp and bright, I can hardly wait to get out on a birdwatching adventure soon.
Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. (Psalms 147:1 NKJV)
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) Watching young nearby by Lee at Viera Wetlands
Let’s look into a name study for another Bird of the Bible – this time the Heron. Our fishing Green Heron directed my thinking towards the Heron. So, let’s see what we can find out about how they are mentioned in Scripture.
The Heron and their kind are mentioned in Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the list of “Unclean Birds” or the “Do not eat” list.
And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. (Leviticus 11:19 KJV)
And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. (Deuteronomy 14:18 KJV)
Those are the only two references to Herons in the King James Version. But how do other versions translate this bird? That is what these name study articles do. Dig around in the Word. I use e-Sword’ s compare mode to see the different versions.
Brenton, as does the APB, DRB, ISV, and NET has the Heron in Psalms:
There the sparrows will build their nests; and the house of the heron takes the lead among them. Psalms 104:17 Brenton)
The Bishops and CJB only use Heron in Deuteronomy, but not Leviticus.
The Phillips does not even use the word “Heron.”
Here is the Hebrew word used in these verses:
H601 אנפה ‘ănâphâh an-aw-faw’ From H599; an unclean bird, perhaps the parrot (from its irascibility): – heron.
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The DRB also uses Heron in Job:
The wing of the ostrich is like the wings of the heron, and of the hawk. (Job 39:13 DRB)
The GW shows Heron in these verses:
“It will become the possession of herons. It will become pools of water. I’ll sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Armies. (Isaiah 14:23 GW)
Pelicans and herons will take possession of the land. Owls and crows will live there. He will stretch the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of destruction over it. (Isaiah 34:11 GW)
Flocks will lie down in it along with animals of every kind. Even pelicans and herons will nest on top of its columns. Listen! A bird will sing in a window. The doorway will be in ruins, because the LORD will expose the cedar beams. (Zephaniah 2:14 GW)
Isaiah 14:23 uses H7090 which is:
H7090 קפּד קפּוד qippôd qippôd kip-pode’, kip-pode’ From H7088; a species of bird, perhaps the bittern (from its contracted form): – bittern.
Isaiah 34:11 GW and Zephaniah 2:14 GW both use the same H7090. The word is translated as “Bittern” in the KJV for all three verses. The Ardeidae- Herons, Bitterns Family consists of Heron, Egrets and Bitterns so, there doesn’t seem to be a problem there, especially since the first two verses said, “heron after her kind.” They are related.
The DRB’s (1899 Douay-Rheims Bible) translation, to me, does not seem to match the rest of the other translations.
Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) by Lee at LPZoo
Herons:
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species (some are called “egrets” or “bitterns” instead of “heron”). Within Ardeidae, all members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as “bitterns”, and — including the Zigzag Heron or Zigzag Bittern — are a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. However, egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white and/or have decorative plumes. Although egrets have the same build as herons, they tend to be smaller.
The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and there is still no clear consensus about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. One species formerly considered to constitute a separate monotypic family Cochlearidae, the Boat-billed Heron, is now regarded as a member of the Ardeidae.
Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, while others, notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) by W Kwong
The herons are a widespread family, they exist on all continents except Antarctica, and are present in most habitats except the coldest extremes of the Arctic, extremely high mountains and the driest deserts. Almost all species are associated with water, they are essentially non-swimming waterbirds that feed on the margins of lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds and the sea. They are predominately found in lowland areas, although some species live in alpine areas, and the majority of species occur in the tropics.
The herons are a highly mobile family, with most species being at least partially migratory. Birds are particularly inclined to disperse widely after breeding but before the annual migration where the species is colonial, searching out new feeding areas and reducing the pressures on feeding grounds near the colony. The migration typically occurs at night, usually as individuals or in small groups.
The herons and bitterns are carnivorous. The members of this family are mostly associated with wetlands and water, and feed on a variety of live aquatic prey. The diet includes a wide variety of aquatic animals, including fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects. Individual species may be generalists or specialise in certain prey types, like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which specialises in crustaceans, particularly crabs. Many species will also opportunistically take larger prey, including birds and bird eggs, rodents, and more rarely carrion. Even more rarely there have been reports of herons eating acorns, peas and grains, but most vegetable matter consumed is accidental.
The most common hunting technique is for the bird to sit motionless on the edge of or standing in shallow water and wait until prey comes within range. (Birds of the Bible – Patient Herons) Birds may either do this from an upright posture, giving them a wider field of view for seeing prey, or from a crouched position, which is more cryptic and means the bill is closer to the prey when it is located. Having seen prey the head is moved from side to side, so that the heron can calculate the position of the prey in the water and compensate for refraction, and then the bill is used to spear the prey.
Reddish Egret scarring up breakfast
In addition to sitting and waiting, herons may feed more actively. They may walk slowly, at around or less than 60 paces a minute, snatching prey when it is observed. Other active feeding behaviours include foot stirring and probing, where the feet are used to flush out hidden prey. The wings may be used to frighten prey (or possibly attract it to shade) or to reduce glare; the most extreme example of this is exhibited by the Black Heron, which forms a full canopy with its wings over its body.
Some species of heron, such as the Little Egret and Grey Heron, have been documented using bait in order to lure prey to within striking distance. Herons may use items already in place, or actively add items to the water in order to attract fish. Items used may be man-made, such as bread; alternatively Striated Herons in the Amazon have been watched repeatedly dropping seeds, insects, flowers and leaves into the water to catch fish. (Green Heron Fishing With Bread)
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 