Tag Archives: Christianity

Birds Of The Bible – Osprey

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Osprey Eating Lunch in Titusville 2

Osprey Eating Lunch in Titusville 2

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey,
(Lev 11:13 KJV)
But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey,
(Deu 14:12 KJV)

The Osprey is another bird on the “Do Not Eat” list. Here in central Florida, we see Ospreys quite frequently. Their nest are usually noticeable on platforms placed for them. On a road between Eagle Lake and Bartow, (which I have renamed “Osprey Road”) there is a nest in the V structure of almost every power distribution pole. There are at least 15-20 nests in about a mile or so. The Ospreys will show up after the first of the year and stay for about 4 months while they breed and raise their young.

Osprey Eating Lunch in Titusville

Osprey Eating Lunch in Titusville

Osprey Catching Fish - Viera Wetlands

Osprey Catching Fish – Viera Wetlands

The Osprey is in a family by itself. They widely distributed around the world. They are closely related to the Hawk and the Falcon. They are 21-24 inches long with a wingspan of 54-72 inches. The females are slightly larger and both look alike. Their diet is almost entirely fish, but they do eat small rodents and birds. When fishing, they fly 30 to 100 feet above the water and will hover when they find a fish. They will plunge into the water with their feet under them to catch the fish. “Rises from water with fish gripped in both feet, pauses in midair to shake water from plumage, and to arrange fish with head pointed forward, which reduces its resistance to air, flies with it to” perch or nest to feed young. Can carry up to four or more pounds.

Osprey Eating - Viera Wetlands

Osprey Eating – Viera Wetlands

God has designed the Osprey with several interesting features. Their feet have four equal length toes with “long, strong claws, curved about one third of a circle, and completely round.” “The lower surface, or pads, of the toes are covered with spicules, which help it hold slippery fishes; also, it is the only hawk that has outer toe reversible as in owls; this enables it to grasp it prey with two toes in front, tow in back. Its plumage is compact, which helps blunt its impact and reduces wetting when it plunges in the water.”

All quotes from (The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds) and photos by Dan.

See the Osprey Page for more information on the Osprey including Photos and Videos.

Birds of the Bible – Hawks

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Hawks are roughly divided into two groups: Buteos and Accipiters. The “Buteos are chunky hawks with broad wings and short, wide tails. They may soar for hours…with hardly a flap of their wings, and often perch in the open.” “Accipiters are slim hawks with relatively short rounded wings and long tails. They are in the woods, and “pursue prey with stealth and agility.” Quotes from p.108, Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America.

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, (Lev 11:16 and Deu 14:15 KJVR)

“Large hawks were numerous in Palestine. The largest were 2 ft. long, have flat heads, hooked beaks, strong talons and eyes appearing the keenest and most comprehensive of any bird. They can sail the length or breadth of the Holy Land many times a day. It is a fact worth knowing that mist and clouds interfere with the vision of birds and they hide, and hungry and silent wait for fair weather, so you will see them sailing and soaring on clear days only. These large hawks and the glede are of eagle-like nature, nesting on Carmel and on the hills of Galilee, in large trees and on mountain crags. They flock near Beersheba, and live in untold numbers in the wilderness of the Dead Sea.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

The Buteos in North America are:
Red-tailed Hawk (19″, wingspan 50″, with a red tail)
Rough-legged Hawk (21″, wingspan 53″)
Ferruginous Hawk (23″, wingspan 56″, our largest buteo)
Broad-winged Hawk (16″, wingspan 34″, crow-sized, soars with wings flat)
Red-shouldered Hawk (17″, wingspan 40″, red shoulders and chest)
Gray Hawk (17″, wingspan 36″ )
Swainson’s Hawk (19″, wingspan 51″, brown chest-band)
White-tailed Hawk (20″, wingspan 51″, soars with wings in a V)
Short-tailed Hawk (16″, wingspan 36″, small with big-headed look)
Harris Hawk (21″, wingspan 46″, black tail with white base and tip)
Zone-tailed Hawk (20″, wingspan 51″, broad white band on tail)
Common Black Hawk (20″, wingspan 50″, very broad wings)
Accipiters (‘built for agility and burst of speed”) are:
Sharp-shinned Hawk (12″, wingspan 25″)
Cooper’s Hawk (18″, wingspan 32″)
Northern Goshawk (22″, wingspan 43″)

Birds of the Bible – Vulture

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But these you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, (Deu 14:12 NKJV)
And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; (Lev 11:14 KJV)

Job 28 tells of the wealth of earth that is hidden and must be mined; Gold, silver, brass, iron, precious stones such as sapphires, and gold dust. It is buried where the eyes of the birds mentioned have never seen them.

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

Black Vulture from Wikipedia

Black Vulture from Wikipedia

So, let’s find out some about the vulture. Vultures are good-sized birds that eat carrion (dead things). They help keep our country side clean of things that have died or been attacked by other birds or mammals. I think they are ugly looking, but what makes them look that way is the lack of feathers around the face. This helps them eat without messing up their feathers and having them soaked with blood and other dead stuff. The Lord made them the way they are and given them the task mentioned. I imagine the Lord does not consider them ugly.

In the New World we have the Andean Condor, Black Vulture, California Condor(the larges in North America-47″ with a 10′ wingspan), Greater Yellow Headed Vulture, King Vulture, Lesser Yellow Headed Vulture, and the Turkey Vulture. In the Old World Vulture family we get the African White-backed, Asian White-backed, Bearded, Cape Giffon, Cinereous, Egyptian, Eurasian Griffon, Himalayan Griffon, Hooded, Lappet Faced, Long Billed, Palm Nut, Red-headed, Ruppells Griffon, and White Headed Vultures.

A good reference to these Vultures is at these websites:

Nave’s Topical Bible – Vultures

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Birds of the Bible – Hawk Migration

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Red-tailed Hawk by Ray

Red-tailed Hawk by Ray

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the South? (Job 39:26 KJV)

Through God’s wisdom (omniscience), the Hawks He created have a built-in instinct to fly south for the winter and how to accomplish that feat. There is much studied and observed about this phenomenon. People watch them as they fly over by the hundreds and thousands.  Wings on the Wind has a very good article about how they ride the thermals or catch updrafts to carry them along on their journey. Right now, between August and December is the Fall migration time.

The verse quoted at the top is found in a set of questions started in Job 38:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. (Job 38:1-3 KJV)

Some other interesting translations of Job 39:26 are:
“Is it through your knowledge that the hawk takes his flight, stretching out his wings to the south?” (BBE)
“Did you teach hawks to fly south for the winter?” (CEV)
“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?” (ESV)
“Does your understanding make a bird of prey fly and spread its wings toward the south?” (GW)
“Was it through your know how that the hawk learned to fly, soaring effortlessly on thermal updrafts?” (MSG)
“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, Stretching his wings toward the south?” (NASB)

When we think we have “all the answers” to life’s questions and are feeling like we do not need God our Creator or a relationship with Him; read Job 38-42. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev 4:11 KJV)
The Creator’s Gift of Intelligence

Information about Hawk Migration:

Red-tailed Hawk by Ray's Wildlife

Red-tailed Hawk by Ray

Wings on the Wind
Hawk Migration Association of NA
Hawk Migration Chart

Places to View:
Blue Ridge Parkway

 

Birds of the Bible – Nighthawk II

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Last week after I published Nighthawk I, I started looking for more photos and videos to supplement the article. I kept running into other usages of the word “nighthawk.” So, here is more on the topic.

In the two references: Lev 11:16, Deu 14:15 See Nighthawk the word nighthawk is from “H8464 – תּחמס
tachmâs (takh-mawce’) is from H2554; a species of unclean bird (from its violence), perhaps an owl: – night hawk.”

Tachmas cannot be identified with any certainty. Here is how it is interpreted:

Great Horned Owl by Phil Kwong Galleries

Great Horned Owl by Phil Kwong Galleries

night-hawk – ASV, BBE, JPS, YLT
nighthawk – ESV, GW, MSG, Webster
night hawk – KJV, RV
nighthauke – KJV 1611
nyght Crowe – Bishops
night crowe – Geneva
female ostrich and the male ostrich – Darby
short-eared owl – HCSB, NKJV
great owl – LITV, MKJV
screech owl – WEB, NRSV, NIV

Needless to say, this “has caused great controversies among commentators. Some scholars of the Hebrew language have thought that the male ostrich was signified by tachmas, the word bath-haya’anah being supposed by them to signify the female ostrich. It is hardly probable, however, that the sacred writer should have mentioned separately the sexes of the same species, and we must therefore look for some other interpretation.

Going to the opposite extreme of size, some scholars have translated tachmas as Swallow. This again is not a very probable rendering, as the swallow would be too small a bird to be specially named in the prohibitory list. ‘I’he balance of probability seems, to lie between two interpretations – namely, that which considers the word tachmas to signify the Night-hawk, and that which translates it as Owl. For both of these interpretations much is to be said, and it cannot be denied that of the two the latter is perhaps preferable. If so, the White or Barn Owl is probably the particular species to which reference is made.

However, many commentators think that the Night-hawk or Nightjar is the bird which is signified by the word tachmas, and as owls seem to have been signified by alternative words, the rendering of the Authorized Version seems an acceptable translation. Moreover, the Jewish Bible follows the same translation, and renders tachmas as Night-hawk, but affixes the mark of doubt. ” (From The Nightjar or Night Hawk in the Bible on Wonder of Birds website)

I said all of that to say, I don’t know for any certainty which bird it is. Therefore, I am adding pictures of the other birds mentioned beside the ones I posted last week. Only the Lord know for certain which birds were indicated. I’ll leave it at that.

Birds of the Bible – Nighthawk

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Common Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk

The Night Hawk is part of the Caprimulgidae – Nightjars family. Here in North America, the Lesser, Common, and Antillean Nighthawks, are joined by the Common Pauraque, Common Poorwill, Chuck-Will’s Widow, and the Whip-Poor-Will to round out the family. They have long wings, short legs, and very small bills with a large mouth. All of these are late evening, early morning, and night hunters of insects. God created them with coloration that helps them blend in with the tree or leaves around them and most perch horizontal to the limbs instead of across them like most birds. This also helps hide them in the daytime. Even though they have the name “Hawk”, they do not resemble what most would think of hawks. The term is more of the fact of ‘hawking or catching” insects while in flight. Most fly low over the ground in search the moths and large flying insects. They range from 7 to 13 inches long with wingspans from 11 to 24 inches.

All Nighthawks listed in the New World are the Band-tailed Nighthawk, Plain-tailed Nighthawk, Nacunda Nighthawk, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Antillean Nighthawk, Lesser Nighthawk, Common Nighthawk, Least Nighthawk, Sand-colored Nighthawk

UPDATE: AUG 30, 2008: Upon further investigation, the night hawk mentioned in the verses is most likely a type of owl that feeds at night. I will make a new article soon. Enjoy this anyway. (Lee)

They are again in our list of birds that are “unclean.” Both verses are identical in the KJV.

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, (Lev 11:16)
And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, (Deu 14:15)

See Nighthawks for more information.

Grey Nightjar

Birds of the Bible – Hoopoe

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By permission of William Kwong

Eurasian Hoopoe By William Kwong

The Hoopoe is mentioned in the list of “unclean” things not to eat in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I am sort of revisiting my Birds of the Bible – Lapwing which uses the same references. Depending on which copy of Scripture one uses it is translated Lapwing in some and Hoopoe in others. The Hoopoe is an interesting and pretty bird, so I will describe it in today’s blog.

the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. (Lev 11:19 NKJV)
the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat. (Deu 14:18 NKJV)

Eurasian Hoopoe By William Kwong

Eurasian Hoopoe By William Kwong

  • They are found in Asia, Europe, and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.
  • They migrate to the tropics in the winter.
  • In 2008, the Long-Billed Hoopoe became the national bird of Israel. See Article
  • Their diet consists of mostly worms and insects, which they find while spending most of their time on the ground.
  • “The nest is in a hole in a tree or wall. Like those of its relatives,… the nest tends to contain copious amounts of faeces and smell very foul as a protection against predators[2].”(Wikipedia)
  • “The song is a trisyllabic “oop-oop-oop”, which gives rise to its English and scientific names.”(Wikipedia)
Eurasian Hoopoe By William Kwong

Eurasian Hoopoe By William Kwong

Links to check out:

Wikipedia – Hoopoe

Bird Families of the World – Hoopoes

William Kwong’s Gallery (Photos used with his Permission)

Hoopoe – Photos & Videos

See:

Birds of the Bible – Falcons

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American Kestrel by AestheticPhotos

American Kestrel by AestheticPhotos

Today we introduce another bird family that has been wonderfully created by God. The Falcon is in the Family “Falconidae” which are birds of prey. Worldwide there are over 60 species in the family. Falcons, Caracara, Forest-Falcons, Kestrels, Falconets, Pygmy-Falcons, and Hobbies make up the family. For an interesting list of the birds and videos of them, see Internet Bird Collection. These are the birds seen in North America according to Thayer’s Birding software:

  • Aplomado Falcon (15-16.5” with  40-48” wingspan) Mexico to Central and South America, TX

  • Gyrfalcon (20-25” with 50-64” wingspan – largest of the falcons) – Arctic tundra-winter seen in upper Midwest, Dakotas, Montana, Idaho and Washington – Flies close to the ground.

  • Peregrine Falcon (16-20” with  36-44” wingspan – large falcon)

  • Prairie Falcon (15.5-19.5” with 35-43” wingspan)

  • Merlin (12” with 25” wingspan)

  • Collared Forest-Falcon (21-25” with 30-37” wingspan) (Accidental-South Texas)

  • American Kestrel (10.5” with 23” wingspan – Smallest falcon)

  • Eurasian Kestrel (13.5”with 29” wingspan Hovers) – Mass, NJ, N Brunswick and Aleutian Islands of Alaska

    Prairie Falcon by Dan

    Prairie Falcon by Dan

  • Crested Caracara (23” with 50” wingspan) – TX and FL, Prairie region of central FL, open arid and semiarid scrublands, grassland w/ few trees, ranchland

  • Eurasian Hobby (11-13” with 28-33” wingspan) – Europe and Asia, Africa (winters) very rare in North America Captures prey in the air.

A good article about the Falconidae Family is at the Handbook of the Birds of the World website. The Wikipedia had these comments:
“Falcons and caracaras are carnivores, feeding on birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects and carrion.”,
“They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The plumage is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey, often with barring of patterning. ”
“They differ from other Falconiformes (Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, etc.) in killing with their beaks instead of their feet. They have a “tooth” on the side of their beak for the purpose.”

Peregine Falcon by Jim Fenton

Peregrine Falcon by Jim Fenton

The Falcon is another bird on the “unclean” list.
“And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the kite, and the falcon after its kind;” (Leviticus 11:13-14 NKJV)
“the red kite, the falcon, and the kite after their kinds;” (Deuteronomy 14:13 NKJV)
“You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. (Ezekiel 39:4 NKJV)

Check out the

Falcons page for Photos and Videos
Falconidae – Caracaras, Falcons – Family

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Videos of Large Formations of Birds

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Just found these on the internet.

You will never believe this one. Only God could put that instinct in them! Wow!
Starlings on Otmor

Starling Magic

(Updated Aug 3) After posting these videos last night, I decided to see if this habit might be mentioned in Scripture and here is what I found:

Like birds flying about, So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it; Passing over, He will preserve it.” (Isaiah 31:5 NKJV)
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, (Revelation 19:17 NKJV)
Who are these who fly like a cloud, And like doves to their roosts? (Isaiah 60:8 NKJV)

Here is an interesting commentary quote from Matthew Henry:
“(4.) These converts flocking to the church shall be greatly admired (Isa_60:8): Who are these that fly as a cloud? Observe,
[1.] How the conversion of souls is here described. It is flying to Christ and to his church, for thither we are directed; it is flying like a cloud, though in great multitudes, so as to overspread the heavens, yet with great unanimity, all as one cloud. They shall come with speed, as a cloud flying on the wings of the wind, and come openly, and in the view of all, their very enemies beholding them (Rev_11:12), and yet not able to hinder them. They shall fly as doves to their windows, in great flights, many together; they fly on the wings of the harmless dove, which flies low, denoting their innocency and humility. They fly to Christ, to the church, to the word and ordinances, as doves, by instinct, to their own windows, to their own home; thither they fly for refuge and shelter when they are pursued by the birds of prey, and thither they fly for rest when they have been wandering and are weary, as Noah’s dove to the ark.
[2.] How the conversion of souls is here admired. It is spoken of with wonder and pleasure: Who are these? We have reason to wonder that so many flock to Christ: when we see them all together we shall wonder whence they all came. And we have reason to admire with pleasure and affection those that do flock to him: Who are these? How excellent, how amiable are they! What a pleasant sight is it to see poor souls hastening to Christ, with a full resolution to abide with him!”

Birds of the Bible – Quail

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Our Bird of the Bible this week is not on the “unclean” list for a change. In fact, this bird can be eaten and is raised just for that purpose in many parts of the world. Searching the internet, you can find all kinds of recipes for quail. What has that got to do with our Quail?

Gambel's Quail

Gambel's Quail

The children of Israel were in the wilderness, doing their constant grumbling, and they asked for “more to eat”. They were not satisfied with what God was providing. They wanted “more.” So:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’ ” So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.(Exodus 16:11-14 NKJV)

Now a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quail from the sea and left them fluttering near the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and about a day’s journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about two cubits above the surface of the ground. And the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers); and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.(Numbers 11:31-34 NKJV)

The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.(Psalms 105:40 NKJV)

The commentaries on these Scriptures varied somewhat. Some suggested that these were not “quails” but “locusts”. Most concede that they were “quails”. Then, they debated about the “about two cubits above the surface of the ground.” Were they piled two cubits high or were they flying around at that level? If they were piled deep, they would suffocate and die, making them uneatable according to their law. So, with these questions in mind, here is how the Quail behave:

“Rapid direct flight, series of several stiff wing beats followed by a short glide”, “Escapes danger by running. Direct flight with rapid deep wing beats”. “Small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling bird”, “Secretive. Squats and sits motionless when alarmed”, and “keeping hidden in crops, and reluctant to fly, preferring to creep away instead. Even when flushed, it keeps low and soon drops back into cover.” Sounds like they would be easy to catch.

“There are 130 species of quails worldwide. They are small, short-tailed game birds of the family Phasianidae (order Galliformes), resembling partridges but generally smaller and less robust. The 36 species of New World quail more nearly resemble Old World partridges”, from From borealforest.org, “California Quail.”

We have the California, Scaled, Mountain, Gambel’s (The bird’s average length is 11 inches (30 cm) with a wingspan of 14-16 inches (35-40 cm) , Montezuma Quails and the Northern Bobwhite here in North America. Several have a head plume and many are quite colorful.

Birds of the Bible – Pelicans

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The pelican is in the Pelecanidae family which includes Pelicans, Cormorants, Gannets, etc. We have the American White and Brown Pelicans here in the U.S.
  • The White Pelican (62″ with a 108″ wingspan) is larger than the Brown (48″ with a 84″ wingspan).
  • They both fly with neck tucked.
  • Both have very large bills (White-yellow, Brown-dark) with a throat pouch.
  • The Brown Pelican feeds by plunging from air into the water and also glides low over the water.
  • The White Pelican feeds while swimming and upending to catch fish.
  • The sexes are similar in both White and Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelican flying low, by Ray's Wildlife Photography

The pelican is again listed in the “unclean” list.

And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier-eagle,(Leviticus 11:18 KJV)
And the pelican, and the gier-eagle, and the cormorant, (Deuteronomy 14:17 KJV)
Psalm 102 which is a “prayer of the afflicted” is telling about a heart smitten, groaning bones, basically he is “out of order.”
I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.
(Psalms 102:6 KJV) Most pelicans live near water and owls live in trees.
In spite of his affliction, the Psalm writer concludes with:
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. (Psalms 102:25-27 KJV)
American White Pelican, by Dan's Pix

American White Pelican, by Dan's Pix

What a great promise. It amazes me sometimes when I “birdwatch the Scriptures,” what treasures are associated with them.

Photos are by permission of Dan’s Pix and Ray’s Wildlife Photography

Brown Pelicans Dive for their food.

American White Pelicans swim along and feed, upending themselves as they do. This video was taken at Lake Hollingsworth.

Birds of the Bible – Herons

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CLASS – AVES, Order – PELECANIFORMES, Family – Ardeidae – Herons, Bitterns

Here in central Florida we can see many Herons, such as the:
(Click link for photo)
Great Blue Heron (L46″ Wingspan72″)
Little Blue Heron (L24 Wingspan 40″)
Tri-colored Heron (L26 Wingspan 36″)
Green Heron (L18″ Wingspan 26)
Black-crowned Night Heron (L25″ Wingspan 26″)
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (L24″ Wingspan 42″)

Around the World the Ardeidae family includes Herons(41), Egrets(7) and Bitterns(12). From Thayer Birding Software, “Most herons nest in dense or dispersed colonies; a few species, including most bitterns, are solitary. Nests are platforms of interlocked sticks in trees or piles of vegetation in reeds or on the ground, built mainly or entirely by the female of material brought by the male.” Most of the Herons rest and fly with their necks in an “S” curve. They can be seen along or in the edges of water fishing. Many stand perfectly still looking in the water and then thrust with a quick movement to either spear or catch their prey. Herons amaze me in how perfectly still they stand and wait. They seem so patient to me. Herons are on the “unclean” list of birds found in Leviticus 11:19 and Deuteronomy 14:18. Because they are so “patient” and “wait,” it reminds me of:

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalms 37:7 KJV)
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:15 KJV)
The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season (Psalms 145:15 KJV
And of course our great verse from last week:
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

Hymns mention “waiting” and being “still” and “patient. Here is a favorite:

Be Still, My Soul by Katharina von Schlegel,
1697-Trans. By Jane L. Borthwick, 1813-1897

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

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Updated 1/20/2015