Tag Archives: Critters

Hornbills Understand Monkey Talk – Creation Moments

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HORNBILLS THAT UNDERSTAND MONKEY

Colossians 1:28

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus….”

With the exception of basic messages such as aggression, communication between two entirely different species has seldom been observed among animals in the wild. We know that many animals among the same species give each other specific warnings about an impending danger. However, scientists have never noted one species recognizing the specific warning given by a second species.

Diana monkeys on the Ivory Coast of Africa face two primary threats: leopards and crowned eagles. When one of these threats appears, the spotter gives a very specific bark-like call depending on the type of threat. Of course, the monkeys need to respond differently to each threat, whether it comes from the leopard below or the eagle above. So it helps them to know what they are facing. On the other hand, a bird named the yellow hornbill is threatened only by the crowned eagles. Researchers noted that these birds ignored the monkeys’ warning about the leopards. But when the monkeys signaled danger from the eagle, the yellow hornbill took defensive measures. Researchers confirmed their observations using tape-recorded monkey calls. The researchers were amazed that these birds understood the monkey warnings in an intelligent manner.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) by Daves BirdingPix

Such intelligence comes from the Creator, Who has given the gift of such intelligence to His creatures in a way that provides for their survival. This shows His loving care for His creation.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love, especially for Your forgiving love to me in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Ref: Science News, 3/20: 2004, p. 188, “Hornbills know which monkey calls to heed.” Photo: Diana monkey at Cincinnati Zoo. Courtesy of Greg Hume. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Creation Moments ©2019 It has been posted before [2016] Used with permission

What an amazing way the Lord has Created His critters. Also, He watches out for them by allowing them to learn from other animals and birds. Many times in Scripture, the Lord tells us to observe the birds to learn from them. Maybe these Hornbills are more perceptive than some humans. God’s Word is clear about His Return and salvation.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) Cincinnati Zoo 2016 – Lee

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill – Cincinnati Zoo

Creation Moments Article

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Crowned Eagle – Wikipedia

More Photos To Enjoy!

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My friend, Jeanie, who wrote the poem, Hummingbird, sent me these photos. Enjoy!

The photography is amazing, but the captions are priceless !!!!!

I hate it when he plays "Mount Everest ..."

I hate it when he plays “Mount Everest …”

Who the is "Sugar Lips"?

Who is “Sugar Lips”?

Those brownies were Far Out!!

Those brownies were Far Out!!

NO! We Don't want any Magazine Subscriptions!

NO! We Don’t want any Magazine Subscriptions!

There's a ringer competing in the Hogtown Olympics.

There’s a ringer competing in the Hogtown Olympics.

I'm not Over-Weight, I'm Under-Height!!

I’m not Over-Weight, I’m Under-Height!!

You do have an odd perspective on things.

You do have an odd perspective on things.

Lunchtime at the Corncob Cafe

Lunchtime at the Corncob Cafe

Okay, I caught him, now what do I do with him?

Okay, I caught him, now what do I do with him?

I hate this game.

I hate this game.

Flight 'Hum-One' coming in for a landing.

Flight ‘Hum-One’ coming in for a landing.

Just act natural and blend in.

Just act natural and blend in.

Where's my Coffee?

Where’s my Coffee?

Whooo loves ya, Baby?

Whooo loves ya, Baby?

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
(Colossians 3:14-17 NKJV)

Arizona-Senora Desert Museum – Critters

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Gopher Snake Desert Mus-Tucson by Lee

Gopher Snake Desert Mus-Tucson by Lee

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals, And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion; Also the night creature shall rest there, And find for herself a place of rest. There the arrow snake shall make her nest and lay eggs And hatch, and gather them under her shadow; There also shall the hawks be gathered, Every one with her mate. (Isaiah 34:14-15 NKJV)

In Arizona-Senora Desert Museum – Vacation, I showed you some of the cactus, flowers and scenery of the Desert Museum. Today its the “critters” turn to be shown off.

Deserts are of course dry and receive little rain. So, in God’s Wisdom, He created critters, walking or crawling, that are adapted to this kind of environment. Many of these, especially the snakes and poisonous things were in exhibits and not roaming free. I enjoy seeing snakes, but not when they surprise me on a trail.

Desert Tarantula – Male Az-Sonora DM by Lee

There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: …The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.
(Proverbs 30:24-28 NKJV)

Here are a some of the photos we took of the “CRITTERS.” (I apologize, but I forgot to take the lens shade off.)

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Antelope Ground Squirrels at Houston Zoo

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Antelope Ground Squirrel at Houston Zoo 5-6-15 by Lee

Antelope Ground Squirrel at Houston Zoo 5-6-15 by Lee

These Antelope Ground Squirrels at the Houston Zoo were just adorable. Never heard of them before, let alone seen any. They were in a building that had birds in it, of course, and they caught my attention. They landscape their displays and enclosures at the Houston Zoo very well. The squirrels had plenty of room to roam around in and they seemed quite content. Could it be because they didn’t need to worry about predators

Antelope Ground Squirrel Sign Houston Zoo 5-6-15 by LeeAccording to this sign, Antelope Ground Squirrel is found in Arizona and New Mexico and use a variety of vocalizations to tell each other which type of predator is approaching. Isn’t their Creator amazing to give them this ability? Let’s go see what else we can find out about these cute little critters:

They need to scratch,

They need to scratch,

Sorry, that was a small joke, but he did scratch just as I took his/her picture.  :)

Antelope Ground Squirrel Houston Zoo 5-6-15 by Lee (1)

About half of their place at the zoo.

They had lots of room to roam.

“Antelope squirrels or antelope ground squirrels of the genus Ammospermophilus are sciurids found in the desert and dry scrub areas of south-western United States and northern Mexico. They are a type of ground squirrel and are able to resist hyperthermia and can survive body temperatures over 40 °C (104 °F).
There are currently four recognised species in the world, with one subspecies:

  • Harris’s antelope squirrel, A. harrisii, found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Sonora in Mexico.
  • The San Joaquin antelope squirrel or Nelson’s antelope squirrel, A. nelsoni, found in the San Joaquin Valley, California.
  • Texas antelope squirrel, A. interpres, found in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico.
  • The white-tailed antelope squirrel, A. leucurus, found in the southwestern United States and the Baja California peninsula.
  • The subspecies of the Espíritu Santo antelope squirrel, A. insularis, found on Isla Espíritu Santo.

All are somewhat similar in appearance and behavior. They are around 14–17 centimetres (5.5–6.7 in) long with a 6–10 centimetres (2.4–3.9 in) tail, and weigh 110–150 grams (3.9–5.3 oz). The tail is somewhat flattened. They have a single white stripe on both flanks and none on the face. They live in burrows, which they dig for themselves. They are diurnal, and do not hibernate (though they become less active during the winter), so they are fairly easily seen.” (Wikipedia)

Antelope Ground Squirrel Houston Zoo 5-6-15 by Lee (2)

This one looks like a youngster, so they are following the Lord’s command to fill the earth:

Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. (Genesis 8:17 KJV)

Antelope Ground Squirrel by Lee

Antelope Ground Squirrel by Lee

“Antelope squirrels are commonly found in dry, shrubby areas of the southern United States into Mexico. These areas are sandy with rocky areas that provide soil that can be burrowed into for shelter and to escape the heat of the day. The temperatures in these regions can exceed 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) during the day and require special adaptations by the ground squirrels to survive. During the night, temperatures in these desert and dry areas may dip below freezing which again requires adaptations to survive. There is very limited free-standing water supply. These regions often suffer from long bouts of drought.” (Wikipedia) Could it just be that again their Creator created them for this big swing in temperature?

Here are all the photos taken of this adorable cute little critters:

I know these aren’t birds, but I am sure there are some birds out there that know all about them.
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Shutterfly’s Faces of Nature

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Shutterfly - Penguin - at Faces of Nature

Shutterfly – Penguin – at Faces of Nature

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” (Jeremiah 1:11 NKJV)

Received an email from one of our readers who wanted to share her site that shows Faces of Nature.

Brown Hooded Longbeak at Faces of Nature

Brown Hooded Longbeak at Faces of Nature

” I am a nature enthusiast and photographer from Langhorne, PA.  I take photos of “Faces in Nature” – items that resemble faces which occur naturally in our surroundings – I don’t change or Photoshop – they are as I find them.  I have over 100 but lots of birds as it turns out.”

Here is one on the “lighter side.”

Angry Bird at Faces of Nature

Angry Bird at Faces of Nature

If you would like to check out all of Susan’s “Faces of Nature” at Shutterfly: CLICK HERE

I think my favorite is a “White Toucan”

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2 KJV)

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Birdwatching Reviews – Miscellaneous

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Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae) babies ©WikiC coracii

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae) babies ©WikiC coracii

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. (Psalms 111:4 KJV)

Thank all of you who have been checking out the reviews the last few days. Today will be the last of my “coasting mode” as the stitches are supposed to be removed later today. Also, thank you for your prayers. It appears the infection is decreasing and the healing is finally taking hold.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) by Nikhil Devasar

“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” – House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) by Nikhil Devasar

So, what is left to review? One of my enjoyable series has been the Birds in Hymns. That came about because so many hymns and songs mention birds. Listen to the words as you sing and you will be amazed how much “birdwatching” you can do while singing. Most of the material is in the Hymns section.

Great Horned Owl - Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee

Great Horned Owl – Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee

A fairly new section are our (mine and Dan’s) Photos from various birdwatching trips. This is still in the “rounding up stage.” The are being presented by families, but the photos are filed by our trips. Stay tuned as the photos and videos are sorted into the correct families.

Platypus From Creation Wiki

Platypus From Creation Wiki

Most readers know that I believe the Lord created the birds and all the rest of the animals, plants, world, universe and all the rest, The Formed By Him blogs are about birds, where as the When I Consider! is not limited to only our avian friends.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111:10 KJV)

I am sure by now, you have noticed that this website is titled “Lee’s Birdwatching Adventures PLUS.” The PLUS was added so that other interesting topics could be shared, especially Creation type articles.

The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. (Psalms 111:2 KJV)

Without the permission of these fantastic photographers to use their photos, where would this blog be? Please check out their sites for spectacular birds and other topics. Each have different areas of the world and interest that keep them “snapping away.”

Photography

There are other articles scattered around, but most of the main topics have been shared in these four Reviews. Thank you for visiting and looking around. You may not have noticed the

  • Our Visitors

    • 992,129 visits

tally down the sidebar, but the 1 Million mark is coming up soon. Not sure how it will be celebrated, but it will mostly be thanking you for your visits and the Lord for giving me the ideas for these many blogs and the other writers like A J, Ian and the other guest writers.

…I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. (Psalms 9:1 KJV)

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When I Consider! – Mount St. Helens

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When I Consider!

When I Consider!

Evidence from Geology – October 13

“When Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, the resulting blast cloud snapped off huge trees for 150 square miles around the mountain. At the same time an avalanche of mud sped down from the top of the mountain into Spirit Lake, causing a wave almost 900 feet high which scraped trees from the slopes adjacent to the lake. Many of these trees ended up in Spirit Lake buried at various levels on the bottom as they slowly sank in an upright position after becoming water-logged. Scuba investigations and side-scanning sonar have identified up to 100,000 upright deposited tree stumps buried a various levels of ash and peat deposits at the bottom of Spirit Lake.

Mount St. Helens Eruption by USGS

Mount St. Helens Eruption by USGS

Since Mount St. Helens continues to be active (depositing more material in the lake with time) these trees will be buried in what looks like separate geological layers, even though they all came from the same forest.

Years from now if sediment were to fill the lake and bury the trees in such a way that they became petrified in their present positions, these trees would look like multiple forest buried on top of each other over tens of thousand years. This is exactly what was assumed to be the origin of the petrified forest at Yellowstone National Park’s Specimen Ridge. Many geologists now acknowledge that the Yellowstone petrified trees were from the same standing forest, transported into their current position by a massive flood catastrophe.”

The Young Earth, p. 115-116 and Search for the Truth, II-9

So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:23-24)

Additions:
Mount St. Helens – Creation Wiki
Mt. St. Helens Evidence in Support of Biblical Catastrophe
“Is the Lava Dome at Mount St. Helens Really a Million Years Old?” by Keith Swenson
MOUNT ST. HELENS AND SPIRIT LAKE Geoscience Research Institute

More When I Consider!

Opening Site For Scripture and References

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(Updated 12/3/09) Today I am opening up a section to be used for references. It will be  used for storing some study references to use in the study of God’s Wondrous Creation. Whether it is for creation, critters or birds, I trust you will find them beneficial. One difference is that the Bird pages have pictures of the birds and in time, my desire is to add more photos to other critters and things that God has created.

I have only taken selective topics because of time and space usages. As time permits, more topics will be added. I will post some links to the full-blown versions of them. All of these are in the public domain and may be copied freely.

If a Bible reference is green, place your mouse over the verse and it will show the verse(s). I am starting with the Bird pages first. This is a work in progress.

Lord Bless you as you study His Word and about His magnificent creation.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

References:

Nave’s Topical Bible

R. A. Torrey’s New Topical Textbook

Treasure of Scripture Knowledge- Under Construction

Interesting – “Animals Can Tell Right From Wrong”

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Rodent - Mouse

Rodent - Mouse

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7 NKJV)
The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider. (Isaiah 1:3 NKJV)

Here is an interesting article, “Animals Can Tell Right From Wrong.” This was in the Telegraph.co.uk and is by Richard Gray. “Animals possess a sense of morality that allows them to tell the difference between right and wrong,…”

The scientist have been studying animal behavior and are finding that a variety of species are “governed by moral codes of conduct in the same way as humans.” They thought that only humans could have “complex emotions and have a sense of morality.”

Wolf from Wikipedia

Wolf from Wikipedia

What they are finding out is that various animals have a built-in (instinct) for fairness, can feel empathy, and help other animals that are having difficulties, have a social responsibility, and moral codes – depending on the species. They go on to give examples from wolves (have strict rules), coyotes (a sense of fairness), elephants (help another when it’s sick and sadness if it dies), Diana monkeys (doing a task for another), chimpanzees (sense of justice and treating an ill one less agressively), rodents (not causing another pain), bats  (sharing and teaching) and whales (“empathy and understanding the feelings of others”).

They concluded with this remark, “This finding has suggested that complex emotional judgements such as empathy may have evolved considerably earlier in history than previously thought and could be widespread in the animal kingdom.”

Chimpanze

Chimpanzee

As you know, I believe that God created animals with instincts that He put there. The verses above reminds us that we can learn from the animals and birds. Many today, as Israel did then, do not know nor do they consider things that even the critters know. Again, we have the evidence of how these animals behave, but it depends on whether you believe in God or not, as to how you interpret these findings.

To see the whole article, see: “Animals Can Tell Right From Wrong.”

To see more Interesting Things

Birds of the Bible – Foundation #3

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We will continue on with the Birds of the Bible – Foundation series.

If you have not read the previous blogs:
Foundation #1
Foundation #2

In the last blog the “Fall” of Adam and Eve was mentioned and because of that, the “Curse” is now on them and all of God’s creation. Death comes on the scene, mankind now has sinned and now each person is born as a sinner. The ground is cursed and thorns and thistle now appear.

By Genesis Chapter 6, God has had it with the sins of man.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6:5-7 KJV)

The Ark by Elfred Lee

The Ark by Elfred Lee

All is not lost because, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8 KJV) Because of the grace found by Noah, the LORD gives him instructions about how to build an ark including the size, materials to use, who and what will be on board, and why the ark will be needed. God makes a covenant with Noah and tells him to come in with his wife and his sons and his son’s wives.

And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. (Genesis 6:19-20 KJV)

He was also to provide food for all of them. And Noah obeyed all that he was told. Noah spent over 100 years preparing the ark and trying to warn others of the coming judgment. There was plenty of room on the ark for more than the 8 people who boarded the ark. The others refused to repent.

When we get to Chapter 7, the boarding of the ark takes place and the rain and flood begins. “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.” (Genesis 7:1-5)

Noah did not have to round up the animals, they came to him. Because not every animal we see today came on board but the main kinds (for instance the “bird kinds” may have had a “warbler kind” but not have black and white warblers,yellow-rumped warblers, hooded warbler, etc.), which ever ones they were, there was plenty of room for them. I have an idea that because the LORD sent the animals, birds, and critters, that their DNA’s were of the highest quality. (That is my opinion)

Dove in Israel

Doves in Israel

If you read the rest of Genesis 7, you will see that the global flood came and covered everything and only those who were in the ark survived, plus some of those that live in the water.

And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (Genesis 7:21-23)

In Foundation #4 we will find out about what the birds go through as they come off the ark and after.