The Brave Brown Sparrows In Winter

December 14, 2013 by GuestWriter

Sparrow on Branch ©©Bing

THE BRAVE BROWN SPARROWS IN WINTER

One Bird Seemed to be the Leader.

“You know,” said daddy, “I saw such a strange thing to-day in the city.”

“Tell us about it,” said Jack.

“What was it?” asked Evelyn, who was always interested in whatever daddy had to say.

“Well,” continued daddy, “in a tree in the park lots and lots of little sparrows were roosting. It was, of course, a perfectly bare tree without a leaf on it, and they were huddled together, keeping each other warm.

“I watched them for quite a time. There was one sparrow who looked the leader. He did most of the chirping and was apparently telling all the others what they must do and giving all sorts of directions. He chirped almost constantly for ten minutes, and then he flew down from the tree and hopped along the ground. He picked up crumb after crumb, and then when he had as many as he could carry in his beak he flew up in the tree again and left them on a branch where there was a kind of hole in which to put them. He was evidently showing all the other birds just what to do, for in a minute or two any number of them flew down to the ground and began to pick up crumbs.

“It was wonderful to see how many they could find, for I myself could hardly see any, and all the time he kept chirping to the others and telling them what to do.

“This kept up for some time, for the birds would fly back and forth, just picking up goodies and then putting them up in the tree. Meantime a lot of other birds who had stayed up in the tree were fixing them on the branch and dividing them all evenly.”

“Didn’t they eat any of them?” asked Evelyn.

“Yes. After quite awhile they all flew back to the tree again, and once more they huddled together and had the most marvelous meal. You see, it was their dinner time, and they all had it together at the same time to make it more sociable. From all the cries of joy and the noise I fancy they were having a pretty good time of it and enjoying themselves immensely. In fact, I think they almost forgot how cold it was.”

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Evelyn, “how well the birds can look after themselves, for it must be pretty hard sometimes, especially in the winter.”

“Yes,” said daddy, “it is, but these birds seemed so happy together and to be having such a good time. After dinner was over they all chased each other from one tree to another in the park and played tag and had a beautiful time. So I think really birds and animals are smart and brave to be able to look after themselves and their little ones so well.”

Sparrows in snow ©©Bing

Lee’s Addition:

We enjoyed being together, and we went with others to your house, our God. (Psalms 55:14 CEV)

But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16 NKJV)

Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

These stories first appeared in the American Press Association Service and the Western Newspaper Union.

Many of the sketches in this volume are the work of Rebecca McCann, creator of the “Cheerful Cherub,” etc.

*
Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories by Mary Graham Bonner – 1917

Links:

Bird Tales

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

Wordless Birds

Emberizidae – Buntings, New World Sparrows & Allies

The Race Between The Secretary Birds

December 10, 2013 by GuestWriter

Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) by Africaddict

THE RACE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY BIRDS

Mongo Got Quite a Bit Ahead.

“The secretary birds had planned to have some field races,” began daddy, “and the afternoon of the races had come. You know, the secretary birds have very, very long thin legs. Their legs are so thin that you can hardly see how it is they can support such big bodies, for the secretary birds have really fat bodies.

“Well, on the afternoon of the races they all entered, and you never saw such running in all your life! They simply went like the wind, but the chief race of all was between one bird named Sandy and one named Mongo. They were considered the fastest runners of all. They had raced often and often before and had always come in a tie. But this time Mongo had been practising [p.29]very hard and had been very careful not to eat anything to hurt his wind. Sandy had been practising every day, too, but he thought it was absurd to give up things to eat. However, Mongo had always heard that all athletes were very careful of their eating, and, as he had never been able to beat Sandy yet, he was bound he would try everything he could so as to win.

“The prize was to be a fine, great, big snake which had been captured and killed a few days before the races were to take place.”

“Do secretary birds eat snakes?” asked Evelyn.

“Yes,” said daddy; “they practically live on them.”

“I shouldn’t think that would be nice food,” added Evelyn.

“No, we don’t think so,” answered daddy, “but you know we eat bacon and like it, so probably the secretary birds think it is as funny for us to eat pigs as we do to hear of their eating snakes.”

“No,” said Evelyn thoughtfully, “I suppose not. They sound so horrid, though.”

[p.30]At that moment Jack, who was growing very impatient, not caring what the secretary birds ate, chimed in: “Daddy, please hurry and tell us who won the race. I can hardly wait to hear. I am sure Mongo did, though.”

“No,” said Evelyn; “I think Sandy did because he wasn’t such an old fuss as Mongo.”

“Well,” continued daddy, “during the race all the secretary birds shrieked in their cackling voices: ‘Go it; go it! Win, Mongo! Win, Sandy!’

“For a few moments Mongo got quite a bit ahead, but Sandy succeeded in catching up with him, and they passed by the goal side by side.

“It was a splendid race, but it showed that Mongo and Sandy were really absolutely evenly matched, so they gave a funny cackle, which meant a laugh, and each, taking an end of the prize, said, ‘We’ll all have a taste of the prize, as neither of us can win it.’

“So they all sat down to a very jolly supper party.”

Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) by Lee

Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

These stories first appeared in the American Press Association Service and the Western Newspaper Union.

Many of the sketches in this volume are the work of Rebecca McCann, creator of the “Cheerful Cherub,” etc.

*
Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories by Mary Graham Bonner – 1917

Links:

Bird Tales

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

Wordless Birds

Sagittariidae – Secretarybird Family
*

Bible Birds – Peacocks I

November 21, 2013 by Lee

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) by Nikhil Devasar

For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (1 Kings 10:22 KJV)For the king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (2 Chronicles 9:21 KJV)

Now Peacocks II

(Relocated)

The Cardinal Bird And The Robin

November 19, 2013 by GuestWriter

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) by Daves BirdingPix

THE CARDINAL BIRD AND THE ROBIN

“The cardinal bird,” said daddy, “is a very superior bird and will not come down to the ground. The lowest he will come is to a bush, but he never hops along the woods or lawns, no, not he!

“One day Robin Redbreast was walking on a green lawn. He stopped several times to pick up a worm from the ground, swallow it whole and then walk along. In a tree nearby he spied the cardinal bird.

“‘Hello,’ he said cheerily. ‘Won’t you come and have a worm with me? There are a number in this lawn, and the good rain we had last night has made the ground so nice and soft. Do join me,’ he ended with a bright chirp.

“‘No, thank you,’ said the cardinal bird. ‘I wouldn’t soil my feet on that ground. I hate the ground, absolutely hate it.’ And the cardinal bird looked very haughty and proud.

“‘Come now,’ said Robin Redbreast, ‘you won’t get your feet dirty. And if you do,’ he whispered knowingly, ‘I can lead you to the nicest brook where you can wash them off with fresh rain water. Do come!’

“‘I cannot,’ said the cardinal bird. ‘I do not like the earth. I want to be flying in the air, or sitting on the branches of trees. Sometimes I will perch for a little while on a laurel bush—but come any lower? Dear me, no, I couldn’t.’

“‘It’s a great shame,’ said Robin Redbreast. ‘Of course there is no accounting for taste.’

“‘Thank you for inviting me,’ added the cardinal bird politely. For he prided himself on his good manners.

“Pretty soon some people came along. At once they noticed the beautiful cardinal bird. He wore his best red suit which he wears all the time—except in the winter, when he adds gray to his wings. His collar and tie were of black and his feathers stuck up on top of his head so as to make him look very stylish and fine.

“‘Oh, what a wonderful bird!’ said the people. Mr. Cardinal Bird knew they were admiring him, of course—and so did Robin Redbreast. No one had noticed him, but he didn’t care, for he knew Mr. Cardinal Bird was by far the more beautiful, and a robin hasn’t a mean disposition.

“Well, when the cardinal bird heard the praise he began to sing—a glorious high voice he had, and he sounded his clear notes over and over again. Then suddenly he stopped, cocked his head on one side, as though to say,

“‘And what do you think of me now?’

“From down on the ground Robin Redbreast had been listening. ‘Oh, that was wonderful, wonderful!’ he trilled.

“‘Listen to that dear little robin,’ said one of the people. ‘I must get him some bread crumbs.’

“When the bread crumbs were scattered over the ground, Robin Redbreast invited the cardinal bird down again thinking they were for him! But the beautiful, proud bird would not come down, and the people were saying, ‘After all there is nothing quite so nice as a dear little robin.'”

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) by Ian

Lee’s Addition:

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2 NKJV)

Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes from the Father. (1 John 2:16 CEV)

I think our Cardinal friend in this story was just a little bit too proud. Our friendly Robin was trying hard to offer the Cardinal a good meal and to encourage our Red bird. Do we act more like the Cardinal or the Robin?

(Also: Cardinals in real life do not show false pride.)

Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

These stories first appeared in the American Press Association Service and the Western Newspaper Union.

Many of the sketches in this volume are the work of Rebecca McCann, creator of the “Cheerful Cherub,” etc.

*
Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories by Mary Graham Bonner – 1917

Links:

Bird Tales

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

Wordless Birds

Cardinalidae – Grosbeaks, Saltators & Allies Family

Turdidae – Thrushes Family

Bible Birds – Hasting’s Sparrow Poem

November 17, 2013 by Lee

Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) by Ray

So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31 NASB)

Some years ago King Edward the Seventh visited Norwich. The school children were drawn up in a line to meet him, and when he passed along they cheered just as loud as ever they could, and they sang “God save the king” with all their heart and soul. But after the monarch had passed by one little girl was found in floods of tears. The teacher, trying to comfort her, asked, “Didn’t you see the king?” “Ye—es,” sobbed the girl, “but he did—didn’t see me!”

An earthly king, no matter how kind and willing he may be, cannot see everybody, but the great King of kings sees and knows and loves each one of us as though that one were the only person in the world. He knows you far more intimately than your father or mother does. He is never too busy looking after the world to forget one of you. It doesn’t matter how plain you are, or how poor, or how little thought of, God cares for you. He cares for the plain, despised sparrow, and He cares far, far more for you.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) by Nikhil Devasar

I’m only a little sparrow,
A bird of low degree;
My life is of little value,
But the dear Lord cares for me.

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali) ©WikiC

I know there are many sparrows;
All over the world they are found;
But our Heavenly Father knoweth
When one falls to the ground.

Sind Sparrow (Passer pyrrhonotus) by Nikhil Devasar

I fly through the thickest forest,
I alight on many a spray;
I have no chart or compass,
But I never lose my way.

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) ©USFWS

I just fold my wings at nightfall
Wherever I happen to be;
For the Father is always watchings
No harm can happen to me.

Savannah Sparrow Fifty Point-Canada by Ray Barlow

I am only a little sparrow,
A bird of low degree,
But I know that the Father loves me.
Dost thou know His love for thee?

***

The thoughts and poem are from The Children’s Great Text of the Bible by James Hastings. Part of the commentary on Matthew 10:31.

See:

Bible Birds – Sparrows
Bible Birds

Bird Tales – The Woodpeckers Bird Band

November 16, 2013 by Lee

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) by Daves BirdingPix

The Woodpeckers Bird Band

The Woodpecker family were around on various trees drumming, drumming on the bark. Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, Mr. Downy Woodpecker, and Mr. Red-Headed Woodpecker were hard at work.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) by Raymond Barlow

“Let’s start a band,” suggested Mr. Hairy Woodpecker.

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) ©USFWS

“What’s that you say?” asked Mr. Red-Headed Woodpecker, who had been so busy at work that he had not heard what Mr. Hairy Woodpecker had been suggesting. “A band,” repeated Mr. Hairy Woodpecker. “What sort of a band?” asked Mr. Red-Headed Woodpecker. “In the first place,” continued Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, “our bills are not only fine tools for the work we have to do getting the insects from the trees, and burrowing for our nests, but they would be splendid to use in beating the drums in a band.” “Where would we get the drums?” asked Mr. Red-Headed Woodpecker. “The trees, of course, you silly!” said Mr. Hairy Woodpecker. “Oh yes, yes,” agreed Mr. Red-Headed Woodpecker. And Mr. Downy Woodpecker said, “Of course, of course. The trees will be our drums.”

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) on Thistle by Fenton

“We’ll get the other birds,” said Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, “to help us. We need something in a band besides the drums. We will ask the goldfinches, the mocking-birds, the bobolinks, the phœbe and chickadee families, all of the warbler and vireo families, and the robins of course. Then I think we’ll ask the orioles, the whippoorwills, the thrush family, and the song sparrows.”

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) by Daves BirdingPix

“Oh,” said Mr. Downy Woodpecker, “that will make a perfect band. We’d better get started right away.” And the woodpeckers began to practise. They made such a noise that the birds came from far and near to see what they were doing. Mr. Sapsucker, Mr. Crested Woodpecker, and Mr. Flicker Woodpecker had all joined in beating the drums too!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) by Raymond Barlow

“Why are you making so much noise?” asked the birds as they flew around to the nearby trees to talk to the woodpeckers. “Oh,” said Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, “we were just going to ask you all to join our band. We will beat the drums.”

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) by Daves BirdingPix

“And just what do you want us to do?” asked Mr. Robin Redbreast, who was always eager to help. “You must all sing.”

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) by J Fenton

“But we all sing differently,” chirped a song sparrow. “We know different tunes and different songs.” “Oh,” said Mr. Hairy Woodpecker, “I never thought about that. But never mind, you can have little parts to sing alone, and other choruses where you will all sing together. I’m sure it will be a very fine band after we have practised.” And they began pounding the drums again. “Well,” said Mr. Robin Redbreast, “if the bird band isn’t to be the finest in the land, at least we’ll make a cheerful noise!”

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) by J Fenton

* Another Bird Tale From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

These stories first appeared in the American Press Association Service and the Western Newspaper Union.

Many of the sketches in this volume are the work of Rebecca McCann, creator of the “Cheerful Cherub,” etc.

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories by Mary Graham Bonner – 1917

Lee’s Addition:

Psalms 98:4-8 KJV (4) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (5) Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. (6) With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. (7) Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (8) Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Meet the whole band: (a few missed the photo session)

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Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories
More Bird Tales

Bible Birds – Owl Introduction

November 15, 2013 by Lee

Northern Barred Owl (Strix varia) by Reinier Munguia

The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Isaiah 43:20 KJV)

“Owl” is mentioned in 8 verses in the KJV and the word “Owls” is in 6 verses.

The owls, little owls, great owls, and screech owls are in the Bible.
Other versions list – horned owls, eagle owl, short-eared, long-eared owl, barn owl and a white owl.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) by Bob-Nan

The first mention of owls in the Bible is in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that list the unclean birds that are not to be eaten.

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, (Leviticus 11:16-17 KJV)

And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,
(Deuteronomy 14:15-16 KJV)

Little Owl (Athene noctua) by Raymond Barlow

Owls are divided into two (2) families.

The Barn Owls (Tytonidae Family) are medium to large-sized owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons (claws). They also differ from the Typical Owls (Strigidae Family) in the sternum (breast) and feet.

They live in a wide range of habitats from deserts to forests, and from temperate latitudes to the tropics. Little is known of many of them. The barn-owls are mostly nocturnal (active at night), and generally non-migratory, living in pairs or singly.

The barn-owls’ main characteristic is the heart-shaped facial disc, formed by stiff feathers which serve to amplify and locate the source of sounds when hunting. Their wing feathers were created to eliminate sound caused by flying, aiding both the hearing of the owl listening for hidden prey and keeping the prey unaware of the owl. Barn-owls overall are darker on the back than the front, usually an orange-brown colour, the front being a paler version of the back or mottled, although there is considerable variation even amongst species. The bay-owls closely resemble the Tyto owls but have a divided facial disc, ear tufts, and tend to be smaller.

Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)(captive) by Raymond Barlow

The Typical Owls (Strigidae Family) is a large family that comprises around 189 living species in 25 genera. The typical owls have a cosmopolitan distribution and are found on every continent except Antarctica.

While typical owls vary greatly in size, with the smallest species, the Elf Owl, being a hundred times smaller than the largest, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl and Blakiston’s Fish Owl, owls generally share an extremely similar body plan. They tend to have large heads, short tails, cryptic plumage and round facial discs around the eyes. The family is generally arboreal (live in trees) (with a few exceptions like the Burrowing Owl) and obtain their food on the wing. The wings are large, broad, rounded and long.

Owls are generally nocturnal and spend much of the day roosting. They are often perceived as tame since they will allow people to approach quite closely before taking flight, but they are instead attempting to avoid detection. The cryptic plumage (help camouflage them) and inconspicuous locations (not likely to be seen or noticed) adopted are an effort to avoid predators and mobbing by small birds.

We will learn more about these beautifully created birds in other Bible Birds – Owls articles.

See:

Owl – CreationWiki
STRIGIFORMES (Owls) Order
Tytonidae – Barn Owls Family
Strigidae – Owls
Bible Birds – Owls
Waterman Bird Collection – Hawks and Owls
Bible Birds
Birds of the Bible – Owls

Mnemonics – What is That?

November 13, 2013 by Lee

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) by Lee at Circle B

Mnemonics – What is That?

When birdwatchers want to identify a bird, many times all they are able to do is hear it. Can you listen to a bird and know what kind it is? Some birders use a help called “mnemonics.”

hen birdwatchers want to identify a bird, many times all they are able to do is hear it. Can you listen to a bird and know what kind it is? Some birders use a help called “mnemonics.”

(Definition of mnemonics from Kids Wordsmyth)

mne·mon·ics
pronunciation: ni ma nihks [or] nih ma nihks
part of speech: plural noun
definition: a process, system, or technique used to aid and improve the memory.

Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens) by Raymond Barlow

Many birds say their name, like a Eastern Wood Pewee.

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) by Daves BirdingPix

Carolina Chickadee – “feebee feebay, chick’adee-dee-dee”

Blue Jay by Dan at Bok Tower

Blue Jay – -“jay”

Another way mnemonics are used is to make up a phrase or saying of what the bird sounds like.

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) by Quy Tran

Carolina Wren – “teakettle, teakettle, teakettle”

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) by Ray

Eastern Towhee – “drink-your-teeee”

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) ©USFWS

White-Throated Sparrow – “poor Sam Pea’body, Pea’body, Pea’body”

This is just an introduction to using “mnemonics” to help you find out what that neat bird your listening to is called. We will cover more birds later. The Lord has given us so many beautiful birds to watch and listen to. Each bird has it’s own songs and calls, but there are so many. How do we figure out who is who? Using this method is just one more way to help.

Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. (Proverbs 8:33 ESV)

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (Proverbs 1:5 ESV)

See:

How The Little Redbird Became Red

November 12, 2013 by GuestWriter

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) - ©WikiC

HOW THE LITTLE REDBIRD BECAME RED

A Gray Bird Was Flying Overhead.

Jack and Evelyn had been playing circus all day. Jack had been the big man who stands in the middle of the ring and cracks his whip, while Evelyn had turned somersaults and made pretty bows. They told daddy all about it when he came home that evening, so he said:

“As you’re so fond of circus performing I will certainly have to tell you about the circus the animals gave.

“Cub Bear got it all up, and every animal who went to it had to first agree to do something. And it really was a most marvelous circus. They all marched around in a parade, while the little bears beat the drums. The rabbits rode on the backs of the possums, and the monkeys rode on the backs of the elephants. The chipmunks drove chariots which were drawn by the gray squirrels, and the clowns were the frogs. The rest of the animals caught hands and followed in the march. They laughed and shouted and enjoyed themselves immensely.

“Then all took their seats and one by one did some sort of an act. The monkeys won a great deal of applause by their trapeze acting. Cub Bear walked a rope and danced around on his hind legs. The bunnies rode bicycles, but that ended sadly, as one of them—a son of old Peter Rabbit, who was renowned for his bicycle riding—in trying to show off, fell and skinned his nose. All the other animals gathered around to see what they could do, while the bunny moaned and moaned.

“A gray bird flying over the tent heard the sound of moans and cries and flew in to see what the trouble was, for he was a very kind-hearted bird. He saw that the bunny was really more frightened than hurt, and with his wings he wiped off the blood from the rabbit’s face. The blood-stain never got off the wings of the bird, so ever after he and his family became known as the redbirds.

“The bunny fully recovered and once more felt like himself; but, of course, after the accident, the animals didn’t care to go on performing, so they all sat around the center of the tent and had a most glorious picnic. Refreshments of all kinds were passed around.

“They had pink lemonade, peanuts, popcorn, ice-cream cones, and water taffy. After they’d finished eating they sang all the old-time songs and frisked about, playing and dancing. Bunny Rabbit, who felt quite spry again, frisked about too, and the redbird flew overhead, flapping his wings with joy, for he was so glad everything had turned out so merrily.

“The circus proved such a success and the animals were in such high spirits that they then and there decided to have a circus every year.”

Lee’s Addition:

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (Luke 10:33 KJV)

When we see someone in need, do we help them? Do we care enough to get involved?

Summer Tanager by Beedie Savage

We don’t know from the story which kind of “redbird” it was, but Cardinals belong to the Cardinalidae – Grosbeaks, Saltators & Allies Family. If it was a Summer or Scarlet Tanager, then they would have been in the Thraupidae – Tanagers and Allies Family which has several “Redbirds.”

Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

These stories first appeared in the American Press Association Service and the Western Newspaper Union.

Many of the sketches in this volume are the work of Rebecca McCann, creator of the “Cheerful Cherub,” etc.

*
Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories by Mary Graham Bonner – 1917

Links:

Bird Tales

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

Wordless Birds

Cardinalidae – Grosbeaks, Saltators & Allies Family

Thraupidae – Tanagers and Allies Family

Riddlers – The Woodpeckers

October 21, 2013 by GuestWriter

The Woodpeckers, by Fannie Hardy Eckstorm

A Project Gutenberg EBook

THE WOODPECKERS

BY

FANNIE HARDY ECKSTORM

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press, Cambridge
1901

Title: The Woodpeckers

Author: Fannie Hardy Eckstorm

Release Date: January 25, 2011 [EBook #35062]

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WOODPECKERS ***

(This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org)

MY FATHER
MR. MANLY HARDY
A Lifelong Naturalist

THE WOODPECKERS

FOREWORD: THE RIDDLERS

_
Long ago in Greece, the legend runs, a terrible monster called the Sphinx used to waylay travelers to ask them riddles: whoever could not answer these she killed, but the man who did answer them killed her and made an end of her riddling.

To-day there is no Sphinx to fear, yet the world is full of unguessed riddles. No thoughtful man can go far afield but some bird or flower or stone bars his way with a question demanding an answer; and though many men have been diligently spelling out the answers for many years, and we for the most part must study the answers they have proved, and must reply in their words, yet those shrewd old riddlers, the birds and flowers and bees, are always ready for a new victim, putting their heads together over some new enigma (mystery) to bar the road to knowledge till that, too, shall be answered; so that other men’s learning does not always suffice. So much of a man’s pleasure in life, so much of his power, depends on his ability to silence these persistent questioners, that this little book was written with the hope of making clearer the kind of questions Nature asks, and the way to get correct answers.

This is purposely a little book, dealing only with a single group of birds, treating particularly only some of the commoner species of that group, taking up only a few of the problems that present themselves to the naturalist for solution, and aiming rather to make the reader acquainted with the birds than learned about them.

The woodpeckers were selected in preference to any other family because they are patient under observation, easily identified, resident in all parts of the country both in summer and in winter, and because more than any other birds they leave behind them records of their work which may be studied after the birds have flown.

The book provides ample means for identifying every species and subspecies of woodpecker known in North America, though only five of the commonest and most interesting species have been selected for special study. At least three of these five should be found in almost every part of the country. The Californian woodpecker is never seen in the East, nor the red-headed in the far West, but the downy and the hairy are resident nearly everywhere, and some species of the flickers and sapsuckers, if not always the ones chosen for special notice, are visitors in most localities.

Look for the woodpeckers in orchards and along the edges of thickets, among tangles of wild grapes and in patches of low, wild berries, upon which they often feed, among dead trees and in the track of forest fires. Wherever there are boring larvæ, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, the fruit of poison-ivy, dogwood, june-berry, wild cherry or wild grapes, woodpeckers may be confidently looked for if there are any in the neighborhood.

Be patient, persistent, wide-awake, sure that you see what you think you see, careful to remember what you have seen, studious to compare your observations, and keen to hear the questions propounded you. If you do this seven years and a day, you will earn the name of Naturalist; and if you travel the road of the naturalist with curious patience, you may some day become as famous a riddle-reader as was that OEdipus, the king of Thebes, who slew the Sphinx.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) by Raymond Barlow

Lee’s Addition:

This is the beginning of a series from The Woodpeckers book. Our writer, Fannie Hardy Eckstorm, wrote this in 1901. There are 16 chapters, plus this Forward, which are about the Woodpecker Family here in America. All the chapters can be found on The Woodpeckers page.

Woodpeckers belong to the Picidae – Woodpeckers Family.

Here are the upcoming chapter titles:

CHAP.		PAGE
	Foreword: the Riddlers
I.	How to know a Woodpecker
II.	How the Woodpecker catches a Grub
III.	How the Woodpecker courts his Mate
IV.	How the Woodpecker makes a House
V.	How a Flicker feeds her Young
VI.	Friend Downy
VII.	Persona non Grata. (Yellow-bellied Sapsucker)
VIII.	El Carpintero. (Californian Woodpecker)
IX.	A Red-headed Cousin. (Red-headed Woodpecker)
X.	A Study of Acquired Habits
XI.	The Woodpecker’s Tools: His Bill
XII.	The Woodpecker’s Tools: His Foot
XIII.	The Woodpecker’s Tools: His Tail
XIV.	The Woodpecker’s Tools: His Tongue
XV.	How each Woodpecker is fitted for his own Kind of Life
XVI.	The Argument from Design

APPENDIX

A. Key to the Woodpeckers of North America

B. Descriptions of the Woodpeckers of North America

C. Explanation of Terms

I trust you will enjoy reading about these fantastic birds and how the Lord has created them to be able to carry out their task.

See:

The Woodpeckers by Fannie Hardy Eckstorm

Wordless Birds

Bible Birds – Bittern II

September 30, 2013 by Lee

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) by Ian

I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 14:23 KJV)

I introduced the Bittern in the first Birds of the Bible – Bittern and now I want to add some more information about them. The Bitterns belong to the Order called Pelecaniformes which includes Ibises, Spoonbills, Herons, Bitterns, Frigatebirds, Hamerkop, Shoebills, Pelicans, Gannets, Boobies, Cormorants, Anhingas, and Darters. All of these birds like to hang out around watery places and are related. Within the Pelecaniformes order, there are different families. The Bittern is in the Ardeidae family. Below is a list of the Bitterns within this family.

Belonging to the Ardeidae family, they also have the usual long legs, long necks, and are wading birds. They are associated with water, especially in breeding season. Whereas the herons and egret stand out in the open, the bitterns like to conceal themselves in cattail and sedge marshes, bulrushes, etc. They also have shorter legs and a heavier body. Their “cryptic plumage and upright poses helps to merge with the brown upright reeds…” I’ve had the privilege to see a few of them, and they are hard to find. God has provided them with this protection and it helps them in finding their food. Fish is their favorite food, but they will also consume frogs, small snakes, and other things that pass by.

Here in North America, we only have the American and Least Bitterns. I sometimes confuse them with the smaller herons, like a Green Heron. You can tell they are in the same family (ardeidae).

Here is the sounds of an American Bittern and a Least Bittern from Stokes Bird Songs

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (Isaiah 34:11)

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

Australian Little Bittern (Ixobrychus dubius) by Ian

Different Family
Sunbittern – Eurypygidae Family
Eurypyga
Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) – Video – Video2

“Recent DNA evidence suggests that this family may in fact belong to the Pelecaniformes. From Wikipedia They used to be in the Ciconiformes family, where most older guide books still have them. My list are from the IOC’s World Lists, 3.1 version.

Family#26 – Ardeidae

Bible Birds – Bittern I

September 28, 2013 by Lee

In North America we have the American Bittern (23” with a 42-50” wingspan) and Least Bittern (11-14” with a 16-18” wingspan). Both dwell in marsh or wetland habitats and are very difficult to find. God has designed them with plumage and behavior (standing very still with the head pointing up) that helps camouflage them. They eat frogs, small fish, snakes and bugs, etc.

Today there are 15 Bitterns around the world. The bittern is an interesting find in the Bible.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) by Daves BirdingPix

I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts. (Isa 14:23)

Again judgment is being given and the names of the new inhabitants are given. Only the birds will dwell there.

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (Isa 34:11)
Ninevah will be barren and the bittern and pelican will be singing from the vacant windows. The herds shall lie down in her midst, Every beast of the nation. Both the pelican and the bittern Shall lodge on the capitals of her pillars; Their voice shall sing in the windows; Desolation shall be at the threshold; For He will lay bare the cedar work. (Zep 2:14)

Those verse will be explained further in future Bible Bird – Bittern articles.

A YouTube of a Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). I do not know the language, but it shows how it is camouflaged so well.

See More Bible Birds

Bible Birds – Bitterns

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

THE BRAVE BROWN SPARROWS IN WINTER

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THE RACE BETWEEN THE SECRETARY BIRDS

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Now Peacocks II

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THE CARDINAL BIRD AND THE ROBIN

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The Woodpeckers Bird Band

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

Meet the whole band: (a few missed the photo session)

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Mnemonics – What is That?

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HOW THE LITTLE REDBIRD BECAME RED

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THE WOODPECKERS

BY

FANNIE HARDY ECKSTORM

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

THE WOODPECKERS

FOREWORD: THE RIDDLERS

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See More Bible Birds

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