From The Breakfast Table – 7/24/20

White Ibis checking out our yard.

White Ibises checking out our yard.

Well, while eating our breakfast today, we had another birdwatching adventure. Since I have been staying in more again because of this Covid-19 pandemic, there have been no trips to watch birds. No birds, no posts. Thankfully, Dr. Johnson (JJSJ) and William Wise have been adding post here.

With the heat of summer, the birds are less frequent this time of year. Many migrate north, but they will return this fall. Also thankfully, there are those who are resident birds and hang around. Today was a show of Northern Mockingbirds. When we moved here recently, I brought a Beautyberry shrub with me. My neighbor helped me prune it, and it is the best it has ever been. I have been watching the little berries develop, and now, some of them are ripening up.

Northern Mockingbird on Hook 2

Northern Mockingbird on Hook

“For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,” [double sliding door] (Proverbs 7:6 NASB)

First a few White Ibises walked through the yard, and then the Mockingbirds started to appear. I have only seen one most of the time. Must be something about those berries that brought the whole family in. Before breakfast was over, five had come in at once. Three of them seem like juveniles or almost mature, the other two, I assume are the adults.

Here are some of the photos I took while sitting at the breakfast table:

American White Ibises checking for whatever:

White Ibis checking out our yard.

White Ibis checking out our yard.

Northern Mockingbirds on the hook and the Beautyberry plant:

Northern Mockingbird on Hook

2 Northern Mockingbirds on Hook

Young Northern Mockingbird on Hook

Eating berries

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:26 NASB)

All these visitors made for an entertaining and blessed start to our day. Here is a video of some of this activity. All from my chair at breakfast.

Video of Mockingbirds:

And video of Juvenile Mockingbird

Good News

Jesus And Birds – Birds Not Sowing

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) with Hoard or Grainary WikiC

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) with Hoard or Grainary WikiC

Wow! Where does time go? With all this craziness over the Coronavirus and the uneasiness of our country, time gets away from me. Maybe I need to listen to what Jesus was saying about not being anxious. This is the 4th mention of birds by the Lord while here on earth. 1st Cleansing Of Temple was the last in this series. That was back in May.

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26 NASB) [emphasis mine]

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) ©WikiC Feeding

Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephala) ©WikiC Feeding

This time we have the much quoted, and taught, lesson about the feeding of birds of the air. Mathew 6:25-34 is a favorite passage of mine. The Lord encourages us to relax and put our trust in Him. LOOK!!! at the birds, I take great care of them. I WILL ALSO take great care of you!!

Clothes? Look how HE feeds and dresses the birds! Even the plants, are so beautiful.

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.” (Matthew 6:27-29 NASB)

QUIT WORRYING!

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?‘ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:30-32 NASB)

So, how do we quit worring, Look to Jesus and His Kingdom. First by accepting Him as our Savior, and then learning to trust fully in His care and provisions. No, the food won’t fall out of heaven, but the Lord will provide us the means of providing what we can. Then we need to depend on Him to provide whatelse we need. (Not always what we want)

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34 NASB)

Gospel Message

 

Avian And Attributes – Cook

Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) ©WikiC

“As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (John 21:9 KJV)

“Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.” (John 21:12-14 KJV)


Avian and Attributes – Cook

From the above verses, it appears our Lord was also a good Cook.

Cook
(1): (v. i.) To prepare food for the table.
(3): (v. t.) To prepare, as food, by boiling, roasting, baking, broiling, etc.; to make suitable for eating, by the agency of fire or heat.
(6): (n.) One whose occupation is to prepare food for the table; one who dresses or cooks meat or vegetables for eating.
(7): (v. t.) To throw.


Cook Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus kerearako) ©IGoTerra

Cook Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus kerearako)

The Cook Reed Warbler or Cook Islands reed warbler (Acrocephalus kerearako) is a species of Old World warbler in the Acrocephalidae Family. It is found only in the Cook Islands. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, swamps, and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii) ©Flickr Duncan

Cook’s Petrel (Pterodroma cookii)

The Cook’s petrel (blue-footed petrel) (Pterodroma cookii), is a Procellariform seabird. It is a member of the gadfly petrels and part of the subgroup known as Cookilaria petrels, which includes the very similar Stejneger’s petrel. One of the smallest petrels, Cook’s petrel is typically 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length with a 65–66 cm (26–26 in) wingspan and a weight of around 200 g (7.1 oz). Its colouration is typical of gadfly petrels: pale grey upperparts with a dark grey “M” on the wings and white underparts.

The bill is long and black with tubular nostrils on both sides. As in all members of the order Procellariiformes, this nostril configuration enables an exceptionally acute sense of smell, which the birds use to locate food and nest sites in the dark. In the  Procellariidae – Petrels, Shearwaters Family.

Cook’s petrel breeds only in New Zealand on three small islands: Little Barrier Island, Great Barrier Island, and Codfish Island. The breeding season is the southern summer, October–May. It nests in burrows and rock crevices, preferring sites on thickly forested ridges.

Cook’s Swift (Apus cooki) ©Peter Ericsson

Cook’s Swift (Apus cooki)

The Cook’s Swift (Apus cooki), is a small bird, superficially similar to a house martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. These birds have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces. The scientific name comes from the Greek απους, apous, meaning “without feet”. They never settle voluntarily on the ground. Blyth’s swifts spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch in their beaks.

Cook’s swifts breed in limestone caves of Thailand, Myanmar and Indochina. The species has a green iridescence, a shallow tail fork and is a short distance migrant. In the Apodidae – Swift Family


More Avian and Attributes

Birds whose first or last name start with “C”

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus. With Editing]

Avian And Attributes – Bountiful/Bountifully

Bounty Shag (Leucocarbo ranfurlyi ) ©WorldBirds

“I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” (Psalms 13:6 KJV)

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” (Psalms 116:7 KJV)

“GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.” (Psalms 119:17 KJV)


Avian and Attributes – Bountiful

BOUN’TIFUL, a. [bounty and full.] Free to give; liberal in bestowing gifts and favors; munificent; generous.

God, the bountiful author of our being.

It is followed by of before the thing given, and to before the person receiving.

BOUN’TIFULLY, adv. Liberally; largely; in a bountiful manner.


Bounty Shag (Leucocarbo ranfurlyi) Specimen ©WikiC

Bounty Shag

The Bounty Shag (Leucocarbo ranfurlyi), also known as the Bounty Island shag, is a species of cormorant of the Phalacrocoracidae family. They are found only on the tiny and remote Subantarctic Bounty Islands, 670 km south east of New Zealand. Its natural habitats are open seas and rocky shores. In 2005 618 individuals were counted (with roughly 410 mature ones) and the population seems to have remained stable since.

Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists’ Union, place this species in the genus Leucocarbo. Others place it in the genus Phalacrocorax.

Size; 71 cm. Large, black-and-white cormorant. Black head, hind neck, lower back, rump, uppertail-coverts, all with metallic blue sheen. White underparts. Pink feet. White patches on wings appear as bar when folded. Caruncles absent. Voice: Male makes call during displays only.

This species as Vulnerable because its very small population and breeding range renders it susceptible to stochastic events and human impacts. The Bounty Islands are a nature reserve and are free of introduced predators. The islands are uninhabited and are seldom visited, so human interference is minimal. (Cormorants, shags – Phalacrocoracidae Family)

Bounty Shag (Leucocarbo ranfurlyi ) ©NZBirdsonline


More Avian and Attributes

Birds whose first name starts with “B “

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[Definitions from Webster’s Dictionary of American English (1828), unless noted. Bird info from Wikipedia plus.]

Lee’s Two Word Tuesday – 5/30/17

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Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) feeding a chick ©WikiC

FEED ME

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“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:” (Proverbs 30:8 KJV)

Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) feeding a chick ©WikiC

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More Daily Devotionals

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Lee’s One Word Monday – 4/24/17

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Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) by Dave's BirdingPix

OPEN

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“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalms 81:10 KJV)

Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli) by Dave’s BirdingPix

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More Daily Devotionals

Lee’s Three Word Wednesday – 4/19/17

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Feeding White Ibises at Lake Morton

GIVING THEM BREAD

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“Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.”  (Ruth 1:6)

Feeding White Ibises at Lake Morton

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More Daily Devotionals

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Lee’s Seven Word Sunday – 3/12/17

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Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) -Viera Wetlands by Dan

UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

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Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV)

Osprey Eating – Viera Wetlands by Dan

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Celebrating the Life-Saving Heroism of Alaskan Dog Mushers (and their Sled Dogs) – Repost

What an interesting article that James J. S. Johnson wrote on his blog. I thought you might enjoy it. The video of an actual dog slide ride is really challenging.

rockdoveblog

 Celebrating the Life-Saving Heroism of Alaskan Dog Mushers (and their Sled Dogs)

James J. S. Johnson, JD, ThD, CNHG

sleddogs-alaska-iditarod

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  Galatians 6:10

Imagine a celebration of Siberian husky sled dogs, harnessed together as a racing team, guided by their human driver (called a “musher”), zooming across frigid snow trails in rural Alaska:  this is what happens in a commemorative festival/event called the IDITAROD TRAIL RACE.  (See the YouTube video footage below.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3bliK7R94

The Iditarod is an outdoors reenactment-like celebration of dogsled mushing, to remember the heroic relay race – through day and night, blizzard winds, snow, and ice – to save human lives, during a life-or-death crisis in January-February AD1925, when a highly contagious diphtheria plague struck like a serial killer, menacing the almost-unreachable population of Nome, Alaska.

The crisis…

View original post 1,707 more words

Lee’s Five Word Friday – 8/5/16

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Crow on Eagles Back ©©

BORE YOU ON EAGLE’S WINGS

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“‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Exodus 19:4 NKJV)

Crow on Eagle’s Back ©©

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More Daily Devotionals

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Lee’s Two Word Tuesday – 2/2/16

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Feeding White Ibises at Lake Morton

 

FEED ME

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Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: (Proverbs 30:8 KJV)

Feeding White Ibises at Lake Morton (L to R – Dan, Golden Eagle, and James J S Johnson)

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Sandra’s New Kooky Challenge

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Sparrow Quote from The Life Project

House Sparrows visiting National Aviary Parrot Show by Lee

House Sparrows visiting National Aviary by Lee

The Life Project by Don Merritt is a blog I follow. Here is an interesting quote from Jesus and His relationship with the Disciples:

Jesus wraps up this thought with the example of a sparrow. Who watches out for sparrows? Actually, we could ask something like: Who cares at all about sparrows?

Jesus gives us an answer: His Father in heaven cares about each and every single insignificant sparrow on the planet, and nothing happens to a single little sparrow that He doesn’t know about.

That is a staggering thought…

Read the whole article….

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Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29 KJV)

The Life Project

Jesus and His relationship with the Disciples

Birds of the Bible – Sparrows

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