Tag Archives: Nature

Golden Eagle Takes A Name

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Golden Eagle Takes A Name

by Golden Eagle

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Golden Eagle ©PD

Golden Eagle ©PD

Boys and girls, it’s me again! I have taken on a name: the GOLDEN EAGLE. So, if you send us messages you can simply call me the Golden Eagle. My very best friend, Jesus once said;”

Behold the fowls (birds) of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (Matthew 6:26 KJV)

Hey, as you go through your day watch the birds! It really doesn’t look like they work to hard! Jesus is saying that His Father feeds and takes care of the birds each and every day! Now here’s a thought. I don’t know what part of the world you live in? The cool thing is that God feeds the birds every day! ALL the birds in the entire WORLD. If He takes care of the birds, He will surely take care of you in whatever situations you find yourself in. I know some things are hard to deal with, even as kids. But God is up to the task and really everything is easy for Him! So TRUST HIM! Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him (Jesus). Psalm 2:12

Boys and girls, Jesus also said in our Bible verse that you are better than birds. Now birds are neat! I am a birder, a rather new birder, I have been at this a few months. You see evolution teaches that we have evolved from a rock, an explosion, a single celled creature, etc. It teaches that we are all animals. But Jesus said you are better than the birds. The truth is that you and I were created just a little bit under the angels! And do you know that angels can fly? They fly very swiftly the Bible says! Daniel 9:21 Oh that verse is talking about the angel Gabriel coming to visit the prophet Daniel.

Remember, your Heavenly Father will take care of each of you today! You also each have a guardian angel that watches over you! Maybe we have more than one guardian angel. Eventually, we will fly like the angels! Gravity doesn’t affect them you know.

Hey, have you started your journal yet? You can write down all kinds of things. Don’t forget to send us your really cool bird stories. Have a great day and if possible attend a good church on Sunday, or any day for that matter! Until next time, this is the Golden Eagle saying Shalom!

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Read more of Golden Eagle’s articles

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A J Mithra – Now With His Lord

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A J Mithra

A J Mithra

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

I just received word that A. J. Mithra passed away yesterday, Friday, January 31, 2014, of a cardiac arrest. They had the funeral today. A J was 54 and is survived by his wife and two children. He knew the Lord as his personal Saviour and we know that He is in the presence of the Lord.

The Times of India has this article: Chronicler of birdsong Mithra falls silent. His Facebook page, Aj Mithra, is still active for now.

I knew he has not sent many articles lately and when I contacted him recently, he told me that he was not feeling well. Here is an excerpt for that e-mail.

So many things had happened during the past few months.. Our son had a fall while playing basketball and developed a hairline crack. Then my wife’s vocal chord got so bad that she was asked to stop talking for two months.. She is still having pain and is on medical leave. Our daughter was down with fever and now since a week I’m unwell too.

Please keep A. J.’s family in your prayers as I know we will. His articles were always such a joy to receive and place on here. He had a way of watching birds and then coming up with his applications. It always made one stop and think, and then want to correct a behavior that the Lord might not be pleased with.

His articles are posted on his page here at: A J Mithra

I, personally am going to miss him greatly. We have become good friends over the years. He had recently gotten a nice camera and was having a great time photographing birds, which he loved. Here are a few from his Facebook page.

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Here are some of his articles:

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United States Songbirds On Stamps – Re-post from Dear Kitty

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Songbirds_Block_0

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates ten melodic voices with the Songbirds stamps: the western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), the mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides), the western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana), the painted bunting (Passerina ciris), the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), the evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus), the scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea), the rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus), the American goldfinch (Spinus tristis), and the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

Each colorful bird is shown perching on a fence post or branch … (The rest of the article)
This is from Dear Kitty. Some Blog

See United States songbirds on stamps.

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The Rescue of the Canary Bird

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Yellow Canary (Crithagra flaviventris) Male ©WikiC

Yellow Canary (Crithagra flaviventris) Male ©WikiC

THE RESCUE OF THE CANARY BIRD

She Watched the Little Bird.

She Watched the Little Bird.

“I am going to tell you a really true story,” said daddy, “something which happened to-day. I was walking along a rather poor part of the city when I saw a number of children gathered in a group in a little side yard of a tenement house. The children were screaming to one boy: ‘Oh, catch him! Don’t let the awful cat get him!'”

“Oh, was it a bird?” asked Jack eagerly.

“Yes,” replied daddy; “it was a bird, but not just the usual kind of bird that is seen around city streets, for only the sparrows like the noise of a city. Most birds like the woods and the country, where they can have homes in the trees and can sing all day long.

“But this was a tame yellow canary who had flown out of an open window to pick up some goodies he saw on the ground, and a cat was after him.”

“Did they get him from the cat?” asked Evelyn eagerly, for she was devoted to animals and perhaps especially to birds.

“Yes,” answered daddy; “the little boy succeeded in rescuing him, but the poor canary had been so frightened that his little heart was beating, oh, so fast, and the children were afraid he was not going to live.

“They all followed the little boy who had caught the canary just in time into the tenement house. The cat had knocked several feathers from the bird’s tail.

“Another child told me the canary belonged to a little girl who lived in the tenement. He asked me to follow, too, for he said that the little girl had trouble with her back and had to lie flat all the time. She loved visitors, for so much of the time she was lonely. Her mother was poor and out all day sewing, so the little girl’s only companion was the canary, who would sing for hours and hours. He seemed to know he must keep her cheered up.

“So along I went too. We climbed some stairs until we came to a dingy room where on a cot by the window lay a little girl about eight years old. She had big dark eyes, and when I saw her her cheeks were bright red from all the excitement.

“All her friends had gathered around, each giving her a special description of how the bird had been rescued. She was smiling with joy and watching the bird, who was now busily engaged nibbling at a little piece of apple which had been given him. Before long he began to sing, oh, so joyously, for he knew he was once more back in his happy home, where he would take good care to stay in the future.

“I told the little girl of my Jack and Evelyn, and she said she wanted to see you both. Shall we all go to see her and her little bird some day?”

“We’d love to!” cried Jack and Evelyn delightedly.

Lee’s Addition:

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalms 18:2)

Another delightful story from Daddy’s book.

The Yellow Canary (Serinus flaviventris) is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in much of the western and central regions of southern Africa and has been introduced to Ascension and St Helena islands. They have been kept for pets for many years. They belong to the Fringillidae – Finches Family.

Its habitat is karoo and coastal or mountain valley scrub. It builds a compact cup nest in a scrub.

The Yellow Canary is typically 13 cm in length. The adult male color ranges from almost uniform yellow in the northwest of its range to streaked, olive backed birds in the southeast. The underparts, rump and tail sides are yellow. The female has grey-brown upperparts, black wings with yellow flight feathers, and a pale supercilium. The underparts are white with brown streaking. The juvenile resembles the female, but has heavier streaking.

The Yellow Canary is a common and gregarious seedeater. Its call is chissick or cheree, and the song is a warbled zee-zeree-chereeo.

Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

By

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

Daddys Bedtime Story Images

 

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

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

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Links:

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) ©©Flickr

 

 

  Bird Tales

 

 

 

 

 

  Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

 

 

 

Spanish Sparrow (Passer Hispaniolensis) female ©WikiC

 

  Wordless Birds

 

 

 

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 Fringillidae – Finches Family

 

 

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The Whole Creation Has Been Groaning………..

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Anole on Fence - Carolina Anole ©WikiC

Anole on Fence – Carolina Anole ©WikiC

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)

The following is not one of my latest stories, but because it concerns one of God’s creations I dare to let you see it. Many people would laugh at me and, by the way some of my happenings can be seen as being laughable….even unbelievable!

About two years ago, when I was living in West Palm Beach, I was going through a difficult time. I well remember the few days when I used to sit outside and read. Lizards, as you Americans know, are a well-known sight and one particular lizard came down from the tree at the back of me and hid behind the drain pipe. It kept peeping at me from one side of pipe to the other. I took little notice!

The next day, same lizard, came across the lawn and performed once more. Maybe it wanted to grab my attention, but then it was only a common lizard.

On day three the same lizard ( or so I believe ) scampered across the lawn and commenced to do its tricks from behind the drain pipe. However, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me, reminding me of the Scripture in Jonah 4: 7 how that God appointed a worm to attack the gourd that was sheltering Jonah. Could it be that God had sent a lizard to tell me that He would be with me and never forsake me. despite my difficult circumstances? I felt it necessary to put may tongue out at him and if he responded I would know that God was in this strange situation!

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered. (Jonah 4:7)

Anole Lick ©WikiC

Anole Lick ©WikiC

The next time my little friend popped its head out and looked at me, I put my tongue out at him. Immediately out came a big orange tongue like a small balloon! Then this ‘appointed ‘ lizard disappeared, never to be seen again. A few days later I was admitted into Wellington Hospital with a virus which took me off my feet. I knew that God was aware of all my circumstances even to the most minute detail.

Peter England

(One of this blog’s readers and commenter)

Green Anole – Wikipedia

Lee’s Addition:

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. (Psalms 119:50)

Thanks Peter for an interesting story and inspiration.

Peter is one of our reader’s and comments often. He lives in the U.K. at the time. He has some more tales that will shared later. The one about his encounter with a blackbird will be published soon.

I am always willing to use guest writers. If you have something to share, let me know. I can be reached at Lee@Leesbird.com

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Birds of the Bible – Patience Of…. A Duck?

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Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Pintail by Lee at ZM 2014

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Pintail by Lee at ZM 2014

But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’ (Job 35:10-11)

We know that God has given us more insight and wisdom than the animals and birds. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to observe the birds to see how we should behave. There are many times we can learn from watching their behaviors.

“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7)

While at the Zoo Miami’s Wings of Asia aviary, this behavior was captured on video. It’s between Ferruginous Ducks and a Mandarin Duck.

Can you think of some lessons that can be observed and learned? Are those ducks patient? Was one, the Mandarin Duck, jumping the line? What can be seen in their behaviors? Did you notice the eyes of the waiting duck? He wants it, but he is waiting. He even keeps his beak shut. Do we complain when things don’t go right? etc.

Here are some verses about patience, waiting and kindness that we can be taught from the birds.

Patience:

These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season. (Psalms 104:27)

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. (Psalms 25:21)

Kindness:

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Breaking in Line – Mandarin:

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. (Psalms 37:7-8)

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The Ferruginous Duck, also Ferruginous Pochard (Aythya nyroca) is a medium-sized diving duck from Eurasia. The species is known colloquially by birders as “Fudge Duck”. They are members of the Anatidae – Ducks, Geese & Swans Family.

Their breeding habitat is marshes and lakes with a metre or more water depth. These ducks breed in southern and eastern Europe and southern and western Asia. They are somewhat migratory, and winter farther south and into north Africa.

The adult male is a rich chestnut colour with a darker back and a yellow eye. The pure white undertail helps to distinguish this species from the somewhat similar Tufted Duck. The female is similar but duller, and with a dark eye.

These are gregarious birds, forming large flocks in winter, often mixed with other diving ducks, such as Tufted Ducks and Pochards.

These birds feed mainly by diving or dabbling. They eat aquatic plants with some molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish. They often feed at night, and will upend (dabble) for food as well as the more characteristic diving.

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Sunday Inspiration – Hummingbirds

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Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) by Judd Patterson

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) by Judd Patterson

How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. (Psa 36:7-10)

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This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Come Thou Fount by the Faith Baptist Orchestra. (Used With Permission of Faith Baptist Church)

(Music and photos are used by permission. If copied, you must obtain permission also.)

Hummingbirds are one of the most beautiful and delicate creations from our Lord. Enjoy seeing what He Hath Made.

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And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
(Rev 21:6)

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More Sunday Inspiration

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Birds of the Bible – Harpy Eagle

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Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at ZM 2014

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at ZM 2014

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: (Eze 17:3)

Dan and I were off on a birdwatching adventure this week. This time we visited the Zoo Miami’s Wings of Asia aviary and the Palm Beach Zoo. With over a thousand photos to sort through, I have some new photos to share. Because of the number, it will also be awhile before they are sorted and cleaned up.

At Zoo Miami we encountered a Harpy Eagle and its young one. As far as I know, this is a first for seeing this Eagle. Its holding area is quite large and has a fly area right over the walk path. The biggest problems were a fence and it was very shady there which made photographing them challenging. But what an amazing creation by the Lord. Love that “hair do”.

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar: (Eze 17:3)

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at Zoo Miami 2014

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at Zoo Miami 2014

I was able to get a few shots through the fence. I am not complaining about the fence being between me and that eagle. Looking at that beak makes one very thankful for a barrier between us.

Wikipedia says, “On occasion, larger prey such as capybaras, peccaries and deer are taken and they are usually taken to a stump or low branch and partially eaten, since they are too heavy to be carried whole to the nest. Red brocket deer, a species commonly weighing over 30 kg (66 lb), have been reportedly predated and, in such cases, the eagle may have to tear it into pieces or feed on at the killing site rather than fly with as it would be too heavy. The Harpy have been recorded as taking domestic livestock, including chickens, lambs, goats and young pigs, but this is extremely rare under normal circumstances. They control population of mesopredators such as capuchin monkeys which prey extensively on bird’s eggs and which (if not naturally controlled) may cause local extinctions of sensitive species.”

Here is a Capybara resting alongside a White Ibis and a Crested Screamer. It gives you an idea how large a critter the Harpy can take as prey. (The Capybara is problem happy it is at Palm Beach and not down in Miami with the Hapry.)

Capybara with White Ibis and Crested Screamer by Lee at PB Zoo

Capybara with White Ibis and Crested Screamer by Lee at PB Zoo 2014

Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness. (Lam 4:19)

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a Neotropical species of eagle. They are one of the 256 members of the Accipitridae – Kites, Hawks & Eagles Family. It is sometimes known as the American Harpy Eagle to distinguish it from the Papuan Eagle which is sometimes known as the New Guinea Harpy Eagle or Papuan Harpy Eagle. It is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas, and among the largest living species of eagles in the world. It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper (emergent) canopy layer. Destruction of its natural habitat has seen it vanish from many parts of its former range, and it is nearly extirpated in Central America. In Brazil, the Harpy Eagle is also known as Royal-Hawk (in Portuguese: Gavião-Real).

Because of its endangerment, zoos are keeping them to help in breeding. In fact, there is a second Harpy in this enclosure. They have been successful in having chicks born. One was born in 2009 and again in 2013. I assume this young Harpy Eagle is the one born last year.

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at Zoo Miami

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) by Lee at Zoo Miami

It is sometimes cited as the largest eagle alongside the Philippine Eagle, that is somewhat longer on average and the Steller’s Sea Eagle, that is slightly heavier on average. The wingspan of the Harpy Eagle is relatively small, an adaptation that increases maneuverability in forested habitats and is shared by other raptors in similar habitats. The wingspan of the Harpy Eagle is surpassed by several large eagles who live in more open habitats, such as those in the Haliaeetus and Aquila genera.

Additional Facts: (From Nature PBS)

  • The harpy was first described by Linnaeus in his 1758 Systema Naturae as the Vultur harpyja, after the Greek mythological spirit that had the body of an eagle and the face of a human.
  • The harpy eagle is most closely related to the crested eagle (Morphnus guianesis) and the New Guinea harpy eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae).
  • The harpy eagle is Panama’s national bird.
  • Its talons can be as large as the claws of a grizzly bear.
  • As an apex predator, the harpy eagle is often believed to be a key indicator of the health of the forest ecosystem. Where there are healthy numbers of harpy eagles, there are healthy numbers of the species it preys upon.
  • The exact number of harpies is not known. Birdlife International estimated that there were between 20,000 and 50,000 birds in 2009, but those numbers are far from definitive.

The Harpy Eagle is on the Coat of Arms of Panama – Harpy Eagle at Top – Wikipedia

To find out more about the Harpy see the links below. There a numerous verses in the Bible about Eagles and these are just a few more of them.

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Pro 23:5)

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. (Dan 4:33)

Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. (Job 39:27-28)

See:

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The Naughty Little Sick Snowbird

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Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) by Ray

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) by Ray

THE NAUGHTY LITTLE SICK SNOWBIRD

The Bird Began to Recover.

The Bird Began to Recover.

 

 

Daddy had been encouraging Jack and Evelyn to feed the little birds that came outside the window. So one evening when it was time for their story he told them about the Christmas a little snowbird had had the year before.

“He was a very self-willed little fellow,” commenced daddy, “and he thought no one knew so much about life as he did. During the autumn he had become very chummy with the sparrows. His daddy and mother didn’t like that much, as they were afraid he would become as rude and noisy as the sparrows were.

“When the cold weather came the snowbirds decided to leave, but the little wilful snowbird was nowhere to be found. ‘Where could he have gone?’ asked Mother Snowbird, and daddy said, ‘Oh, probably he left this morning with the robins and wrens, for I saw him playing with them!’ That eased Mother Snowbird’s fears, and off they started.

“When the little snowbird saw that his family had flown away he came out from his hiding-place. He really felt a little homesick and was sorry he hadn’t gone, too; but, of course, he didn’t dare admit it, for the sparrows had told him only stupid children were obedient. They admired his naughty disobedience and thought it was a great joke to worry his family.

“A few weeks went by, and the days became colder and colder. One night he felt so cold and so unhappy that he flew away from the sparrows, expecting to die any moment.

“The next morning he was found, half dead, by a little girl. She took him in her house, warmed his frozen feet and fed him bits of crumbs and drops of water. Slowly he began to recover.

“It was the day before Christmas, and he was perched on the window-sill in the sun, when, to his huge joy, he saw Daddy and Mother Snowbird outside the window. He flew against the window-glass. The little girl came rushing into the room to see what the trouble was. She was sure from his joyous actions that the other two snowbirds were his daddy and mother, so she opened the window, and the little bird flew out.

“‘Oh, dear, we’ve been so frightened!’ said Mother Snowbird.

“‘Yes,’ said Daddy Snowbird; ‘we’ve been on ever so many trips looking for you, but now we’ll hurry down home and fly fast, so as not to get cold, and then we’ll be there in time for Christmas day. All the little birds will be there waiting for the Christmas party.’

“You may be quite sure the little snowbird never had a happier Christmas, and he realized that the older birds knew what was best for him.”

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) by J Fenton

It might have been a Snow Bunting by J Fenton

Lee’s Addition:

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. (Colossians 3:20 NKJV)

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Another Bird Tales

From

Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories – Gutenberg ebooks

By

Mary Graham Bonner

With four illustrations in color by
Florence Choate and Elizabeth Curtis

Daddys Bedtime Story Images

 

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

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

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Links:

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) ©©Flickr

 

 

  Bird Tales

 

 

 

 

 

  Daddy’s Bedtime Bird Stories

 

 

 

Spanish Sparrow (Passer Hispaniolensis) female ©WikiC

 

  Wordless Birds

 

 

 

 

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) by J Fenton

 

 

 Calcariidae – Longspurs, Snow Buntings – Family

 

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Ian’s Bird of the Week – Chestnut-breasted Mannikin/Munia

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Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) by Ian

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) by Ian

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Chestnut-breasted Mannikin/Munia ~ by Ian Montgomery

Newsletter ~ 1-23-14

Please accept my apologies that it is over a month since the last bird of the week. I seem to have been distracted by Christmas, New Year, etc.

Anyway, here is a spontaneous one. I’m in the public library in Ingham at the moment getting my car serviced. I was planning to work on the book Where to Find Birds in Northeast Queensland, but had a nagging feeling that I should really do the bird of the week. I found a table at the back of the library with a pleasant view over the adjacent Tyto Wetlands and spotted 3 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins feeding on the ornamental grass seeds just outside the window.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) by Ian

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) by Ian

I had my camera with me and got a couple of photos of one before they noticed me (second photo) and flew away. The photos are a bit cloudy having been taken through glass, but it was good quality plate glass. Members of the genus Lonchura are usually called Mannikins in Australia but they also occur in Asia where the name Munia is used.

This incidentally, is the view of Tyto Wetlands from the library. The dark speck on the lawn in the foreground on the left hand side is the bird in the first two photos.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin at Tyto Wetlands by Ian

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin at Tyto Wetlands by Ian

Tyto Wetlands gets its name from the Barn Owl genus Tyto as it is a known haunt of the elusive Eastern Grass Owl Tyto longimembris which nest sometimes in the grassy area between the wetlands and the local airstrip. I have seen them here on a number of occasions and they have been reported here quite recently, but no photos unfortunately yet.

Ingham is quite a small sugar-cane town so it is greatly to their credit that they, under the guidance and encouragement of John Young of recent Night Parrot fame, have created this wonderful wetland and sanctuary. There is also a large wetland centre near the highway, well worth a visit if you are passing this way.

Now back to the book. I finished the bird section and am now taking photos of as many as possible of the locations and that quest has taken me to some interesting spots that I’ve never visited before.

Best wishes
Ian

Ian Montgomery, Birdway Pty Ltd,
454 Forestry Road, Bluewater, Qld 4818
Phone: 0411 602 737 +61-411 602 737
Preferred Email: ian@birdway.com.au
Bird Photos http://www.birdway.com.au/
Recorder Society http://www.nqrs.org.au

Lee’s Addition:

Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty. (Job 40:10 NKJV)

Sounds like you were as busy as the rest of us. What a beautiful bird. I love the clean lines where the colors change. Another neat creation.

Munia and Mannikins belong to two different families. This Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is actually one of the 151 species in the Estrildidae – Waxbills, Munias & Allies Family. There is a family with Manakins that can confuse someone because of the close spelling.  (Mannikin vs Manakin) The  Pipridae – Manakins Family has 52 species in their family.

See:

Ian’s Bird of the Week

Ian’s Estrildidae Family Photos

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Yellow-rumped Munia/Mannikin

Estrildidae – Waxbills, Munias & Allies Family

Pipridae – Manakins Family

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ABA 2014 Bird of the Year – Rufous Hummingbird

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Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) by Judd Patterson

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) by Judd Patterson

For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, … (Zec 4:10a KJV)

The Birding Bunch left me a comment and reminded me that the ABA Bird of the Year for 2014 has been announced. So, I have updated the Badge on the Sidebar. The bird they chose this year is another beautiful creation from the Lord.

ABA Bird of the Year

The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) is a small hummingbird, about 3 inches  long (8 cm) with a long, straight and very slender bill. The female is slightly larger than the male.

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) by Africaddict

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) by Africaddict

The adult male, (shown in the photo), has a white breast, rufous face, upperparts, flanks and tail and an iridescent orange-red throat patch (gorget). Some males have some green on back and/or crown. The female has green upperparts with some white, some iridescent orange feathers in the center of the throat, and a dark tail with white tips and rufous base. Females and the rare green-backed males are extremely difficult to differentiate from Allen’s Hummingbird.

They feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue or catch insects on the wing. These birds require frequent feeding while active during the day and become torpid at night to conserve energy.

Because of their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals.

He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 115:13-15 KJV)

Read more about this beautifully created Hummingbird at:

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Birds of the World – Magnificent Riflebird

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Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) by Ian

Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) by Ian

Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psa 148:13 KJV)

The Magnificent Riflebird is a member of the Paradisaeidae – Birds-of-paradise Family. They are a family of birds that really showcase the Lord’s Creative Hand.

The Magnificent Riflebird (Ptiloris magnificus) is a medium-sized (up to 34 cm long) passerine bird of the Paradisaeidae family. The male is velvet-black bird of paradise with elongated black filamental flank plumes, an iridescent blue-green crown, a wide, triangle-shaped breast shield, and on central tail feathers. It has a black curved bill, yellow mouth, blackish feet and a dark brown iris. The female is brownish with dark spots and buff bars below.

The Magnificent Riflebird is widely distributed throughout lowland rainforests of New Guinea and far Northeastern Australia. The diet consists mainly of fruits and arthropods.

Males perform solitary courtship displays on a ‘dancing perch’. During these displays, the male fully extends his wings and raises his tail; he hops upward while swinging his head from side to side, showing off his metallic blue-green breast shield. Multiple females will observe these displays. Females subsequently build nests, incubate, brood, and feed young without male assistance. (Wikipedia with editing)

The Lab of Ornithology produced this clip.

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Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. (Psa 150:2 KJV)

P.S. I am off on a birdwatching adventure, but wanted to share this with you. More about our adventure later.

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Paradisaeidae – Birds-of-paradise Family

Ian’s Bird of the Week – Magnificent Riflebird

Magnificent Riflebird – Wikipedia

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