Tag Archives: Nestling

Baby Egrets at Gatorland

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On our latest trip to Gatorland, March 23rd, one of my goals was to see if any of the baby Great Egrets had hatched. Great Egret Nest – Gatorland.

Eggs in Great Egret Nest Gatorland 02252021 by Lee
Eggs in Great Egret Nest Gatorland February 25th by Lee

As I expected, there were still some babies there, but it appears by the age of some of them, that many had already fledged. Yet, there were enough to check out. This nest pictured above, was right next to the rail, and to my dismay, it was empty except for one little fluffy chick that did not appear to be alive.

Great Egret with Dead Chick

I met Cathy McArthur there, and we were both watching this young chick. There was no breathing, so we both came up with the same conclusion. The reason I mention her name, is she has agreed to allow me to use some of her photos she also took that day.

There were plenty of other active chicks to try to get a photo of, but of course, I got my fair share of branches. :)

Baby Great Egret
Baby Great Egret
Another chick acoss the water
Two of the Great Egret Chicks by Cathy McArthur
Great Egret Chick by Cathy McArthur

They have quite the hair do’s, don’t you think?

“the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.” (Leviticus 11:19 NKJV)

Egrets and Herons are in the same family, Ardeidae – Herons, Bitterns, and therefore a Bird of the Bible – Herons member. Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns make up the Ardeidae family.

I did shoot a few videos, but they are a bit shaky because I was quite away from the nest. Here is one of them:

Stay tuned for more nesting birds. The Tricolored Herons and Snowy Egrets were busy preparing nest, laying eggs, and sitting on them.

Bird of the Bible – Herons

Ardeidae – Herons, Bitterns

Cathy McArthur

Birdwatching Trips Around Florida – Gatorland

10 Reasons Jesus Came to Die

[I attempted writing this post with just the Block Editor.]

Avian – Happy Mother’s Day

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Today is Mother’s Day here in America. I wonder if the beautiful, hard-working avian mother’s have a special day. Maybe, it is the day the little one fledge and finally have “Flown The Coop.”

Seriously, I would like to wish all of my readers a Happy Mother’s Day with this little tribute.

First, the Momma bird lays her eggs:

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Eggs ©WikiC
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Eggs ©WikiC
Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) Eggs ©WikiC
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) eggs ©WikiC
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Eggs ©WikiC
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Eggs ©WikiC
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) eggs ©WikiC
Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus) Nest w eggs by Nikhil Devasar
Eider Down Nest (in Iceland) with Eggs / photo credit: Ice Ice Baby
Robin Egg in Nest ©Lorl L Stalterl
Domesticated Guineafowl Eggs ©WikiC
Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) Nest with Eggs ©WikiC
Ferruginous Flycatcher (Muscicapa ferruginea) Eggs ©WikiC
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Egg in Eastern Phoebe Nest ©WikiC
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) Eggs ©Wiki
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) nest w eggs by Nikhil Devasar

“Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.” (Proverbs 23:25 NKJV)

Second, momma has to sit on the eggs for awhile:

AMERICAN COOT on nest (photo credit: MDC Discover Nature)
Pale-blue Monarch (Hypothymis puella) Female on nest ©WikiC
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Lee
Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland
Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland
Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland
Great Egret on Nest at Gatorland
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Female on nest ©WikiC
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) on nest by Nikhil Devasar
Muscovy Duck on nest at Lake Morton by Lee
Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis) on nest by Ian
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) on nest by Nikhil Devasar
Costa’s Hummingbird on Nest (Calypte costae) by Bob-Nan

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:50 NKJV)

Third, the little ones start to appear:

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) chick-egg nest ©USFWS
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) chicks ©USFWS
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Chick and Egg ©USFWS
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Chicks in nest ©WikiC
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) Newly Hatched in Nest ©WikiC
Raven Chicks
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Lee
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Lee
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Dan
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) in nest ready to eat WikiC
Baby Chick with Easter Eggs
Baby Chicken with colorful easter eggs ©Colorbox

“Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:19 KJV)

Fourth, those little birds get hungry:

Great Blue Heron-nest. Naturally Curious-Mary Holland
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) Chick in Nest ©WikiC
Wood Thrush. nest ©Audubon Society
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Chicks in nest ©WikiC
Raven Chicks
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) at Nest 1 by Anthony747
Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum) by Ian
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Dan
Snowy Egret in Nest with babies by Lee
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with young in nest
Great Horned Owl Chick in Nest From Pinterest
Black-headed Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus) Feedingby Nikhil Devasar
Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) feeding a chick ©WikiC
Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) Female feeding insects to chicks ©WikiC
Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus) Adult Feeding Juvenile©WikiC
Indian Spotted Creeper (Salpornis) Feeding by ©WikiC
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa) ©WikiC Feeding Young
Woodpeckar Feeding Chicks From Pinterest
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) Feeding at Nest WikiC
Hoopoe Feeding Young ©©Dvir Lotan from Israel
Kingfisher Feeding Young by Phil Kwong

“Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” (Ephesians 6:2 KJV)

Fifth, they mature (juveniles) and eventually Fly The Coop:

Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) Juvenile by Ian
Unspotted Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius ridgwayi) Juvenile ©Chris Jimenez – Macaulay Library
Nazca Booby (Sula granti) Juvenile ©WikiC
Black Spotted Barbet (Capito niger) Juvenile at Zoo Miami by Lee 10-2016
Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) Juveniles ©WikiC
Nene (Branta sandvicensis) Juvenile ©WikiC
Greyish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens) Juvenile WikiC
White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) Juvenile ©BirdPhotos.com
Yellow-billed Cardinal (Paroaria capitata) Juvenile ©WikiC
Golden-breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) Juvenile ©WikiC
Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) Juvenile ©WikiC
Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) Juvenile by MAMuin
Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) Juvenile Lowry Park Zoo
Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) Juvenile Lowry Park Zoo
Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber) Juvenile Lowry Park Zoo
Limpkin Juvenile at Lake Morton by Lee
Sapphire Flycatcher (Ficedula sapphira) Juvenile ©WikiC
Barn Swallow (juvenile)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (juvenile) ©USFWS
Eastern Nicator (Nicator gularis) Juvenile Begging ©WikiC
Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) juvenile ©WikiC
Wreathed Hornbill Juvenile Male CF Zoo by Lee
Wreathed Hornbill Juvenile Male CF Zoo by Lee
Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor palmerstoni) Juvenile by Ian
African Penguin Juvenile
Galapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) ©WikiC Juvenile
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) Juvenile at Cincinnati Zoo by Lee
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Juvenile ©WikiC
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) Juvenile by Nikhil
Sandhill Cranes – Adult and Juvenile in yard 8/27/10
Sandhill juvenile
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) at Lake Ashton by Lee
Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) by Ian juvenile
Great Blue Heron Juvenile at Saddle Creek by Lee
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) juvenile by Quy Tran
Juvenile Bald Eagle
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) Juvenile by Ian
Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) Juvenile by Ian
Juvenile in Flight by Anthony

Avian mother’s are finished with that batch. Unlike human mothers whose work has just begun, and will continue through every stage of their children’s lives, even into their grandchildren’s lives.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

“Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22 NKJV)

“A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother.” (Proverbs 15:20 NKJV)

Birds in Hymns – Thou Sweet, Beloved Will Of God

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And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)

Words: Ger­hard Ter­steeg­en, Geist­lich­es Blum­en-Gärt­lein, first edi­tion, 1729, Book III, number 19 (Lieb­wer­ther, süss­er Gott­es-Wille); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Em­ma Be­van, 1858.

Music: Holl­ey, George Hews, 1835 .
Al­ter­nate tune: •Abends, Her­bert S. Oak­e­ley, 1874

This is the Abends tune by Oakeley

Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) at National Aviary by Lee

Wattled Curassow (Crax globulosa) at National Aviary by Lee

Thou sweet, belovèd will of God,
My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit’s silent, fair abode,
In thee I hide me and am still.

O Will, that willest good alone,
Lead thou the way, thou guidest best;
A little child, I follow on,
And, trusting, lean upon thy breast.

Thy beautiful, sweet will, my God,
Holds fast in its sublime embrace
My captive will, a gladsome bird,
Prisoned in such a realm of grace.

Within this place of certain good,
Love evermore expands her wings,
Or, nestling in thy perfect choice,
Abides content with what it brings.

Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) babies by Lee at National Aviary

Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) (Spike-tailed) babies by Lee at National Aviary

O lightest burden, sweetest yoke!
It lifts, it bears my happy soul,
It giveth wings to this poor heart,
My freedom is thy grand control.

Upon God’s will I lay me down,
As child upon its mother’s breast;
No silken couch, nor softest bed,
Could ever give me such deep rest.

Thy wonderful grand will, my God,
With triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous Yes!
To every dear command of thine.

Most information from The Cyber Hymnal

See ~ Wordless Birds

More ~ Birds in Hymns

I chose the Wattled Curassow because when we encountered the bird at the National Aviary, it seemed very glad, especially at feeding time. It practically got in my face. The Long-tailed (Spike-tailed) Finches are fairly young.

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Out of the Mouth of Babes…

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Out of the Mouth of Babes…  –  by A J Mithra

American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) w chicks©USFWS

American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) w chicks©USFWS

A research team from the University of Bristol discovered recently that when a songbird chick opens wide, its parents see ultraviolet areas of the mouth that are invisible to humans. The researchers speculate that the ultraviolet highlights around the edges of the mouth make a more conspicuous target in a dark nest…

Paul and Silas opened their mouth wide in their dark prison cells, and GOD delivered them…
When you are in the dark, just open your mouth wide, and worship JESUS, so that, THE LIGHT may shine on you…

For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness. (Psalms 18:28)

Previous research on begging focused mostly on the colors that humans can see, such as red and yellow. But now, researchers believe that some species can assess their chicks’ hunger based on the color of their gapes. The hungrier a canary chick is, the redder its gape. This is true of some other finches that, like canaries, eat seeds regurgitated by their parents, but it isn’t true of insect-eaters….

Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) by Daves BirdingPix

Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) by Daves BirdingPix

The reasons for the vivid colors of nestlings’ mouths aren’t fully understood. Estrildid finches, such as these Zebra Waxbill chicks from Africa, have boldly decorated mouth markings whose purpose is still a mystery. The color of the gapes shows the level of chick’s hunger…

GOD knows the hunger of our inner man…
What are we hungry for? Fame or fortune?
Are we hungry for JESUS, the Living Bread?

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthews 5:6)

It’s also a mystery why the insides of the mouths of some nestlings have crazy designs. The nestlings of various species of Estrildid finches in Africa, Australia, and Asia,have bizarre black-and-white patterns inside their mouths, including dots, horseshoe shapes, and blobs.

In Africa, Whydah and Indigo bird species lay their eggs in the nests of Estrildid finches, and their nestlings’ mouths match those of their hosts…

What kind of a design do we have in our mouth?
Do we have an arrogant mouth? (1 Samuel 2:3)
Or a lying mouth? (1Kings 22:22)
Or a deceiving mouth like that of the Whydah and Indigo species?

Let us pray for a GOD taught mouth… (Exodus4:13)
And a mouth which sings the song of witness… (Deuteronomy 31:21)
Let us ask GOD to give us a mouth of a child,
which is the most powerful weapon on earth….

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (Psalms 8:2)

Have a mouth filling day!

Your’s in YESHUA,
A J Mithra

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