Tag Archives: Ornithology

Scotland’s County Caithness Sports a Raven in its Flag

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County Caithness Can Now Rave about their Raven Flag

Dr. James J. S. Johnson

CAITHNESS flag by roadside
(BBC photo credit)

Who provides for the raven his food? — when its young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

( Job 38:41 )

Having a bird featured upon an official flag is nothing new, so the above flag of Scotland’s County Caithness, which became official (ceremonially celebrated January 26th of A.D.2016) is not a novel concept.

The official unveiling of Scotland’s County Caithness flag, during A.D.2016, was reported by the BBC [q.v., http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-42094603 ].

Flag Institute unveiling of County Caithness flag
(BBC photo credit)

However, that vexillological event was and is worth noticing, especially to all of us who appreciate ravens — including Mrs. Lee Dusing, and the rest of us who appreciate her world-class bird-blog! (E.g., see one of Lee’s several blogposts, on ravens (and other corvids), at https://leesbird.com/2013/07/03/birds-of-the-bible-raven-iii/ .)

In fact, the first bird to be named (by its kind) within the Holy Bible was a raven. WOW! That’s quite an incomparable honor!

And he [i.e., Noah] sent forth the raven [‘ōrēb], which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

( Genesis 8:7 )
COMMON RAVEN of North America
(Wikipedia photo credit)

Likewise, the godly Bible translator and leading Reformer, Dr. Martin Luther, carefully observed and appreciated flocks of ravens (and jackdaws, their corvid cousins), during the adventurous times of the Protestant Reformation’s first generation in Germany. (See “A Diet of Jackdaws and Ravens”, posted at https://leesbird.com/2015/09/16/a-diet-of-jackdaws-and-ravens/ .)

Obviously, ravens are special birds, because God providentially cares for their kind — and tells us so in the Scriptures!

For example, in the Old Testament, within God’s creation sermon to the patriarch Job, Job was questioned about how God takes spare of ravens.

Who provides for the raven his food? — when its young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

( Job 38:41 )

Likewise, in the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ refers to God’s provision for the physical needs of ravens.

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them; how much more are ye better than the fowls?

( Luke 12:24 )

Ravens are something to rave about!

RAVEN in Norway
( ScienceNorway.NO Dennis Jacobsen, Colourbox photo credit )

Ravens are also well known in antiquity, including Viking history, and consequently it is not unusual to see a raven depicted on an ancient banner, such as the flag of the Isle of Man (q.v., at “Northern Raven and Peregrine Falcon: Two Birds Supporting the Manx Coat of Arms”” — [posted at https://leesbird.com/2016/02/12/northern-raven-and-peregrine-falcon-two-birds-supporting-the-manx-coat-of-arms/ ).

ISLE OF MAN’s Coat of Arms, with Peregrine and Raven
(public domain)

In fact, this Christian birdwatching blog has previously blended ornithology (i.e., systematic study of birds) with vexillology (i.e., systematic study of flags). Specifically, years ago (during A.D.2015), this bird-blog features a mini-series captioned “FLAG THAT BIRD!” — about flags of the world that feature a bird.

To review that series, see Part 1 ( https://leesbird.com/2015/04/08/flag-that-bird-part-1/ ),

Part 2 ( https://leesbird.com/2015/04/13/flag-that-bird-part-2/ ),

Part 3 ( https://leesbird.com/2015/04/23/flag-that-bird-part-3/ ),

Part 4 ( https://leesbird.com/2015/04/29/flag-those-birds-part-4/ ), and

Part 5 ( https://leesbird.com/2015/08/25/flag-that-bird-part-5/ ).

So, this blogpost, celebrating the Caithness Raven, now succinctly supplements that ornithological-vexillological series.

Official flag of Scotland’s County CAITHNESS
(public domain image)

Caithness thus celebrates its Viking heritage, with a flag that contains a Nordic cross, plus the raven of antiquity, well known to Viking literature, along with a galley ship, reminiscent of ocean-faring adventures of northeastern Scotland’s Viking forebears, some who came as visitors, yet many who settled as immigrants, blending in with native Celts, providentially producing future generations of Count Caithness natives (Psalm 102:18).

Satisfying Shallows and Delightful Depths

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“He led me through water to the ankles…, he led me through water to the knees…, he led me through water that was up to the waist. He measured off another thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass over.” Ezekiel 47:1-5

Bonaparte`s Gulls frolicking in ocean surf, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. March 2019. ©www.williamwisephoto.com

Birdwatching. Birding. Ornithology. In most minds, those three terms conjure differing depths of avian appreciation. Bird enthusiasm ranges from the simple enjoyment of backyard birds, to submerging in state lists and big years, and even deeper into the intellectual fathoms of anatomy and natural history. The books upon the shelf range from Your Backyard Feeder to Latin Terms for Taxonomists.

In the same manner, the Bible is book of unending fathomage. From inspiring daily devotionals, to word studies and commentaries, and into the depths of theology, the Sacred Writ can be enjoyed and experienced on so many different levels.

Stack of Antique New Testament Bibles. ©www.williamwisephoto.com

But is one level of devotee better than another? Is the ornithologist more serious or dedicated than a birder? Is the theologian more important than the lay congregant? Are we only dipping in our toes when we should be swimming deeper? Are we drowning in the depths and neglecting the satisfaction of the shallows?

In reality, one can be all things, or be what one desires! In his chapter of Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White, David A. La Puma writes, “Find out what you love about birds and dive in; the pool of knowledge is deep and rich and full of others happy to help you along the way.” An ornithologist can still enjoy birdwatching just as a theologian should still delight in daily devotionals.

Our Christian life and experience, just like birding, should enjoy the shallows, wade into the depths, dive the deep ocean trenches, and swim back again. Just as you would enjoy cardinals and chickadees at your backyard feeder, or decide to tackle identifying the gulls, sparrows and peeps, enjoy your yearly reading plan through the New Testament and Psalms, and simultaneously sound the depths of Biblical wisdom and application. Find out what you love about the Word of God in this season of life and dive in. The only wrong thing to do is to completely dry up!

Hi, I’m wildlife photographer and nature writer William Wise. I was saved under a campus ministry while studying wildlife biology at the University of Georgia. My love of the outdoors quickly turned into a love for the Creator and His works. I’m currently an animal shelter director and live in Athens, Georgia with my wife and two teenage daughters, who are all also actively involved in ministry. Creation Speaks is my teaching ministry that glorifies our Creator and teaches the truth of creation.  — “What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.” Psalms 104, The Message.

Where Are You From?

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Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) by Lee

Wood Stork Tree at Circle B by Lee

When I work on the updates to the I.O.C. every so often, it is because the ornithologist have been asking questions about the birds. Where are they from? Where did they migrate? What is the latest DNA discoveries? And so they split and lump the birds again and again.

Genetic guide to birds – ©Scientific Am

The researchers with Answers in Genesis and at the Institute for Creation ask questions also about the birds and critters. Where did they come from? How many different kinds were on the Ark? They check DNA also. Birds in A Family Tree, and Creationism, And Evolution and Hybrid Animals

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) Chicks in nest ©WikiC

I am no different from them, except I am not a scientist, just curious. My interest of late has been split between birds and working on the genealogy of my ancestors. They both have similarities. Where did they come from?

This verse in Nehemiah sort of explains how some birds get removed from families. When the ornithologist analyzes the DNA, they find out that that bird wasn’t even related.

“These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.” (Nehemiah 7:64 KJV) [In other words, they didn’t belong with that group.]

We know without any doubt that the Lord God created the birds as well as my ancestors and myself as well. That is a given!

As the birds spread from the Ark, they have been able to live in some areas more than others. They made their homes there. Others stayed, but couldn’t survive. They died off and became extinct, like so many of those Reunion birds.

Dan and I sitting way out front.

Like the birds, my brother and I just made the decision to have our DNA tested. We shall find out if we really are who we think we are. Trust they don’t throw us out of the Boles/Bushnell family.

On Thursday, instead of writing blogs, I was working on my genealogy and made a FANTASTIC discovery!!! We weren’t traced back to the Ark, but, we do relate back to the Rogers family that came over on the MAYFLOWER! [For our foreign readers that may not know the American history, that ship brought the first settlers to America here in 1620 AD.]

Replica of Mayflower in Plymouth, Massachusetts ©WikiC

This post has two main purposes:

1) The posts haven’t been produced as often lately, because of working on my ancestry.

2) Are any of my readers also interested in tracing your family tree? Just because we love birds doesn’t mean we do not have other interest. If you would leave a comment about your other interests besides birds, they would be appreciated.

Have a great day and stay tuned!