“And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.” (Isaiah 4:6 NKJV)
Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) Desert Museum-Tucson
*
*
Red-crested Turaco (Tauraco erythrolophus) Brevard Zoo by Lee
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalms 107:28-31 KJV)
Having problems with computer and under sever weather alert. Will get a real article up soon.
*
Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) ©©Mike Bowler
Yesterday we had very heavy rain and wind. We were under Tornado Warnings most of the day. In the afternoon, it turned very bad as a tornado was being tracked just south of our house. Our flagpole went down as well as the concrete sign at the entrance to our community. There were plenty of trees and branches strewn around and planes tossed around at the Fun n Sun festival in Lakeland, Florida.
We went down to Bartow this afternoon and took the Old Bartow road, that I have renamed, the “Osprey Road.” There are many Osprey nest in the power lines down through there and also the electric companies have placed platforms for the Osprey to raise their babies.
One of the main food source for the Osprey is fish. We have had several very cold snaps these last two winters and many of the fish were killed off. Without a good source of food to raise their young, the numbers of Osprey have decreased in this area.
Osprey Road by Dan – (Old Bartow Road) 2007
This year we had already seen fewer Osprey’s raising their young. Now many of those nests were destroyed or left bedraggled by the storm yesterday. What a shame. Then again, had there been lots of active nest, there would have been more killed or injured birds.
We are reminded through Scripture that:
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)
They were not Sparrows, but I know that promise applied to them also. God, the Father, knows all about what happened to them. He is not so busy that He doesn’t take notice of such things. That is why that passage is so special, because, it goes on to say:
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:31-32 KJV)
Osprey with Fish by Jim Fenton
Another thing about Ospreys as well as the other birds is that they were commanded to “multiply and fill the earth.” What I haven’t mentioned is that on the way down and back we saw four different sets of birds mating. I imagine that they lost their young and are busy planning the next clutch of birds to raise. Birds have emotions, and I am sure they feel the loss, but they have picked themselves back up and have begun repairing nests and starting new families.
May we be reminded that the Lord knows all about the things that happen to us. Sometimes the events aren’t so much “fun.” How do we handle situations when this happens. Do we keep our eyes on the Lord and trust Him to see us through it, or do we blame Him and become angry and miserable?
___
Ospreys are in the Pandionidae Family of the Accipitriformes Order. There is an Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) and a Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).
See also:
Birds of the Bible – Osprey
Birds of the Bible – Osprey II
Birds of the Bible – Osprey III
*
Red-winged Blackbird at Bok Sanctuary
Many have heard the news today about the many (4,000-5,000 at last count) Red-winged Blackbirds that they found in Arkansas. They fell from the sky on New Year’s Eve.
“The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesman Keith Stephens says the birds fell in an area about a mile long and a half-mile wide (1 1/2 kilometers long and 800 meters wide). The Commission said Saturday that it began receiving reports about the dead birds about 11:30 p.m. the previous night.
The birds fell over a 1-mile (2-kilometer) area, and an aerial survey indicated that no other dead birds were found outside of that area. Laboratories in Arkansas, Georgia and Wisconsin will examine some carcasses starting Monday.” (Foxnews.com)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) female by Ian
The ornithologists are debating whether it was lightning or hail that hit the flock. At this time of the year they are in migration or gathered in flocks. I know here in Central Florida, the Red-winged Blackbirds have just begun coming back to my feeders after their summer in the north.
It is very sad and seems quite devastating to think about. I really enjoy watching them and especially have been challenged by trying to identify the female red-wing. One thing is for certain:
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 KJV)
I know they were not sparrows, but those verses apply to all the birds.
Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are in the Icteridae Family which includes Oropendolas, Orioles and Blackbirds. There are 108 members and they are perching birds (Passeriformes Order)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) by Ray
The male Red-winged Blackbird has a red shoulder patch bordered by yellow or white and has black plumage. The female is brownish overall with heavy streaked underparts. The juveniles are similar to the female. They have sharply-pointed bills. They are about 8.75 inches (22 cm) long.
As I thought about them today, I imagined their summer up north with having the young and flying here and there gathering worms and insects to feed them. Then watched their young learn to fly and grow. Now, they may have been migrating down here to enjoy the winter. The Creator of them knew all about that and also knew this was going to happen.
Sad, yes, but what about us? Do we get busy with all of our activities, but forget that our lives are also in the Hands of the Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ?
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NKJV)
Quoted in yesterday’s sermon at Faith Baptist ~ “It is curious that people who are filled with horrified indignation whenever a cat kills a sparrow can hear that story of the killing of God told Sunday after Sunday and not experience any shock at all.” –Dorothy Sayers
*
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 