Updated 2/20/18 The original video is no longer online. Here is a cute Hoopoe chick sticking its head out to see the world.
This is a very interesting video about a Hoopoe parent and chick. It is worth the watch. I have always enjoyed looking at their beauty. The Creator really put a special touch on the Hoopoe. Also, they are one of the Birds of the Bible.
“‘And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, the kite, and the falcon after its kind; every raven after its kind, the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture; the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.” (Leviticus 11:13-19 NKJV)
May you have a great day enjoying family, friends, and fine food. But please, do not bite off more than you should! [This video of a Snowy Egret was taken at Gatorland this week.]
“A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV)
“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalms 71:5 KJV)
While watching this video of the Blue-gray Tanager youngster, my thoughts went to those of you who have teenagers. Many tell me that they, the teenagers, are difficult to fill up. Enjoy the video knowing that you are not alone in God’s Creation. Even the birds have to deal with filling up their offspring. :0)
Blue-gray Tanagers (Thraupis episcopus) are members of the Thraupidae Family. The tanager is a medium-sized South American songbird whose song is a squeaky twittering, interspersed with tseee and tsuup call notes. Its range is from Mexico south to northeast Bolivia and northern Brazil, all of the Amazon Basin, except the very south. It has been introduced to Lima (Peru). On Trinidad and Tobago, this bird is called blue jean.
The Blue-gray Tanager is 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) long and weighs 30–40 g (1.1–1.4 oz). Adults have a light bluish head and underparts, with darker blue upperparts and a shoulder patch colored a different hue of blue. The bill is short and quite thick. Sexes are similar, but the immature is much duller in plumage.
The breeding habitat is open woodland, cultivated areas and gardens. The Blue-gray Tanager lives mainly on fruit, but will also take some nectar and insects. This is a common, restless, noisy and confiding species, usually found in pairs, but sometimes small groups. It thrives around human habitation, and will take some cultivated fruit like papayas (Carica papaya).
(Information from Wikipedia)
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) by Raymond Barlow
“O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” (Psalms 71:17 KJV)
Trust you will enjoy a different Sunday Inspiration. A friend sent this and I wanted to share it, plus, I have been dealing with my back problem and am awaiting surgery. Thanks for understanding not using birds for a change.
“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:23-24 KJV)
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8 KJV)
A blog I enjoy following by Alois Absenger from Germany, had a gorgeous Woodpecker photo a few day ago. It is titled, Buntspecht. When I asked Alois what was the name of the woodpecker, he answered that it was a “Buntspecht”. With a chuckle, I decided to find out the English name of this beautiful avian wonder.
Searching the internet, this video was discovered and needs to be shared.
What is so amazing, is the way the Great Spotted Woodpecker [Buntspecht] supports himself with his tail. Our Creator never ceases to provide beneficial support for us and His Creation.
“The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” (Psalms 111:2 KJV)
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31 KJV)
These animals show such kindness to other animals. May they remind us to show kindness to those around us; to critters and especially our human acquaintances.
“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (2 Peter 1:7 KJV)
“For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalms 117:2 KJV)
Once there was a duck named Pete who was taking his usual morning route around the pond in which he lived. It was Saturday and the weather was cool and breezy. On this morning Pete noticed a large group of people gathered inside a huge patch of soft green grass. Most of the people were children and they all wore matching colored uniforms.
Pete grew curious and decided to flap up and peer through the fence to see what was going on. All around Pete people were cheering as the children ran back and forth with some kind of black and white ball. At one point, Pete watched one of the children kick the black and white ball into a small net and he listened to everyone cheer ecstatically. A man wearing a black and white-striped shirt blew a whistle loudly and the team members who wore the same green uniform as the boy who scored the goal ran back to the bench cheering. Apparently, whatever game they were playing was over and Pete guessed that the green team had won something.
Pete became very interested in this game and how it worked. He decided to stay and watch another game to understand the rules. The more Pete watched from the sidelines the more interesting the game became. Eventually, he realized that the name of the game was soccer, the black and white ball was called a soccer ball, and the players could not touch the ball with their hands.
Upward Soccer 4-5 yr olds.
As Pete looked around, carefully taking in every detail, he noticed a shed that stood near the edge of the field. Glancing inside, Pete found an assortment of cones, soccer balls, and uniforms. Pete automatically decided to get into the spirit of things and pulled a green uniform out of a box and put it on. Shoving his head into the shirt, Pete wriggled and pushed his head through one of the arm sleeves. This seemed to work, but he found it difficult. Despite this difficulty, he made sure not to touch the ball with his wings just like the players.
Eventually, Pete waddled out of the shed in his green uniform with the soccer ball. He attempted to kick it again but only succeeded in rolling it onto the middle of the field. Pete flew after it to try to bring the ball back. Suddenly the referee blew his whistle and stopped the game. Embarrassed, Pete kicked the ball as best he could off the field. All of the players, however, were impressed that Pete was able to kick it so well because he was a duck. Since the team with green uniforms was short a player they were able to convince the referee to let Pete play even though his uniform was not quite right. The referee called Pete over, and Pete happily flapped back onto the field to finish the game.
Pete did his best to waddle back and forth and catch up with the other players. Every now and then he was able to kick the ball to another player. The game was tied because each team had scored one goal.
As time began to run out and there were only a few minutes left, one of the players suddenly passed the ball to Pete. Because Pete was close to the other team’s goal he quickly waddled down the field with the ball, trying not to fly.
Once Pete reached the goal he did his best to kick the ball. He kicked the ball as hard as he could and was surprised when the ball sailed over the goalie’s head into the net. The entire crowd cheered for Pete because he had helped the green team win the game. Pete had never been so happy until that moment when he scored the goal, and the team was very grateful that Pete had been there to help them. From then on, Pete watched every single game that the people played, and always wore the green uniform he had found in the shed just in case the green team was short a player.
“… to be ready to every good work,” (Titus 3:1b KJV)
Lee’s Addition:
Another great story from Emma Foster. I felt since our Duck Pete was small, he may have played with our youngest Upper Soccer team.
You might enjoy these videos I found to help show off Emma’s Soccer Duck.
Just thought you might enjoy watching this from Bellamoonnature.
“As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:” (Deuteronomy 32:11 KJV)
Rhea the featherless Lovebird in a knitted sweater
“They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.” (Job 24:7 KJV)
Thanks to some news articles, I heard about Rhea, a Lovebird that lost all her feathers. She has Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (PBFD). The feathers will not grow back and has to be kept warm. That fact caused many to send little outfits to her owner to help keep Rhea warm.
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13 KJV)
Enjoy the articles and the video of little Rhea. If you wanted to study bird anatomy, Rhea provides some interesting things to observe. Notice her ear holds.
African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) by Africaddict
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Exodus 19:4 KJV)
One of the first videos shown on the blog was of the African Fish Eagle. That was back when this blog first started up. I have repeatedly shown it over the years.
First my favorite one with the music:
“For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.” (Jeremiah 48:40 KJV)
Now here is a great one to show in slow motion.
“They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.” (Job 9:26 KJV)
