The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalms 37:23-25 NKJV)
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Just got a notification from WordPress that today is my Sixth Anniversary here. Wow! Has it really been 6 years? Praise the Lord! Thanks all of you for the visits you have made to the blog. This blog started about 5 months earlier on another service.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! (Psalms 8:8-9 NKJV)
We just got back from another birdwatching trip. This time we birded the Honeymoon Island State Park and MacDill AFB beach. Was gone overnight and have many photos to prep. Here are just a few photos for now.
These Double-crested Cormorants were just sitting along the Gulf shore and one was sleeping. They seem to be tired and may have decided to stay on shore because of Hurricane Arthur’s bands of rain that kept sweeping the area the last two days. A man walked between the two and they didn’t even move.
Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) by Lee at Honeymoon Is SP
This photo of a Kingbird, which is the best shot I have ever had of one, was also at the state park. (Actually, just checked, these are the only ones I have taken of Grey Kingbirds. This was a LIFE BIRD for me. Yeah!)
Today, July 4th, we checked out the shore on Tampa Bay at the base. The birds were few, but enough to give us a chance to get some photos. Without so many species, maybe I’ll be able to ID them. My ID’s of shorebirds is still weak. I will pouring be over my bird books again. Praise the Lord for bird books. (I still think the Lord should have hung tags on them.)
Trust those of us celebrating the Fourth have had a good day. We have!
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20 NKJV
What a fantastic video – WOW! It is a bit long, but worth every minute of it. This is the 2nd one. See Part I How can anyone watch these birds flying and not realize they have a fantastic Creator? This was produced by Wittydud on YouTube *
I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. (Psalms 50:11 NKJV)
Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (Genesis 1:20 NKJV
What a fantastic video – WOW! It is a bit long, but worth every minute of it.
How can anyone watch these birds flying and not realize they have a fantastic Creator?
Thought you might enjoy a video of the birds that make Spain their home. Paul wanted to journey to Spain. These type of birds would have greeted him. Also, my good friends, Tim and Pam, are missionaries there.
whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while…. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. (Romans 15:24,28 NKJV)
who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ (Job 35:11 ESV)
Orni-Theology
Recently.a friend was telling me about a bird that has been singing every night. He said that it begins around 3 AM and continues for hours. He was frustrated by the bird’s behavior. After discussing it, we came to the conclusion that it is a Northern Mockingbird. They have one with a nest in their yard.
We used to have one that had a nest in the bush outside our bedroom window when we lived in south Florida. Whenever the babies were born, our Mockingbird started its “songs in the night.” The songs are pleasant, but in the middle of the night, the urge to throw a pillow out the window sounds tempting.
Northern Mockingbirds are members of the Mimidae – Mockingbirds, Thrashers Family. They are the only Mockingbird in North America and are the state bird in Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas, and formerly the state bird of South Carolina. They are omnivore, meaning it eats fruits and insects.
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized mimid that has long legs and tail. Both males and females look alike. Its upper parts are colored gray, while its underparts have a white or whitish-gray color. It has parallel wing bars on the half of the wings connected near the white patch giving it a distinctive appearance in flight. The iris is usually a light green-yellow or a yellow, but there have been instances of an orange color. The bill is black with a brownish black appearance at the base. The juvenile appearance is marked by its streaks on its back, distinguished spots and streaks on its chest, and a gray or grayish-green iris. Northern Mockingbirds measure from 8.1 to 11.0 in (20.5 to 28 cm) including a tail almost as long as its body.
Although many species of bird imitate the vocalizations of other birds, the Northern Mockingbird is the best known in North America for doing so. It imitates not only birds, but also other animals and mechanical sounds such as car alarms. As convincing as these imitations may be to humans, they often fail to fool other birds. (Wikipedia with editing)
Northern Mockingbird Viera Wetlands by Lee
What is interesting about the Bible verse above is that the verse has been used many times before, but I have not used the previous verse. Here are the two verses together.
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 NKJV)
God our Maker and the Lord our Savior gives us songs in the night when all is well. Apparently, the Mockingbird is happy or joyful as he sings his songs in the night. We can learn from the songster of the night.
Looking at other verses, what can cause us to not have songs in the night?
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. (Psalms 42:8 NKJV)
Are we praying and staying in communication with the Lord? When sin creeps in, the songs stop ringing out.
You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. (Isaiah 30:29 ESV)
When we have Communion, our pastor always asks us to make sure our fellowship with the Lord and others is clear. When all is straightened out, then we can have our “feast” (communion) with a clear forgiven spirit.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, (Acts 16:25 ESV)
Even when circumstances are not what we would like are we still “praying and singing hymns to God”?
Why we should sing night or day:
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV)
I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me…, (Isaiah 45:5 NKJV)
We are in the middle of Vacation Bible School this week and it is difficult to keep up the blog also. We take photos in the morning and then spend time cleaning them up later. (Over 200 photos Monday, plus what Dan took.)
We have been posting 25 or so each day to the Faith Baptist Church Facebook photos – Vacation Bible School 2014.
Monday, a really funny video was posted and want to share it here. This is our own Missions Pastor Pete playing the part of Dr. Grunkenkleiner.
Dr. Grunkenkleiner was demonstrating scientific evidence of things we cannot see at the International Spy Academy VBS.
We can’t see wind, but we can certainly see its effect. Similarly, we cannot see God, but we know He is there.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22 KJV)
VBS 2014
Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23 NKJV)
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalms 107:15 KJV)
Here is the Powerpoint Presentation I used yesterday, converted to JPGs. (Teaching About Birdwatching) As it was shown, each point came up as I clicked and explained the points. The two videos that were part of it; the Blue Jay calling and the Carolina Wren singing, are included. If you can use any of this presentation, you have my permission. The first slide had an audio of birds singing as the students arrived.
Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) by Nikhil Devasar
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)
This is a very interesting video of a Kingfisher male leaving the nest, as the chick comes out of the shell. The mother Kingfisher arrives with its first meal of fish. Notice that the throat turns dark as it feeds. I do not know which Kingfisher this is as it was not listed.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 KJV)
Last week while we were at the Jacksonville Zoo, we noticed a tree loaded with Wood Stork nests. It was hard to miss as you could hear it from far away. As you watch the videos, you will hear the noise coming from all the nest. The tree was right by the boardwalk, so we were very close to them.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. (Psalms 104:17 KJV)
Wood Storks are part of the Ciconiidae – Storks Family and are also mentioned several times in Scripture. That makes them one of the Birds of the Bible – Storks. We are fortunate in that we get to see Wood Storks quite frequently here in Polk County, Florida, especially out at the Circle B Bar Reserve. Circle B is one of my favorite places to go birdwatching. Yet, I have never seen the nest up close like this.
Here is a combined video of the noisy tree: (Ignore the talking in the background, listen to the noisy birds.)
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Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. (Psalms 33:3 KJV)
After taking photos and videos, I found three young one showing how the noise was produced. Now multiply that by all the other nest with young ones doing the same thing.
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O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. (Psalms 95:1 KJV)
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Hope you don’t mind seeing some of the photos also. These are set up so you can see them larger. Enjoy the Lord’s Creation in the form of Wood Storks.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Wood Stork Chicks – Noisy
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) with Chicks Jax Zoo by Lee
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) with chicks-Jax Zoo by Lee
Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. (Psalms 104:17 KJV)
We just got back from a trip to Jacksonville, FL and a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo. I haven’t had time to go through the photos yet, but wanted to share two of the videos.
The first one is two Marabou Stork chicks with a parent. They are not any better looking as a youngster than their parents are. We see them at the Lowry Park Zoo frequently, but never saw them with a chick.
The Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) is a large wading bird in the Ciconiidae – Storks Family. It breeds in Africa south of the Sahara, in both wet and arid habitats, often near human habitation, especially waste tips. It is sometimes called the “Undertaker Bird” due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of “hair”. It has one of the largest wing spans of any bird. (Wikipedia)
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The the second video is of an Inca Tern preening. I love those “whiskers.”
The Inca Tern (Larosterna inca) is a seabird in the Laridae – Gulls, Terns and Skimmers – Family. It is the only member of the genus Larosterna.
This uniquely plumaged bird breeds on the coasts of Peru and Chile, and is restricted to the Humboldt current. It can be identified by its dark grey body, white moustache on both sides of its head, and red-orange beak and feet.*
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This is short because we are still unpacking. The Lord gave us a great trip and traveling mercies. I have many nice videos and photos to share. Stay tuned.
A week ago, we went to Lake Morton in Lakeland for half hour or so. Several of the Swans were sitting on nest and a Peking Duck or a White Mallard was working on her nest. She kept adding twigs and grass to the nest and then walked away.
Have you ever watched a bird build or work on a nest? They add the “walls” and a “floor” and some birds like Weavers, make a “roof” over their nest.
As I watched the bird working on her nest, it reminded me of what was going on at our house. As I mentioned last week, our house was in “disarray” while our “spare” bedroom and two other areas were being worked on. Many spare rooms become a collection of “stuff.” (At least our is)
Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 39:6 KJV)
This was a warning to the Israelites. We all know that there are good things put in “store.”
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2 KJV)
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19 KJV)
Back to our nest. This verse: “Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 8:7 NIV)
Another lesson we can learn from our birds. They do not load their nest with stuff. Some add colorful threads now and then, but there are no hat racks or closets with different feathers hanging. They do not have to decide what color feather they to wear today. No cooking utensils to worry about. No suitcase ready to pack when it become time to migrate. When it is time to go, they go.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) with youngstersby Raymond Barlow
Must be a lesson there. I am a bit of a pack-rat and it has been interesting around here lately. Especially when all did not go as planned. A mix-up caused a delay, so the disarray has continued longer than expected. Now that the floor is finally completed, I am trying to de-clutter some as “things” are returned to the “spare” room. At least the computer is back up and running. Yeah!
Yep! The birds have the right idea. Lord bless you all as you face your challenges. Maybe the birds will have a hint to help you also.
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 