This week, the backyard bird feeders were teeming with activity. Sparrows, titmice, cardinals, doves, and finches. The usual. But there was one bird that particularly caught my eye. It looked like a sparrow, and I first noticed it by the unique way that it moved. Very much unlike the regular feeder attender, the House Sparrow. After snapping a few pictures and matching it with those in my bird guide, I discovered who the stranger was. Ah! A White-Throated Sparrow! A happy addition to my life list. This beautiful bird must have been passing through, for I haven't seen him since. Anyhow, I am most pleased that I had the chance to see this wonderful work of God. Also, it seems as though a pair of Goldfinches live nearby. They sit at the feeders, feasting, for hours at a time every day. Such strikingly colorful creatures. So beautiful.
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For hundreds of years, humanity has marveled at the power and ability of flight. We have looked to the heavens with wondrous eyes, only guessing what lies beyond the blue blanket of sky. We were finally made able to fly only with the help of machines. Tools, metal, engines, and other man-made things were the only things capable of making a man fly. Why can animals such as birds and insects fly so easily without any assistance whatever? Let’s take a look at the design of perhaps the most popular flyer: the bird. Birds are specifically designed by God for flight. Their bodies are perfectly built for such activity. And how is that? Flight Muscles The muscles in a birds’ body are very strong and can easily preform the necessary actions of flight. They are built perfectly for such a tiring activity. Bones A bird’s bones are not designed the same way as other animals’ such as mammals. A bird’s bones are hollow and light and are exactly what a creature would need to take to the air. Feathers Perhaps the most obvious assistant to a bird’s flight, the feathers are what give the bird thrust and the true power to do what they were made to do. Although feathers are greatly needed to achieve flight, every part of a bird is crucial to achieving it. God created birds just right in order for them to take to the sky and do what humans were just not meant to do: fly freely in the sky. And God said, "...let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." This morning, as I walked in the crisp morning air, I was surrounded by countless joyous melodies which all came from birds. All of them were trying to be heard above the other, which resulted in an overwhelming chorus of a busy chaos. Why is singing so important to our fine feathered friends?
One of the main reasons that birds do this is to find a female of the same species to mate with. Mating is something that every bird will do in these early months of Spring, but with so many males, how is a female to choose? By the volume and complexity of the song. God created these animals with such amazing instincts and abilities that they know what song to sing, how and when to sing it, and when they no longer need to. Once they find a mate, the singing stops, and the males move on to the more important work of taking care of his newly earned family. But birds sing for more than one reason. God also gave some birds a variety of songs to choose from, all with a special occasion. Many birds have a specific warning call which warns others that danger is near. Some have a specific call for claiming territory. There are many known (and unknown) reasons for the contents of the vast library of songs and calls that birds choose from. So, birds don’t just sing for fun? Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Although we scientifically have no evidence that birds simply sing for joy, I believe that the creator delights in His creation and delights in the joy of His masterpiece. Perhaps these birds do just sing because they are happy. The thought makes me smile. Extra credit: Interested in learning more about birdsong? I recommend the Backyard Birdsong Guide, A Guide to Listening by Donald Kroodsma. Buy it here in amazon. Well, it feels good to sit down and write about what I love. A busy week gone, and an even busier one on its way. Sometimes I wonder if I can continue to write and publish every week in such a busy time of year, but alas, I must make time. So, here it goes. I thought this week I might talk about my favorite kind of bird: the parrot. These birds have held a special place in my heart for years. They are truly amazing creatures, and they deserve much more than a cracker! Here is my somewhat spoiled Black-Capped Parakeet, Dukey: Let’s dig deeper into how these birds have won my love and admiration. Parrots are one of the most loved and well known birds in the world. This is probably because of their radical colors and habit of mimicking the sounds around them. These birds are equipped with the perfectly colored feathers that a tropical bird needs to blend in with the surrounding vegetation. Their strong beaks give them the power to crack open the tightly closed nuts that are one of their main food sources in the wild. They also serve as a powerful weapon and as a way to tell their owner that they want something. (Ouch!) There are many different kinds of parrots that are worthy of studying deeper, but I will only cover a few today. Popular Parrots: The Scarlet Macaw: These birds are probably the most popular type of parrot in the world. Their stunningly crimson feathers and their size make them a much wanted pet and a beautiful bird to observe in the wild. The Budgerigar (Parakeet): These birds are also very popular all over the world. Their colors and mimicking abilities make them great pets, but also their price and easy management make them loved by parents. They also don’t have as loud of a voice as a Macaw does. These birds travel in stunning flocks of thousands, and often resemble a swiftly-moving cloud. The African Gray: These parrots are one of the best talkers and are greatly loved for that ability. Their body feathers are a dull gray, but their tail feathers are a stunning scarlet, giving them a wonderfully beautiful look. These birds also travel in flocks, but much smaller than the Budgerigar. The Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo: These pure white birds are simply gorgeous! They have a crown of a wonderful yellow which resembles a Mohawk when they are startled or excited. These birds are also known for their nippy attitude and loud voices, but if trained correctly they can make wonderful pets. They sometimes travel in small flocks in the wild. Parrots are fabulously created birds, and should be respected and cared for by all of us. If you feel like you want to rush out and buy your own parrot, think twice. They are wonderful pets, but need a lot of attention. At least as much as a dog or cat. If you have the time they need, I’m sure there is a perfect bird waiting for you! |
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