Bird Devotional 52

Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides

“Who hath believed our report?” Romans 10:16 KJV

My friend Paul was visiting Nebraska Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary on the Platte River. Near the edge of the visitor center parking lot he saw a Mountain Bluebird. Mountain Bluebirds are a rare, but not unheard-of sighting in that part of Nebraska, so Paul decided to report it to the staff at the visitor center. The person at the information booth told Paul that he could not have seen a Mountain Bluebird because they are not found in that area. Certain of what he had seen, but not wishing to create an argument, Paul retreated to another part of the visitor center. He started a conversation about birds with another staff member. After a while he divulged to his new acquaintance that he had found a Mountain Bluebird near the parking lot. The man replied that he had seen Mountain Bluebirds there, too, but that the supervisor did not believe him and refused to post the sighting on the bulletin board.

Have you ever had exciting information to share with others, but found that because of their preconceived notions or personal perspectives, they could not accept your good news? They thought you were crazy, or at best merely naïve or misinformed. Or maybe someone tried to share something with you, and you did not believe him because it did not fit in with the views you already held. Today’s Bible verse, “Who hath believed our report,” is a quote from Isaiah, and is a prophecy that the coming Messiah would not be recognized by most of the people. Sadly, there will always be people who refuse to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. However, that is no excuse for us to stop proclaiming that good news. As Apostle Paul asks, “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14-15). Sometimes, as my friend, Paul, found with his news of the Mountain Bluebird, you will not be believed. Keep giving others the opportunity to hear the good news. “Faith comes from hearing the message” (Romans 10:17).

Lord, prepare the hearts of others to receive your good news. Help me to proclaim your Word to the world. Amen.

ONE YEAR!

One year, already? Woo-Hoo!!! Let's celebrate!

Yes, one year ago today I posted the first entry on this blog. It has been fun. It has been a great blessing to hear from readers from all over the world. My goal was to write one entry every day. Some days I've missed, but other days I have written more than once. Yesterday I posted entry 365, so it looks like I'm right on schedule! God bless all of you, and thanks for reading. I will see you again tomorrow as we start year two together with the regular Sunday devotional.

Bill

Bird Signs XIII

Western Kingbird, Oacoma, South Dakota

I think this Western Kingbird is pausing to consider those folks who paint signs for the State Highway Department. All those stop signs and speed limit signs would be so boring to paint. However, every once in a while you get to paint a sign that makes you stop and wonder where in the world they're going to put it.

Bird Signs XII

Upland Sandpiper 18 miles south of Harrold, South Dakota

Upland Sandpipers love to stand on wooden posts. This one is standing on a wooden post that just happens to have a road sign attached to it.

Bird Signs XI

Western Meadowlark, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

This sign proclaims, "UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED." I think this Western Meadowlark is singing for joy because it hopes the sign will keep out the riff-raff.

Bird Signs X

Turkey Vulture guarding an Iowa field

On a very rainy spring day in Iowa, this Turkey Vulture seemed to be manning his guard post.

Bird Signs IX

Red-headed Woodpecker, Fort Randall Dam, South Dakota

This Red-headed Woodpecker appears to be contemplating the habitat loss of the Least Tern and Piping Plover.

Bird Signs VIII

Grasshopper Sparrow, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

When I observed this Grasshopper Sparrow last summer, I concluded that birds sing just because it makes them happy. It makes me happy, too.

Bird Devotional 51

Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus

“A nail in a sure place.” Isaiah 22:23 (KJV)

As I drove along a South Dakota country lane, I saw birds flying across the road up ahead. I pulled over to the side of the road and heard a male Chestnut-collared Longspur singing at the edge of the field. The bird perched on a barbed wire fence for a while, and then it hopped onto a fence post. As I gazed at the bird I saw that it was not actually standing on the post itself, but on a long, rusty nail that provided a very secure perch. Members of the sparrow family, Chestnut-collared Longspurs have a creamy-yellow throat, black belly and breast, and of course, a chestnut patch on the back of the neck. They breed in the northern Great Plains, and spend the winter in the southern United States and Mexico.

In an idiom of our modern English language, we sometimes say of something that is sure and certain, “You can hang your hat on it.” What do we hang hats on? Well, we hang them on nails! In today’s Bible verse, the prophet Isaiah described a priest named Eliakim son of Hilkiah as “A nail in a sure place.” “A nail in a sure place,” is something on which we can rely with our full confidence…something we can “hang our hats on.” Most Bible scholars agree that Isaiah’s prophecy of Eliakim was a Messianic prophecy that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is our “Nail in a sure place.” We can fully rely and depend on Him. In 1 Peter 2:16 we read, “For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’” As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “When you were dead in your sins, and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins…He took it away, nailing it to the Cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). God sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Cornerstone, our Nail and the means for the forgiveness of our sins. If we are relying on people or material wealth as the source of our security, we are going to be disappointed. Only Jesus is our “Nail in a sure place.”

Father, forgive me for trusting in material things. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my “Cornerstone” and my “Nail in a sure place.” I put my faith and hope in you alone. Amen.

Bird Signs VII

Eurasian Collared-Doves at Big Bend Dam in South Dakota

These two Eurasian Collared-Doves seem to be having a philosophical discussion. Since they are originally from the Middle East, and not native to this continent, are they visitors? Or since they now live and nest in the area, does that make them residents, and therefore, not eligible for the visitors parking spaces? They flew off shortly after I took the picture, so they must have decided they are not visitors.

Bird Signs VI

Eastern Bluebird near Omaha, Nebraska

I have seen many signs that say, "No motorized vehicles," but apparently that was not specific enough in this situation. I wonder what further prohibitions this sign contemplates. Is it designed to regulate horseback riding, perhaps? This Eastern Bluebird seems to be trying to decide whether to walk or ride its bike.

Bird Signs V

Immature Cooper's Hawk

My sister told me that yesterday she watched a Cooper's Hawk capture and devour a bird at her backyard bird feeders. That reminded me of this photo I took of a young Cooper's Hawk in Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa, where there has been an active Cooper's Hawk nest for several years.

Bird Signs IV

Female Brown-headed Cowbird

This female Brown-headed Cowbird was checking out the entrance sign at Richland Wildlife Area in Jones County, South Dakota.

Bird Signs III

Black-billed Magpie in Rocky Mountain National Park

I found this magpie while hiking in Colorado a few years ago.

Bird Signs II

Bald Eagle at Big Bend Dam

Some signs are so enormous they dwarf even a large bird like this Bald Eagle.

Bird Signs I

American Tree Sparrow on my deck

Over the years I have observed a lot of birds perched on signs. So...for the next week or two (or until you beg me to stop) I am going to share with you some of my favorite photographs of birds on signs. Some of them will make you smile. Some of them will make you laugh. Some of them will make you scratch your head.

Feeder Full of Finches

American Goldfinches and House Finches

Here is a feeder full of finches: at least nineteen American Goldfinches and House Finches eating sunflower seeds.

Bird Devotional 50

Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus

“They clothed Him in a purple robe.” John 19:2

Even though there are many shades of purple, it is difficult to see the color purple in a Purple Finch. Its color is more raspberry red than it is purple. Still, Purple Finch is a colorful name for a very colorful bird. Purple Finches breed in Canada, in the northern Great Lakes region, and along the Pacific coast. In the winter they are found throughout the eastern United States. Purple dye originally came from the glands of a Mediterranean mollusk, mulex trunculus. Because the production of one gram of this dye required nearly 10,000 of the mollusks, purple dye was extremely rare and expensive, and only royalty could afford purple cloth. Therefore, the color purple has always been associated with royalty and great wealth.

In the Book of John it is recorded that Jesus was crucified by soldiers who mocked and tormented Him, “The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, ‘Hail king of the Jews!’ And they struck Him in the face” (John 19:2-3). It is true that Jesus is King. He answered Pontius Pilate, “You are right in saying I am a king” (John 18:37), and “My kingdom is not of this world” John 18:36). However, the mocking soldiers did not believe Jesus was really a king. To them He was just another prisoner headed to the cross. The words they spoke were true, but in their hearts they did not believe what they were saying. How is it with us? When we say words indicating that Jesus is our King, do we really mean it? Do we really believe the words we say? Do we live our lives as though we recognize Him as our King, or are we merely mocking Him with a purple robe and a crown of thorns like those soldiers two thousand years ago? Open your heart and allow Him to be the real King of your life.

I confess that Jesus is my Savior and the King of my heart. Give me grace, Lord, to live my life as testimony to my relationship with you. Amen.

Another Redhead

Female Common Merganser

A few days ago I posted a picture of a female Hooded Merganser I called a "red-haired floozy." Well, yesterday I took this photo of her cousin, a female Common Merganser. So, which one has the better hair style... female Common Merganser or female Hooded Merganser?

Female Hooded merganser

Pheasants Everywhere!

Ring-necked Pheasants

I'm not really that fond of South Dakota's State Bird, the Ring-necked Pheasant. First introduced in the state in 1898, this Asian species became the State Bird in 1943. Today they are abundant throughout South Dakota. I have seen thousands of them this winter almost everywhere I go. The two roosters and a hen seen here were part of a large group hanging around Oahe Dam this week.

Old Coot

American Coot

Call me names if you wish, but I'm quite handsome for an "Old Coot," wouldn't you say?

Just Eagles

Bald Eagle

A friend of mine is visiting relatives in Davenport, Iowa and was driving along the Mississippi River yesterday. He saw a large group of people with high-powered cameras gathered by the edge of the water. His first thought was that they had spotted a rare bird. What could it be? Harlequin Duck? Iceland Gull? Anhinga? So he went over to see what the commotion was about. When he realized what they were looking at and photographing, he said out loud, "Oh, just eagles." Some of the folks glared at him like he was nuts for saying, "Just eagles," but I understand. I go through the same thing myself. The other day I went to Oahe Dam to look for some unusual birds that had been seen there recently: Black-legged Kittiwake, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck and Red-breasted Merganser. I didn't find any of those birds. However, I did have a nice encounter with the cooperative Bald Eagle shown here. Still, I left the dam thinking, "Nothing there but a bunch of Bald Eagles." Maybe we should quit complaining about the birds we miss, and learn to appreciate the birds we do see, even if they're "just eagles."

Red-haired Floozy

Female Hooded Merganser

With sincere apologies to all the sweet and wonderful redheads out there, I just can't help saying, "Red-haired Floozy" every time I see a female Hooded Merganser. It looks like its "hair" has been dyed an unnatural red and teased into utter submission. Am I seeing things, or would you agree with my assessment?

Snow Chickens

Greater Prairie-Chickens

The recent snows have brought Greater Prairie-Chickens closer to town than I have ever seen them. These two were part of a large flock foraging in a corn field just north of Fort Pierre this afternoon.

Bird Devotional 49

Snowy Egret, Egretta thula

“Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

Take one look at a Snowy Egret and there is no doubt as to how the bird got its name. Snowy Egrets are pure white. Their black bills and legs, accented by splashes of yellow, only serve to accentuate their whiteness. We often use the word snow to describe things that are not only pure white in color, but also pure in the sense of being virtuous or innocent. That is the meaning of today’s Bible verse, “Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.” We long to be clean, not just on the outside, but also on the inside.

In the eleventh chapter of Second Samuel is the story of David’s great sin. Not only did David commit adultery with a married woman, he then gave orders that directly led to the death of the woman’s husband. Both an adulterer and a murderer, David had the audacity to go to God and ask to be forgiven. In Psalm 51, we read David’s plea, not only for forgiveness, but also to be cleansed and washed. In verse two he pleads, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” In verse seven he adds, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

The Great Miracle is that what David asked can happen to each one of us. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). How can that happen? Jesus told His disciples, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3). In the Book of Hebrews we read, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14). Trust in Jesus, and in the saving and cleansing power of His blood, and you will indeed be as white as snow.

Father, forgive me for my sins against you. Wash me with the cleansing power of your blood and make me as white as snow. Amen.

White as Snow

White-breasted Nuthatch

After two massive winter storms, the snow in the Pierre area is nearly three feet deep. Everywhere you look there is nothing but white. There is snow on cars, on buildings, and of course, all over the streets and roads. Even the nuthatches look as though they have been sitting in the stuff. Wait...those guys always look like that.

Shameless Puffery

American Goldfinch with feathers puffed against the cold

It is 17 degrees below zero right now here in Pierre. Yesterday, when I took this picture, it was merely 8 below. Birds have ways of coping with extreme cold. One of the things they do is to "puff up" their feathers to provide better insulation. You don't think it would work? Have you ever worn a down jacket or slept under a feather tick? So, the goldfinches in my yard will be fine. They have shelter in my evergreens, plenty of nyjer seed, and they know how to become little puff balls. Still, I bet they can't wait for warmer weather!

Oregon

Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon sub-species

No, I didn't go to Oregon. You could say that Oregon came to me. We have quite a group of Dark-eyed Juncos coming to our feeders. Most are the predominate slate-colored sub-species, but a few of them are of the Oregon race. There are a half dozen different sub-species of Dark-eyed Junco. They were all once considered separate species, but have now been designated a single species consisting of several sub-species. Oregon juncos are birds of the Pacific northwest. In the winter they move south and east to much of the western United States.

Munching Nyjer

Eurasian Collared-Doves munching Nyjer seed

Nyjer seed is marketed as a great food for finches. Indeed, goldfinches, siskins and other members of the finch family hungrily devour it from specially designed feeders. However, other birds happily eat nyjer as well. The two Eurasian Collared-Doves pictured above found a way to balance themselves on the small tube feeder and enjoy a nyjer snack. Nyjer is a tradename for the seeds of an African plant with the scientific name Guizotia abyssinia. Since they are the seeds of a non-native plant, nyjer must be heat-sterilized prior to importation into the United States. This sterilization does nothing to affect the quality of the seeds as bird food, but it does prevent the seeds from germinating. The only drawback to feeding nyjer seed is that it is quite expensive. But the birds love it!

Goose Cubes

A pair of Canada Geese at 8 degrees below zero!

Even when the temperature is well below zero, there are still areas of open water in the Pierre area. The Missouri River is open for several miles below Oahe Dam because there is enough water coming through the dam to keep the water from freezing for quite some time. Capitol Lake is also partially open because it is fed by a warm water artesian spring. Taking advantage of this unfrozen water is a large Canada Goose population. Just before Christmas, the number of Canada Geese in the Pierre area was estimated at over 20,000. The two geese pictured above were sleeping on Capitol Lake the other morning with a thick covering of snow and ice. Brrr...it makes me glad I'm inside.

Honorable Mention

Male Yellow Warbler feeding juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird

Last week I spent four days listing my top ten birding moments of 2009. Would you believe I may have left out some other worthy moments? So, this morning I am giving Honorable Mention status to five additional birding moments from 2009. Here they are:

June 29. Just after dark I heard a Chuck-will's-widow calling along with several Whip-poor-wills. Here is my account.

July 6. I had a Seven Heron Morning in Oklahoma City, with Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, and American Bittern.

July 13. For thirty minutes I watched a male Yellow Warbler feed a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird. I called my blogpost, More Bugs, Daddy!

July 20. While driving down the highway, I spied a Red-tailed Hawk perched atop the center of three crosses.

September 1. I watched a Barn Swallow feeding a fledgling in front of a lumberyard, and later had a photo and story published in an on-line magazine.

Bird Devotional 48

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus

“Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down.” Obadiah 4

South Dakota’s Karl Mundt National Wildlife Refuge was created to provide undisturbed winter roosting areas and springtime nesting sites for Bald Eagles. The refuge contains bottomlands along the Missouri River with extensive stands of large cottonwoods, and is unusual in that it does not allow any public access. A few pairs of Bald Eagles nest in this area each year, but hundreds gather in the winter and can be observed fishing in the tailwaters of the nearby Fort Randall Dam. Eagles are extremely sensitive to disruption during the nesting period, and they will abandon nests if there is too much human intrusion. Therefore, eagles choose tall, remote trees in which to build their nests.

The eagles in the Middle East during the time of Obadiah also built their nests in high places as indicated in today’s verse. Obadiah used eagles in a symbolic way as he prophesied: “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord” (Obadiah 3-4). Pride, more than anything else, is the downfall of human beings. We all want the exhilaration of soaring like eagles. We must be careful, however, that we “soar” by putting our trust in God, and not by relying on our own strength. A beautiful verse in the Old Testament describes the blessings of true humility: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). As Peter wrote, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). Do you want to soar like an eagle? Humility is the first step. Take that step.

Father, I repent of my arrogance and pride. Lift me up and help me to soar in the way you created for me to soar. Amen.

Cold Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

My quest for birds on my 2010 list went pretty well yesterday considering the two feet of snow on the ground and a temperature just above zero. My 20th bird of the day came in the late afternoon when a small flock of Cedar Waxwings appeared in my apple tree. Their pale yellow undersides fairly glowed in the fading sunlight, making them appear much warmer than they probably felt.

First Bird of 2010

Horned Lark

I am always excited to see my first bird of each new year. I usually try to get out into the country before sunrise so I have a chance for the first bird to be something other than a House Sparrow. I was on my way to try to find some owls when I saw this little Horned Lark hopping around next to the road. It was too dark for a picture, but a half hour later when I came back that way, the lark was still there. I got some pretty good shots of the bird showing its namesake feather tufts.

So, what was your first bird of the year?