Raptor Rapture

Ferruginous Hawk

I am mildly surprised that so many people name a raptor as their favorite bird. The choices, and the reasons for choosing them, are quite interesting. One person chose, "Any kind of hawk. Big, powerful, awesome in flight." Hmmmm... I'm going to consider putting a hawk on my top ten list. Ferruginous Hawk is one of my favorites. 



Bald Eagle

I wasn't surprised that a few folks list Bald Eagle as their favorite bird. Of course, they are a symbol of our country and "they are just majestic." I have always admired eagles. Maybe there will be room on my list for an eagle.



American Kestrel

American Kestrel might get some consideration for my top ten list. It is one of my son Daniel's favorite birds because they are, "tiny and skilled." Yes, they are! North America's smallest falcon, the kestrel is an adept hunter.



Osprey

One fellow told me that Osprey is his favorite bird because, "It's a raptor with a sweet name." Ah! I think it's a great name, too. I once wrote a whole blog post about the Osprey's name. Ospreys really are cool. Am I limited to just ten birds on my Top Ten List?



Cardinal Virtues



Northern Cardinal

I am going to dive right into the topic of favorite birds by discussing the Northern Cardinal. This is a beloved bird for most of us. It finished third in the favorite bird poll on this blog earlier this year, and was my fifth favorite bird back in 2009. What virtues does the cardinal have that make it so popular? Well, I asked that question recently, and here are some of the responses I received:

"Their red crest"

"Their color"

"Beautiful in the winter"

"Their song is so beautiful"

"Not territorial toward other birds at my feeder"

"How they are always with their mate"

"Because they feed their mate"

"They remind me of my grandma"
"Because of Cardinal Elementary School"

Those are all good reasons for naming a bird as your favorite. I like birds that are beautiful and have unique features in their physical appearance. The bird's song is also important. Birds that behave themselves appeal to most of us. Being faithful to your mate is an endearing quality. And a bird that brings back pleasant memories of people or places is always going to be high on our lists. So, as I work on rewriting my top ten list I will keep all these things in mind. Do you have any additional thoughts on why you like cardinals?

A Walk in the Woods

A sign at Effigy Mounds National Monument in eastern Iowa

I spent the weekend in eastern Iowa attending the Fall Meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. I got to reconnect with some old friends, make some new ones, and see some birds. After spending all summer on the prairies of South Dakota, it was wonderful to get out in some real forests. One of the field trips took us to Effigy Mounds National Monument. While hiking through a wooded swamp in the Mississippi River lowlands, we spotted this Prothonotary Warbler. As is typical, the bird would never fully come out from behind the branches, and this is the best photo I could manage.



Prothonotary Warbler hiding in the swamp

Favorite?

Wintering American Robin in snow-covered juniper berries,
currently my favorite bird

When I started this blog two and a half years ago, one of my first posts was about my "Top Ten Favorite Birds." From time to time I wonder if that list still reflects my favorites. So, I think I will re-visit that question and come up with a new list of my Top Ten Favorite Birds. My problem is that I am unclear as to what criteria to use in determining my favorite. Here is a definition:

fa-vor-ite, n. a thing regarded with special liking.

My! That doesn't help at all. Nevertheless, I will come up with my new list of favorites one way or another. You will read about them starting sometime next week.

"Two Sparrows"



Harris's Sparrow (top) and White-crowned Sparrow (bottom)

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them will fall to the ground

outside your Father's care.

...So don't be afraid;

you are worth more than many sparrows."

Mathew 10:29,31

In Jesus' time sparrows were worth only a half cent apiece. And yet God is concerned for every one of them. How can we not believe that He loves each one of us?

 

"Seeking Goodly Pearls"

American Oystercatcher
(Photo by Paul O. Roisen)

"Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man,

seeking goodly pearls:

who, when he had found one pearl of great price,

went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Matthew 13:45-46

The American Oystercatcher pictured here is looking for oysters, but it probably would just as soon not find any pearls inside. In order to find oysters this bird will spend its whole life out on the mudflats searching. What is it you are looking for?  Are you willing to spend everything you have in order to find it?

"He Brought Them Quail"

Northern  Bobwhite

"They asked, and He brought them quail

and satisfied them with the bread of heaven."

Psalm 105:40

The Israelites in the wilderness asked God for nourishment, and He gave them natural food. If we ask Him to nourish us, He will also give us food for our physical bodies. More importantly, though, He will give us spiritual food, the Bread of Life:

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the Bread of Life.

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"

John 6:35

"Like a Cowbird"

Male Yellow Warbler feeding juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird

"Like a cowbird that cheats by laying its eggs in another bird's nest

is the person who gets rich by cheating.

When the eggs hatch, the deceit is exposed.

What a fool he'll look like then."

Jeremiah 17:11 (The Message)

Brown-headed Cowbirds do not build nests and raise young like other birds. They lay their eggs in another bird's nest, and leave that other bird to hatch and raise the young cowbirds. A while back I spotted this male Yellow Warbler feeding a juvenile Brown-head Cowbird. What a wonderful adoptive father he was!

"Mockers Delight in Mockery"





Northern Mockingbird



"How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge."

Proverbs 1:22

Northern Mockingbirds are mimics. They can reproduce almost any sound they hear. I have always thought the word, mock, was a little strong to describe this wonderful bird. They don't really mock as much as they merely imitate. How about if we call them imitator birds instead? This would be a Bible verse we could use in conjunction with our newly-named, Northern Imitatorbird:

"Be imitators of God, therefore,

as dearly loved children and live a life of love."

Ephesians 5:1

"The Light of Morning at Sunrise"

Field of sunflowers viewed from the east

"When one rules over people in righteousness,

when he rules in the fear of God,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, 

like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth."

2 Samuel 23:3-4

There is an art to photographing fields of sunflowers. It should only be done in the morning, and you should always try to find a viewing spot on the east side of a field. That is because sunflowers always face east. Sunflowers want to bask in that special glow that only comes from the rising sun. The Bible passage quoted here contains the dying words of King David. God had revealed to David that if he lived in righteousness and walked with God, the glow of God would be reflected in his face. It can be the same with us. If we will always turn our faces toward God and walk in righteousness, we will reflect His light, too.



Field of sunflowers viewed from the west

"Do Not Worry"



Eastern Kingbird in sunflowers

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."

Matthew 6:25-28

We humans tend to worry about everything in life. Whenever I am tempted to worry, I like to turn to Matthew chapter 6. Then, when I am done reading that chapter, I want to go out and "look at the birds," and "the flowers of the field." Yesterday we went for a drive in the country and saw that the sunflower fields are at the absolute height of bloom. They were beautiful! Then, I caught this Eastern Kingbird resting in the midst of some sunflowers. Does that bird look worried to you? I think there would be a lot more peace in the world if people would read the Book of Matthew, and then go for a walk in a field of sunflowers.



A field of South Dakota sunflowers

"Male and Female"

Male Dickcissel

"Every kind of bird, male and female,

to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth."

Genesis 7:3

Male and female birds are usually different from each other. In some species the differences are dramatic; in others the differences are more subtle. Take a look at these two Dickcissels. Their appearance is basically identical, except the female's plumage is more subdued. The big difference is that the male appears to be wearing a dramatic black tie. And then, of course, you will notice that this male is singing, as male Dickcissels always do. The females are generally silent. Why did God create both males and females? The answer is right here in this verse: "to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth."

Female Dickcissel

"Confusion, as with a Mantle"

Gulls showing their mantle colors - left to right:
Ring-billed Gull, California Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull
(An immature Ring-billed Gull is at lower right)

"Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame,

and let them cover themselves with their own confusion,

as with a mantle."

Psalm 109:29

Gulls can be very confusing creatures. With practice, though, you can concentrate on a few key field marks and separate the various species from one another. I am still having difficulty with gulls in flight, but I am getting pretty good at identifying gulls that are just standing around. A while back I caught the gulls in this photograph standing in a parking lot near Oahe Dam. Immediately noticeable is the difference in coloration of the birds' mantles. Mantle is the name for the back and shoulder area plumage of a bird. You can see that the Ring-billed Gull has a very light mantle; the California Gull's is a little darker; and the Lesser Black-backed Gull has an extremely dark mantle. So... do you have that all straight, or do you still think the gulls "cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle?"

"Not to be Eaten... Owl"

Short-eared Owl

"These... among the birds... are... not to be eaten: ...the owl."

Leviticus 11:13,16

The Short-eared Owl is one of my favorite owls. If you look closely you can see they have beautiful eyes that appear to have been outlined in mascara. These are owls of prairies and marshes, and are a common sight in the Great Plains, especially in the winter.

"Not to be Eaten... Gull"

Lesser Black-backed Gull surrounded by other gulls

"These... among the birds... are... not to be eaten: ...gull."

Leviticus 11:13,16

In the movie, Mutiny on the Bounty, Captain Bligh and the non-mutineers killed and ate a gull after sailing for weeks in a small craft. I often think about that scene when reading Leviticus 11. Circumstances such as depicted in that movie are about the only way you would ever tempt me to eat a gull!

"Not to be Eaten... Hawk"

Ferruginous Hawk

"These... among the birds... are... not to be eaten:

...the hawk in its kind."

Leviticus 11:13,16

When I photographed this Ferruginous Hawk last winter, I don't think he was too worried about me eating him. The big raptor showed no sign of fear whatsoever. He seemed more interested in determining whether I might be good to eat.

"Not to be Eaten... Cormorant"

Double-crested Cormorant

"These... among the birds... are... not to be eaten: ...the cormorant."

Leviticus 11:13,17

I might be tempted to disobey some of God's commandments, but this is not one of them.

"Not to be Eaten...Eagle"

Bald Eagle

These... among the birds... are... not to be eaten: ...the eagle."

Leviticus 11:13

I have always been grateful for the passages in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that tell us which birds we cannot eat. Who would want to eat an eagle?

"Even the Sparrow"

White-crowned Sparrow

"Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young --

a place near you altar, Lord, Almighty, my King and my God."

Psalm 84:3

When you hear the word, sparrow, what comes to mind? Do you think of the ubiquitous, city-dwelling, mess-making, House Sparrow? I thought so! Those birds are not actually sparrows at all. They are members of the weaver-finch family of birds, and were introduced into North America from Europe in the nineteenth century. True sparrows are members of the Emberizidae family, with more than thirty species present in North America. Most of these native North American sparrows, like the White-crowned Sparrow pictured here, are colorful, and quite handsome. Here in the Great Plains several sparrow species are summer residents. Another group of sparrows is present here only in the winter time. Many other species pass through here during migration. The sparrow migration in early October is one of my favorite times of the year! "Even the sparrow?" Indeed! 

"The East and the West"

Eastern Kingbird and Western Kingbird

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west,

and will take their places at the feast

with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 8:11

I always enjoy seeing Eastern and Western Kingbirds together. Yesterday I caught this duo hanging out together in a tree near Oahe Dam. I like to make note of their geographic orientation, and true to form, this Eastern Kinbird was on the east, and the Western Kingbird was on the west. When I see these easterners and westerners coexisting peacefully, I am reminded of the Bible verse quoted above. The Bible tells us that people from every nation will be together in the kingdom of heaven. Will I see you there?

"A Chattering Fool"

A Yellow-breasted Chat engaging in chatter

 "A chattering fool comes to ruin."

Proverbs 10:10

"Guard what has been entrusted to you,

avoiding worldly and empty chatter."

1 Timothy 6:20

Yellow-breasted Chats are aptly named because they do indeed chatter. I chased one of these birds through some bushes this morning and got some photos. The bird kept chattering the whole time. It wouldn't shut up! The Bible has several warnings about foolish and idle chatter. We would be wise not to emulate the Yellow-breasted Chat, but instead follow the advice in this passage:

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

Proverbs 25:11



A Yellow-breasted Chat holding its tongue



"Can Anyone Hide?"

Sharp-tailed Grouse hiding in the dry grass

"'Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?'

declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 23:24

This Sharp-tailed Grouse has tried its best to hide itself in the dry grass of early spring. The bird is well-camouflaged, but we can still see it. Have you ever tried to hide from God? The Prophet Jeremiah relates what should be quite obvious: it is not possible to hide from God. 

"Set Up Road Signs"



Western Kingbird

"Set up road signs; put up guideposts.

Take note of the highway, the road that you take."

Jeremiah 31:21

 

Upland Sandpiper

Have you ever wondered why people place signs everywhere-- why there are warning signs, directional signs, and informational signs of all sorts? Well maybe it all started with this verse from the Bible: "Set up road signs; put up guideposts." I guess we humans have been erecting signs for thousands of years, and the birds certainly do appreciate the fine perches they provide. 



Eurasian Collared-Dove



"Beside Quiet Waters"

Great Egret

"He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters."

Psalm 23:2

As I watched this Great Egret working its way along the bank of this small pond, I couldn't help but think of the comforting words of the 23rd Psalm: "He leads me beside quiet waters."

"Wait for it Patiently"

Red-tailed Hawk waiting patiently on its post

"But if we hope for what we do not yet have,

we wait for it patiently."

Romans 8:25

I have always thought Red-tailed Hawks are good symbols of patience. This Bible verse perfectly describes a hawk's motivation for exercising patience: "If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait patiently for it." The bird pictured here is hoping that some mammal, bird or reptile will come into its field of view, and it is willing to wait. What is it that I am hoping for today? Wisdom? God's love? Peace? Joy? Answer to prayer? How willing am I to wait upon the Lord with patience? Instead of rushing around frantically, maybe I should just choose some symbolic fence post in the middle of my busy life and stand there waiting and trusting God.

"Holes in the Ground"

Burrowing Owl

"They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,

among the rocks and in holes in the ground."

Job 30:6

Burrowing Owls live in the abandoned burrows of prairie dogs, ground squirrels or other mammals. They feed on insects, small mammals and small birds.

"The Owls...Honor Me"

Burrowing Owl

"The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,

 because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen."

Isaiah 43:20

This Bible passage reminds us of an enduring truth: God provides. He provides wild animals with "water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." What is the response of these creatures? They honor Him. In this photo, the verdant growth and orange flowers give testimony to the fact that God has recently provided rain in this owl's territory. In some way we may not fully understand, this owl is honoring God. How about us? As God provides for our needs-- even in the wilderness and wasteland times of our lives--do we give honor to Him?

"A Dove Makes Its Nest"

Eggs in Mourning Dove nest

"Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave."

Jeremiah 48:28

For two years a pair of Mourning Doves built their nest in a hanging flower basket outside our front door. They did not return this year, but opted instead for a place in some overgrown bushes beside our house. I could not find a Bible verse about doves nesting in flowers, but I decided the front porch of our house is like "the mouth of a cave."  Isn't it amazing how God used the everyday lives of birds to inspire the writers of the Bible?

"Ibis Wisdom"

White-faced Ibis

"Who gives the ibis wisdom?"

Job 38:36

I like ibises. There is something exotic and mysterious about these sickle-billed birds. I don't know if that bill makes them any wiser than other birds, but it makes them stand out. Whatever wisdom the ibis possesses was endowed by our creator.

"Bald as the Vulture"

Juvenile Turkey Vulture

"Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight;

make yourself as bald as the vulture."

Micah 1:16 

Vultures have many endearing qualities. Among those is the fact they are bald. When a bird's diet is rotten flesh, having a full head of feathers would not be a good idea. I think God designed these creatures quite well.

"The Vultures Will Gather"

A quartet of Turkey Vultures

"For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west,

so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather."

Matthew 24:28

Vultures are pretty noticeable. Whether they are soaring high over head or perched out in the open, they are hard to miss. You can't miss lightning, either. When it strikes in the east, you can see it in the west. In this Bible passage, Jesus used these two familiar events of nature to describe His second coming. It won't be secret. It won't be hidden. When He returns we will all be instantly aware of it. I can't wait!

"Does the Hawk Take Flight?"

Rough-legged Hawk

"Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom

and spread its wings toward the south?"

Job 39:26

How about it? Can you give a hawk advice about flying? Have you ever figured out how birds know when to migrate and which way they should go? I didn't think so. I don't know any of those things, either. Mankind's wisdom is pretty insignificant next to God's wisdom, isn't it?

"Hidden Among the Reeds"

Marsh Wren hidden among the reeds

"Hidden among the reeds in the marsh."

Job 40:21

One morning I decided to photograph Marsh Wrens in a wetland area beside a gravel road. A friend played a recording of a Marsh Wren singing, and we watched as several wrens popped up into view. The trouble was that as soon as they popped up, they popped back down again. Nevertheless, I kept snapping away with my camera as the wrens moved around in the marsh. When I got home, I realized I had taken 54 pictures, but a wren was visible in only 6 of them. Of those 6 images, the picture shown above is the only one that turned out well.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians about things that were hidden being revealed:

"The Word of God in its fullness--

the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations,

but is now disclosed to the saints.

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles

the glorious riches of this mystery,

which is Christ in you the hope of glory."

Colossians 1:25-27

Ask God to reveal to you what has been kept hidden for ages and generations, and He will reveal it to you. That mystery is, "The Word of God in its fullness-- Christ in you the hope of glory."

"Your Heavenly Father Feeds Them"

American Robin with juniper berry

"Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,

and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26

In the summer we see robins in our yards and gardens eating worms and bugs. In the winter we see them in the woods or in ornamental plantings eating fruit and berries. Whatever the location and whatever the time of year, one thing is certain: "Your Heavenly Father feeds them." 

"Ripe for Harvest"



Yellow-headed Blackbird in field of ripened grain

"I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields!

They are ripe for harvest."

John 4:35

Jesus told His disciples, "Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." He had just spoken to a Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar. To the astonishment of His followers, Jesus had violated their religious laws and had stopped to talk with a woman! More than that, He had revealed to her that He is the Savior of the world. Knowing that the Good News was at that moment spreading among the Samaritans, Jesus said of His Father, "Even now He harvests the crop for eternal life" (John 4:36). What do I see when I look at the world... a hopeless mess, or a harvest field? I guess it depends on whether I am looking through my eyes, or His.  Open my eyes, Lord.

"Among the Rocks"

Piping Plover, quite happy among the rocks

"They were forced to live in the dry stream beds,

among the rocks."

Job 30:6

Piping Plovers are an endangered species, and the world population was estimated at only 5,945 in 2005. These little shorebirds live and nest on gravel-strewn beaches along the Atlantic coast, or along major rivers in the interior. Last year I found the Piping Plover in this photo in a large patch of gravel along the Missouri River in South Dakota. That was long before the Great Flood of 2011. Now there are no dry stream beds left along the Missouri, and the Piping Plovers have been forced to live elsewhere. I hope they are able to come back here in future years after the water recedes.