Why Did the Coots Cross the Road?

So we can laugh at them making the effort to climb up the hill after getting out of the water, walk across the road, fumble down the hill to get back into the water.  It would have been easier to just swam under the bridge.

But maybe they got it into their heads to go through this effort because God knew how much I have longed to see this bird’s feet in person.  They are such an interesting design.  They are made to walk just fine on dry land, but those flaps of skin(?) enable them to paddle in the water as well as a duck.
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Romans 1:
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Categories: bird facts, Creation

Beautiful Government; or Cow Slobber

2 Peter 2:
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
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One bad thing about writing posts ahead is you sometimes have to go back to make an edit or two because what you wrote is no longer true.  This is one such case.   When I originally wrote this, I bemoaned the fact that only the Swamp Milkweed came back of all the natives we put in one spot.  Our Cow Slobber was nowhere to be seen.  Nor have we seen any Hibiscus.  For the Milkweed to come back was pretty amazing, though, since they all were covered in Oleander Aphids last summer.  They were all over Common Milkweed, too.

Today (16 June), I was greeted with a surprise when I went to the south yard to replace an orange half.  I saw bits of purple-ish blue in our native patch.  And you guessed it.  Our Cow Slobber has bloomed!!  This photo is not our Cow Slobber, but some over at Neal Smith.

Cow Slobber AKA Ohio Spiderwort

The more we enjoy birds, the more we appreciate any effort in bringing back what has been lost due to man’s actions.  In this case, it is our government.  We are aware of restorations at all levels-local up to federal.

Most recently, we’ve visited the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge which has over 8,600 acres. Much of this is restored prairie using plantings native to Iowa.   It is a beautiful and amazing place.  Some day, I hope we can go there as a family so we can take our time.  For some reason, this last field trip seemed rushed.

The Prairie Learning Center is wildlife friendly allowing for the nesting of Cliff and Barn Swallows on its building.  Many businesses and residential areas discourage such activity, not aware that these birds are great bug control agents.  They just cannot overlook a little poop and mud.   But what a glorious sculpture of mud it is!

Cliff Swallow in a nest.

Protecting and restoring habitat should never be a political issue.   It is an issue of doing the right thing.  In cases like this I can be grateful for President Bill Clinton, who signed an executive order to bring native grasses and flowers to our roadsides.  This is to try and replace all the brome grass that was planted earlier.

Categories: di blumma, di fekkel, ponder

Mrs. BOBO

Proverbs 31:
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
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The male Bobolink always gets the attention.  With his beautiful coat and amazing song, it is hard not to miss him.  The female is much more illusive and quiet.  She looks much like a sparrow, but the males know who she is and performs a grand display to gain her favour.

Categories: di fekkel

White-throated Sparrow

Psalm 43:
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
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White-striped form

Tan-striped form

Categories: di shpatza

Ignorance

Romans 10:
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
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As I have been going through old photo files on the computer, I laugh at all the bird images titled, “bird.jpg”.  Some of these were taken back in Omaha, but several were taken here in Iowa the first couple of years after we moved.  Until we became interested in them, all we knew was birds flew, built nests, ate and pooped.  That is it.  We just did not think about them.  We were pretty ignorant as you will see how others are, as well.

Sometimes it is harmless, such as this fun blog entry I had found when I was looking up info about gulls.  I could have written a similar thing years ago.  She was not aware of migration patterns, the wide variety of foods gulls eat, or something nicknamed a “Prairie Gull” that nests in the Northern Great Plains.  Oh and the fact, there is no such thing as a Seagull!  :)

Other times, it is not so harmless.  This blog entry is full of misleading information that is a detriment to the birds.  She believes a bird broke the ceiling fan blade on her porch and spent much of her time ranting about birds.  Her post is based on circumstantial evidence and I cannot imagine an impartial judge convicting these birds, if they could be put to trial.  :)

Personally, I believe the biggest clue is in her early statement of hearing a crash while the movers were bringing in couches.   The birds did not arrive until a few days later.  She did not say what doors people were coming in and out of, but usually during a move, there is activity at all the doors into a house.  So possibly movers were on her porch and no bird would try building a nest among human activity they are not accustomed to.

Later I was thinking, can it be possible for a bird to do this?  NO.  Narrowing it down to birds that use feathers for nesting materials and would go up into rafters, there are very few choices in North America.  House Sparrows,  Swallows and maybe Wrens.   The largest of these is one ounce.  This is the maximum weight of mail with a 46¢ stamp (US) on it.   Unless there was already damage to the one fan blade,  a bird could not do this thing.

It is fine that people are ignorant about birds.  There are plenty of things I am ignorant about.  But it is a sad thing in this day of instant communication when people’s views can foster damaging attitudes towards creation that already struggles because of our many actions done out of ignorance.

Categories: dangers to birds, ponder | Leave a comment

They’re Still Here

Ezekiel 31:
6 All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.

Mr. and Mrs. Kestrel

They’ve gotten quite illusive lately, but I have heard this happening after the eggs are laid. We will only occasionally see one hunting, or bring food to the box. The eggs could be hatched by now, but we do not know.  And no, they are not eating any of our birds.  Some people say they do, but we’ve not witnessed this here.

We’ve talked about installing some type of nest-cam inside the box for next year, but they are pricey.

Categories: bird facts

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