AWAKE 2014
Masked weaver
Some
birds will impress you—such as eagles, falcons, and hawks—as they patrol the
skies. Others may amuse you: sparrows squabbling over a tidbit, a male pigeon
puffing out its breast to impress a seemingly indifferent female, or a group of
squawking rose-pink and gray galahs hanging upside down on a swaying power line
as a result of losing their balance. And some sightings will thrill you, such
as the overhead passage of migrating storks, cranes, or geese. Indeed, such
migrations have been observed for thousands of years, leaving viewers in
awe of the ability of birds to navigate great distances with clocklike
precision. In fact, the Creator himself said: “The stork in the sky knows its
seasons; the turtledove and the swift and the thrush keep to the time of their
return.”—Jeremiah 8:7.
Great spotted woodpecker
BIRDS inhabit all parts
of the earth, and they are among the easiest creatures to observe. What is
more, their variety in form, color, song, antics, and habits can make
bird-watching, or birding, an entertaining and rewarding pastime.
Masked weaver
You may even be able to
observe a bird’s daily routine from your kitchen window: a European blackbird
digging for worms, a tyrant flycatcher hawking for insects, a dove courting its
mate, a swallow tirelessly constructing its nest, or a goldfinch feeding its
hungry brood.
Helmeted guinea fowl
Some
birds will impress you—such as eagles, falcons, and hawks—as they patrol the
skies. Others may amuse you: sparrows squabbling over a tidbit, a male pigeon
puffing out its breast to impress a seemingly indifferent female, or a group of
squawking rose-pink and gray galahs hanging upside down on a swaying power line
as a result of losing their balance. And some sightings will thrill you, such
as the overhead passage of migrating storks, cranes, or geese. Indeed, such
migrations have been observed for thousands of years, leaving viewers in
awe of the ability of birds to navigate great distances with clocklike
precision. In fact, the Creator himself said: “The stork in the sky knows its
seasons; the turtledove and the swift and the thrush keep to the time of their
return.”—Jeremiah 8:7.
Observing the Birds in
Bible Times
The
Bible makes many references to birds, often to teach valuable lessons. For
example, concerning the ostrich and its incredible speed, God said to a man
named Job: “When she rises up and flaps her wings, she laughs at the horse and
at its rider.” * (Job 39:13, 18) God also asked Job: “Is it by
your understanding that the falcon soars, . . . or is it at your
order that an eagle flies upward?” (Job 39:26, 27) The lesson? Birds
perform their feats without any help from us. Their abilities testify to God’s
wisdom, not ours.
King Solomon wrote of
“the song of the turtledove,” which heralds the arrival of spring. (Song of Solomon 2:12) A psalmist mentioned
the swallow when he was writing about his yearning to serve in God’s temple.
With a touch of envy, he said: “Even the bird finds a home there and the
swallow a nest for herself, where she cares for her young near your grand
altar, O Jehovah.”—Psalm 84:1-3.
“Your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?”—Matthew 6:26
Some of the most
beautiful references to birds were made by Jesus Christ. Consider these words
found at Matthew 6:26: “Observe intently the birds
of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?” That
touching illustration reassures Jesus’ followers that they are precious to God
and need never be anxious about obtaining life’s necessities.—Matthew 6:31-33.
Today, bird-watching is
a popular recreational activity—and understandably so, for birds amaze us with
their antics, beauty, courtship rituals, and songs. What is more, they can also
teach the thoughtful observer valuable lessons about life. Will you “observe
intently the birds”?
Do You
Want to Attract Birds to Your Garden?
Great spotted woodpecker
Birds look for the
following things:
·
Cover Trees and bushes provide
places where birds can safely rest and preen themselves.
·
Food Trees and shrubs,
especially native varieties, provide food. Feeders also attract birds.
·
Water Birds drink regularly,
and many like a bath.
·
Nesting sites Trees, shrubs, and
suitable nesting boxes attract woodland species.
LEARN MORE AT www.jw.org
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