Jewel # 430 (Dec. 31, 2020)

     

"And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS."

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Beautiful Grebes

Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made . . . the earth, and all things that are therein . . . and 

Thou preservest them all.”  Nehemiah 9:6  

Grebes are diving water birds found on almost every continent of the world.  Among various species of grebes, one called the hooded, a native of the Andes mountains in Argentina, is one of the prettiest.  From the top of its beak, pure-white feathers slope upward as far as the forehead where a red crest rises up beyond the top of its head like a hood, giving it its name.  The rest of its head, back, sides and throat are deep-velvety black atop a long, snowy-white neck.  Its body is coal black on top and white speckled with gray underneath.  Brilliant scarlet eyes add to a most beautiful example of the Creator’s handiwork.

Another interesting species is known as the black necked or eared, probably because of the group of yellow feathers pointing from its eyes to the back of its neck.  Otherwise it is plain coloured, greyish-black above and orange and white below.  One called the pied-billed grebe covers its half dozen eggs with mud in the daytime throughout incubation.  When the little ones hatch, they quickly take to the water, clinging tightly to the mother’s feathers and back.   They don’t seem a bit afraid when she dives and swims, going right along with her.  Traveling this way, the mother snatches food wherever possible, and then by twisting her long neck backward she feeds all those on board. 

The western grebe is the one most familiar to Americans.  It has a long body and thin neck with brown or black feathers on top of its head and neck, but white below and having a long, yellow-pointed bill, making it quite pretty.  The western is noted for carrying on an unusual “water dance” when mates are being chosen.  Both the male and female, while floating on the water, will suddenly rise up side by side and run swiftly on the surface of the water for quite a distance.  They also both go through elaborate head-shaking exercises to impress one another.

After the western’s nest is built, from two to six eggs are laid, and about a month’s incubation is shard by both parents until the chicks are born. Even then both the mother and father continue to share in raising them for about three months, carrying them on their backs when out on the water.

The ways of these birds show again the care of God in giving them remarkable instincts.  But He gave more than this to mankind.  In the Bible the question is asked, “Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?”  (Job 38:36).  The answer is that the Lord, the Creator, has done this, and the Bible also tells us that "the fear of [reference for and faith in] the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).  Do you have that wisdom and understanding?

Love you all - Grandpa