Jewel # 458 (Oct. 11, 2021)

 10 popular questions about killer whales! 10 popular questions about killer whales! -

"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

Orca (or Killer) Whales  (Part 2)

“They that go down to the sea in ships...these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.”  

Psalm 107:23-24

Orca whales and humans often seem to be attracted to each other.  These whales have never been known to attack a human.  They swim together in groups called pods.  Some pods are friendlier that others.  A man once reported that while rowing his boat on Puget Sound, a pod overtook him but slowed down to swim alongside.  One of them swam back and forth under his boat several times, lightly brushing the boat with its fin, as though wanting to be friendly.  Marine scientists studying them get to know some well enough to give them individual names.

The lively antics of orca whales are amusing and amazing.  Naturally playful, they seem to challenge one another in splashing and breaching (leaping out of the water) as much as 30 feet, turning somersaults in the air, slapping the water with their tails, and twisting their bodies and landing on their sides or backs with a big splash.

Diving under a patch of kelp, a water plant, seems to be another form of amusement as they pull strands of it loose from the roots.  Kelp has air sacs that enable it to grow upright in the water, and when its stem is cut  loose from the roots it rapidly shoots out of the water a foot or more into the air.  The wales seem to enjoy this.  Incidentally, they don’t eat the kelp; it just washes to shore in the waves.

Orca whales never seem to fight among themselves.  This is unusual and is another of the Creator’s wonders.  An observer in a boat reported watching two pods, traveling in opposite directions, meet near the surface.  He watched to see what they would do.  When about 50 feet apart, both pods stopped for 30 seconds, then submerged and, mixing, passed each other with gentle touches, seemingly as a greeting, and then went their separate ways.

They are kind to each other in another way.  When one of them is injured and can’t swim to the surface for air (as mammals they need air to breathe), others immediately come to help.  They swim under the injured orca, bumping it to the surface where it can breathe.

They are known to often visit shallow, rock-bottomed areas where they and rub their bellies, sides and backs on the rocks.  They apparently do this to scrape off small parasites on their skin or, perhaps, just to scratch an itch.

We know the Creator took great delight in placing these lively creatures in ocean waters, and they are all under His watchful care day and night.

Is He watchful of people too?  Yes, He is.  Job 34:21 tells us, “His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He sees all his goings.”  

What does He see as He watches you?

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 457 (Oct. 2, 2021)

 

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

Orca  (or Killer) Whales 

(Part 1)

"God created great whales, and every living creature that moves.” (Genesis 1:21)

In the past, orca whales, which are actually part of the porpoise family, have been referred to as killer whales.  However, research has shown that thy rarely attack whales and have not been known to attack swimmers or boats in the wild.  As a result, the true name of orca is now used.

An adult male will generally be 30 feet long and weigh as much as four to eight tons.  They are the largest and fastest of the porpoise family and can swim up to thirty five miles an hour.  Huge dorsal fins on the backs of males can be as tall as six feet and look like black sails when above water.  The fins of females are about half that size.  The life span for males is 30 to 50 years, going up to 70 years. Females have about the same life expectancy, but they can live as long as 80 or 90 years.

Their colouring is striking—black on top with clear white underside and occasional patches of white in the black areas.  Like other things of God’s creation, no two are exactly alike.  Some live in every ocean, usually where there are cool waters with ample supplies of food, which include fish (especially salmon), seals and even small porpoises.  When food is scarce, they may attack whales 20 times their size, biting into their soft stomachs.  That is how they got the name “killer,” but this rarely happens.

You may have learned about the life and ways of gray whales, with their 12 thousand-mile migrations from Alaska to Mexico and back.  But orca whales do not migrate at all, and their trips are limited to searches for food.  Groups of them have been known to travel as much as 100 miles a day chasing migrating salmon, each adult eating 200 to 385 pounds of fish in the chase.

The groups that have been studied the most are around Vancouver Island in Canada, in Puget Sound waters, and near the islands of Washington State.  Puget Sound is a busy place, and boat operators and residents along the shores see orcas frequently.

While orca communities may have up to 200 orca whales, these include what are known as family pods.  Each pod contains 5 to 50 orcas, all closely related.  Families stay together all of their lives, the males leaving only long enough to mate with females of other pods.  Pods may travel together but do not mix.  Females are at least 12 years old before their first calf is born and then they average another one every six to seven years.  Other pod members help take care of the baby orcas as long as necessary.

In the next message we will look at some of their ways of life.  These are extremely interesting and bring to mind the Bible verse, “Remember God's marvellous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.” (1 Chronicles 16:12).

(to be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa 

Jewel # 456 (Sept. 22, 2021)

 

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

make up MY JEWELS.’'

Malachi 3:17 

To My dear grandchildren

The Busy Phalaropes

Part 2

"Thus saith the Lord, Thy Redeemer . . . I am the Lord that maketh all things.” Isaiah 44:24 

0n the last issue it was mentioned that the mother phalarope has some strange ways.  One examples is that the female birds prefer to  travel without their mates, and in flying either north in the spring or south in the fall, they always arrive at their destination a few weeks ahead of their mates.

Arriving at a promising area, each female selects a spot for a nesting site.  She works with her strong legs digging a shallow nest in the dirt, either close to a pool of clean water or sometimes in a meadow a short distance away.  When she has finished the digging, she leaves it up to the male to line the hole with moss or leaves when he arrives.  Usually the females make their nests near others, to form a sort of colony.

When the males arrive, each female picks out a  mate.  Then she shows him her nest and soon is busy laying three or four eggs.  After this she leaves him, and he takes over the responsibility of incubating the eggs and taking care of the chicks when they hatch.  Sometimes the mother bird will decide to raise a double family.  She will build another nest, lay eggs in it, and this time, seeing her mate is already busy on the first nest, she actually takes over and incubates and raises the second group herself.  Aren’t these strange things for a mother bird to do?

When fall weather is coming, the mother birds leave the little ones with the father birds and depart by themselves for the tropical lands where they will eventually arrive to spend the winter.  A few weeks later those left behind also leave on the same journey, joining her at a stopping point on the way.

A main stopping point for the Wilson’s species is small Mono Lake in the mountains of California.  This lake is quite salty and the home of myriads of little creatures called brine shrimp, which the phalaropes especially like.  At Mono Lake the birds stop for a month or more, refreshing themselves with this nutritious food as well as mosquitoes and brine flies, fattening up and renewing strength for the rest of their journey.  Thousands of them leave together temporarily darkening the sky as they take off.

In the lives of these interesting birds, we easily see God’s wonderful care over them and His wisdom in directing them north in the summer and south in the winter, to preserve their great numbers and provide ample food for them at all times of the year.

His ways are best for each of us too, and the Bible gives us  good counsel saying, “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). 

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 455 (Sept. 16, 2021)

 

Wilson’s Phalarope

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 busy Phalaropes - Part 1

“God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind.”  Genesis 1:21

You may never have heard of the pretty sandpile-like birds called phalaropes.  There are great numbers of them that travel thousands of miles every year, mainly between the cold Arctic lands of the north and the warm tropical countries of Central and South America.  Some travel even farther south, to West Africa, New Guinea and the coasts of Arabia.  Those that make the longest trips fly 15,000 miles each year in their round-trip migrations.

There are three species of this strange bird.  One is know as the Gray (but sometimes called the Red); another has the name of Red-necked (also called the Northern), and the largest of them all is the Wilson’s.

The Gray phalarope travels in early summer up into the Arctic tundra areas where great quantities of food await it.  The Red-necked  (Northern) prefers to have its summer home a little farther south, sometime as far south as Canada.  The Wilson’s variety chooses areas farther south yet, nesting in souther Canada and along the northern border of the United States.

Because the Wilson’s phalarope spends part of its time in California where it can be observed closely, more is know about it than the others, so we will limit our study mostly to that species.

The colouring of all these birds is different in summer than in winter.  The one called Gray has gray and white plumage  in winter, but is bright red in summer.  The Wilson’s, on the other hand is also a very pretty bird in summer; its wings, neck and the top of its head area combination of blue, orange and deep red with the rest of its body white.  In winter its colouring changes, giving it brown wings and legs and a brown crest on the top of its head, but plain white over the rest of its body.

The Creator equipped these birds with long legs, partially webbed feet and long beaks, all of which are useful as they wade along shorelines, searching for insects and food particles.  But they are also good swimmers and have been given thick, waterproof feathers that help them float high on the water.

With most birds, the male has the outstanding colourful feathers, but with these it is just the opposite. Especially during ht nesting period, the females are actually the prettiest and like to show off their colourful feathers when trying to attract a mate.  The mother bird is also a little larger that her companion (just the opposite of most other birds) and has some strange ways about her, which which we will look at in the following issue.

Meanwhile, let us never forget that “all thing were made by Him [the Lord God] and without Him was 

not anything made that made.  (John 1:3)  

(to be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 454 (Sept. 10, 2021)

 

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 Peccary or Javelina 

Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.  I will meditate also of all Thy work, 

and talk of Thy doings.  Psalm 77:11-12

Peccaries, also called javelinas, are related to wild hogs and live in the deserts of the southwestern United States and South America.  They are also called collared peccaries because of a white band around their chests.  The rest of their bodies are dark gray.  They look like pigs but are smaller, weighting only 30 to 60 pounds.  Like pigs they grunt, have large heads, short necks, tough, round snouts, short canine teeth and stubby tails.  Their feet are different from pig’s feet.  The Creator gave peccaries feet suitable for fast running and clinging to rocks.

Unlike pigs, which have large litters, peccaries usually give birth to twins, which are about the size of rabbits.  Within two days, the mother takes the babies to join the herd.  Peccary herds stay close together, and the babies get lots of attention.  When one of them is hungry, any sow will allow it to nurse.  Adults also let the babies jump over them, push them aside, and even steal food from them.

The herd spends most of its time feeding on acorns, parts of cactus plants, seeds, insects and occasionally a lizard or rattlesnake.   Each herd is identified by its own musky smell.  If an outsider comes into their territory, it is quickly discovered and chased out.  However, they prefer to live peaceably and will flee from danger.  But if cornered, they will defend themselves viciously with their sharp teeth.  Their most common natural enemy is the jaguar.  Normally, they run away when a human gets close to them, as may happen because of their poor eyesight.

Peccaries live an unhurried life and in warm weather indulge in afternoon naps in beds prepared beforehand.  They have these in areas of soft dirt which they dig up with their tough snouts, leaving hollows where they snuggle down for long naps.  At night they have similar sleeping places, but in a different area.

These animals are another example of how the Lord God has populated the earth with living creatures of all kinds.  He delights in His creation and cares for all of it.  The Bible says, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).  

However, the Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to provide everlasting life for animals.  In His great love, He died on the cross for people who will place their trust in Him.  If you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you can say, “O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things” (Isaiah 25:1).

Love you all - Grandpa     

Jewel # 453 (August 20, 2021)

 

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 Strange Hoatzin

“These wait all upon Thee; that Thou mayest give them their food in due season.”  Psalm 104:27

The hoatzin is a rather large bird, about two feet long and weighing about two pounds.  It is one of the most colourful birds in the world.  It is a native of South America.  It is found along the banks of the Amazon and other rivers.  Its main food is leaves and the fruit of plants growing in the marshes, as well as occasional small fish, crabs or frogs.  It is not a good flyer and spends most of its time on the ground or in low brush, except when nesting.

An impressive crest composed of a dozen or so thin black and yellow feathers stands up in a fan shape on the top of its head, which is deep blue.  Its neck, brown on the back and over its wings, is marked with white stripes.  The front is solid white between its strong sharp beak and its breast, where deep orange takes over down to its gray legs.  Long tail feathers on the young are gray with light yellow tips, but on adults they are dark brown with a wide yellow band at the tips.  Hoatzins are unusual looking but very colourful birds.

The mother hoatzin lays as many as five eggs in loosely woven nests which are built as high as 20 feet above the ground alongside a river or stream.  The young hatch out in about a month, and during the first two years of life they often stay with their mother to help take care of the new hatchlings.  If they are not available, other friendly hoatzins become helpers.

Young hoatzins are born with claws on their wings which they use to climb on tree branches until they learn to fly.  When they get older, the claws fall off.

If an unprotected young one in this high nest is threatened and no helper is near, it will dive head first into the water below, swimming under the surface for quite a distance.  Then, when the danger is gone, it will slowly work its way back through the brush.  When it reaches its own tree, it will climb to its nest.

Do you think the Creator knows about these hoatzins, so hidden in the jungles?  He certainly does, and as the above Bible verse says, He provides for all their needs.  But His love for you and me is much greater.  He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

He invites you to know Him as your Saviour, to enjoy His love while still on earth, and then share it more fully in the wonder of heaven for all eternity.  Will you accept His loving-kindness and thank Him for it today?  “Today if ye will hear His voice harden not your heart" (Psalm 95:7-8)

Love you all - Grandpa       

Jewel # 452 (July 31, 2021)

 

“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

Some Amazing Fish  (Part 2)

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

these see . . . His wonders in the deep.    Psalm 107:23-24

A bright- red scorpionfish makes its home off the cost of Mexico.  It's scary to have one of these approach you underwater—its big, ugly mouths grins at you and its black, bulging eyes look you over.  However, it is quite harmless.  Its red skin looks like it has loose patches ready to fall off.

The main enemy of pufferfish are sharks, but they must sneak up on the puffer or they are faced with a big problem.  When a puffer thinks a shark is after it, it suddenly puffs up its body into a large ball up to three times its original size.  The shark doesn’t like the looks of this and quickly leaves.  But all the puffer has done is swallow water (or air if near the surface), which makes it puff up like a balloon.  Then it turns over on its back and floats to the surface like a piece of drift wood.  Almost all pufferfish are extremely poisonous, but sharks are immune to their poison, so the Lord has given them this extra way to protect themselves.

The flying fish of of the Sargasso Sea lay eggs that look like seaweed plants where they live.  After hatching, the baby fish look even more like a part of these plants than there parents.  Even close up, it is almost impossible to tell which is a plant and which is the fish.

The eight-inch anableps of tropical America, sometimes called the four-eyed fish, adapt to both fresh and salt water.  These swim along the surface with the top part of their bulging eyes seeing what is floating or moving at the surface, while the lower part at the same time watches for things below.  Does it make you wonder how it knows what to focus on when there is something of interest both above and below the surface?

When the female European bitterling is ready to lay eggs, she hunts for a mussel shellfish.  Finding one, she drops a tube from her body and inserts it into the flesh so gently that the mussel doesn’t seem to know anything is happening.  The three or four dozen eggs deposited stay inside the mussel for about a month; then they hatch and swim away.  The mussel seems none the worse for its role.

There are many fish barely known to mankind, but all are known to the Creator who had a purpose in placing them in the waters of the earth.  While these things are interesting, the most important thing  for us to know is the love of the Lord Jesus who died on the cross for us and who invites us to come to Him as helpless sinners, accepting His invitation to receive Him into our hearts as Lord and Saviour.  

Have you done this?  There is no other way to enter heaven.

Love you all - Grandpa 

(to be continued)        

Jewel # 451 (July 29, 2021)

 

Flashlight Fish

"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

Some Amazing Fish  (Part 1)

"In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is.”  Exodus 20:11

There are over 34,000 species of fish in the world, and new ones are being discovered all the time.  All have been designed by the Creator for the particular part of the ocean, river or lake in which they live, so that they may find food and resist their enemies.

Among these are about 80 kinds of South and Central American freshwater fish that have built-in electricity.  Some of these that live in deep, dark waters can turn headlights and taillights on and off as they swim.  Others, contacting an enemy fish or one they want for food, turn on a powerful electric current to stun or kill the fish.

Still others in this group, swimming in waters too dark to see through, send out electric signals (like radar) and find their way without difficulty.  Some talk to each other through this means.  A little three-incher has the appropriate name of flashlight fish. When chased by an enemy, it swims in a zigzag pattern, turning on a light located near its eye while “zigging” and turning it off when “zagging.”  This completely baffles the enemy which doesn’t know where it will show up next and eventually gives up the chase .

One of the strangest of all fishes the orange sea dragon, related to the sea horse.  The sea dragon is well-named.  Seen from the side, it has a horny head with bulging eyes.  Its narrow, wavy body twists into odd shapes as it swims.  Then it has growths all down its long, snake-like tail with similar growths along the top and bottom of its body.  This whole design make it look like a dragon or piece of seaweed drifting in the current.  When the female lays eggs, she drops them on a sticky part of the male.  He carries them round for many days before they hatch and leave him.

The nine-to twelve-inch bat-fish walks and sits like a toad and almost looks like one as it crawls along the ocean floor.  It is covered with what it look like bony warts all over its skin.  When resting, it uses its flippers like elbows, its head lifted up and supported by them.

Many of these fish appear to be completely hidden in the dark, deep homes they occupy.  But a Bible verse asks these questions: “Can any hide himself in secret places that I cannot see him? saith the Lord.  Do not I fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24). Another verse speaks more plainly about people: “His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he sees all his goings” (Job 34:21). When we think of this, it should make us try to please Him in all that we do.

(to be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa         

Jewel # 450 (July 11, 2021)

 

"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

Man’s Good Friend — the Dog 

(Part 2) 

"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, 

by My great power and and by My outstretched arm.”

Jeremiah  27:5

With few exceptions, dogs are among the most outstanding of all animals and have amazing ways of showing their many skills and abilities.

What other creature can match the faithful loyalty of a dog to its master, no matter what kind of person he or she may be?  Most people will avoid a drunk person asleep on a sidewalk or in a dirty alley, but not so with his dog.  It will stay beside him in daylight or darkness, rain or shine, and guard him from harm.

Or what better care could a blind person have than that of a Seeing Eye dog as it leads him or her safely across streets, on and off buses, in and out of buildings—always ready and eager to help its blind master?

Think of how a dog can find its way where it has never been before, walking great distances, perhaps footsore and starving, back to its master who has abandoned it hundreds of miles from home.

For another example of their skills, let’s look at sheepdogs and the duties they carry out so well.  There are many breeds that can do this work and prove very helpful to the shepherd.  The Border collie is the one used most in England and North America.

Sheepdogs are very necessary where sheep graze in open fields.  Training for this work starts while the dogs are still puppies, and they soon become skilled at rounding up sheep that stray from the flock.  In addition to what they do without having to be told, their masters may signal them to drive the flocks out to pasture, keep them in one specific area, or bring them back to the corrals.  A master’s signals, which may be by voice, arm motions or different whistles, instruct the dog to turn left or right, ahead or back, wherever the master wants them to go.  Trained dogs can even separate one half to the flock to one place and the other half elsewhere.  Their remarkable abilities in this work are amazing to watch.

God told Adam to “have dominion over. . . every living thing that [moves] upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28), but when sin came into the world, that privilege was spoiled in many ways.  However, God has graciously permitted man to be superior over dogs and other animals.  We should be grateful to Him for this kindness.

Above all else, let’s thank Him that through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, each of us may have forgiveness of our sins and the promise of everlasting life with Him in heaven.  Do you have this forgiveness for your sins?

Love you all - Grandpa               

Jewel # 449 (June 24, 2021)

 

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.

Man’s Good Friend — the Dog

(Part 1)

“Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.” Isaiah 65:18

There are more than seventy-seven million dogs just in the United States, and no one knows how many millions more there are throughout the world.  Where did they all come from, and how is it that there are so many kinds?  Actually, the Bible doesn’t say much about them, but we can be sure they were included on the sixth day of creation when God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle . . . and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” (Genesis 1:24). 

“Cattle" as used in this verse does not just refer to cows but includes many other animals that we call “tame” or “domestic” animals.  It would seem that some dogs could have been included in this group.  Others may also have been created separately as part of the group called “beasts of the earth,” referring to what are now wild animals, living apart from people.  We cannot say positively it was this way, but we know that there are wild animals today in the dog family, such as wolves, coyotes, dingoes, jackals and hyenas of Africa, all of which had their original start on that sixth day of creation.  But through the thousands of years since then, tame dogs have been companions of men and women and boys and girls all over the world.  Most tame dogs have a nature which wants to love and be loved and they will be a loyal friend in any circumstance.

The reason for so many varieties of dogs is due to the fact that, when puppies are born, they sometimes have the combined characteristics of a male dog of one kind and a female dog of another kind.  As a result, they don’t look exactly like either of the parents.

People who raise dogs sometimes crossbreed on purpose in order to produce a new variety.  However, it is important to remember that a dog is always a dog, whether wild or tame.  Even though its appearance may have changed from the original, it still belongs to the dog family as created by God.  We all know that a dog and a cat can never crossbreed any more that a horse and a cow can.  God created them to continue “after their kind,” and they can never change this pattern, although God does allow them to mix within their own species, which somewhat changes their looks into what we call a "new breed.” 

In the next issue we will explore the special and unusual ways of some tame, or domestic, dogs that are helpful to mankind.

(to be continued)

Love you all - grandpa    

Jewel # 448 (June 12, 2021)

 

American  Egret

Little Egret

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 Stately Egrets

Part 2

"Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 

and they shall tell thee."  (Job 12:7) 

Previously we considered a few facts about the lovely egrets, their homelands, nesting and methods of securing food.  Now we will look at some of the outstanding species more closely.

The Great White Egret is the largest of all egrets and looks regal as it stands with large, snowy wings outstretched and its long white neck gracefully curved.  It has long black legs, a beautiful white feathered body and long yellow beak and is truly an outstanding bird—another example of God’s marvellous creation.

Perhaps because of its large size, the Great White Egret is bold.  It has been seen in Florida waters standing upright on the back of a crocodile that is swimming at the surface.  As the crocodile moves along, an occasional frightened fish will leap out of the water.  The watchful egret jumps off its moving perch to catch it and then returns to the crocodile’s back to enjoy the treat.

The Little Egret looks like a miniature of the Great White Egret but only about half its size.  It is very active and appears in great numbers in many places.

The American Egret is another large egret, about three-and-a-half feet long with a wingspan of nearly five feet.  When flying lazily along, it has the most dignified appearance of all, with its long neck in a comfortable “S” curve and legs stretched out behind.  Its slow speed makes an onlooker wonder how it can remain high in the air.  It carries the same dignity when wading or standing like a statue in a swamp, searching for a fish or frog.

The American egret nests high in a cypress tree overlooking a bog or marsh.  Seen mostly in Florida and the southern states, some also make their homes along the shores of California and Oregon.  It is one of the species which was almost wiped out by hunters who killed them for their their beautiful feathers.  Fortunately, the government stopped the hunting before it was too late.

The Snowy Egret is another very beautiful bird, similar to the Great White but smaller.  Its pure-white feathers are emphasized by a black beak and legs and yellow feet.  A spectacular crest of plumes behind its head adds to its beauty.  This one was also nearly wiped out by hunters.

The animals and birds of the earth teach and tell us a message, as our opening verse states.  Their survival would certainly be one point; they have no schools or teachers to show them how to face life and find food and shelter.  This shows us that the Lord God who has created them also cares for them.  In this way they teach us that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).              

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 447 (June 10, 2021)

 

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 Stately Egret

Part 1

God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.  And God blessed them, 

saying . . . let fowl multiply in the earth.”  Genesis 1:21-22

Egrets are found in several parts of the world but most commonly in Africa, South and Central America, and parts of the United States.  This would include Florida and other Gulf Coast areas, the coast of California and Oregon, also in scattered locations from Maine to Texas, and a few in Utah.

With few exceptions, such as the Cattle Egrets the vast majority of these birds seek out shallow waters along the shores of lakes, rivers or swamps where they wade through marshy areas to find fish, frogs, small birds and other creatures that form the major part of their food supply.  Their method of capturing these is to stand motionless for long periods in water about a foot deep, waiting for a desirable bit of food to appear.  Then, quicker than your eye can follow, the long neck stretches out and its long, sharp beak grabs and sometimes stabs its victim, which it quickly swallows.

Nesting is usually high in a tree where the male first picks a suitable spot where a nest of dead sticks and twigs can be lodged securely.  Often whole colonies nest in close groups.  Having found the right spot, the male then tries to win the attention of a female for a mate, attracting her wth repeated loud calls until she comes to look him over.

Then with his display of beautiful feathers, wide-spread wings, and the plumes on his back lifted up, he goes through a variety of poses, either twisting his neck up over his back or extending it skyward.  At the same time his beak changes colours to show how excited he is.  Sometimes during this display, he may pick up a dry stick in his beak and offer it to her, perhaps to work up her interest in nesting together.

Over the years many egrets have migrated from Africa to South and Central America, and some have worked their way northward into nearby areas of the United States—mainly Florida.  In more recent times, numbers of them have moved into many other states, as mentioned in the first paragraph.

The Scripture verse at the opening of this article tells us how the many varieties of this interesting bird—along with all other birds—were created on the earth.  Then the Creator instructed them that they were to bring forth after their kind.  And that is exactly what has taken place with each variety.  They are here today because God made them for His pleasure, as well as ours.  He created them with the same beauty that we see them have today.  Let us thank Him for this wonderful provision every time we see such lovely creatures.

(to be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa        

Jewel # 446 (May 29, 2021)

Spotted Skunk

Hooded Skunk

  

Hognose Skunk

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

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

Part 2 

To my dear grandchildren

A Skunk — Be Careful

"God Himself . . .formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain.”  

Isaiah 45:18

In the last article we looked at the stripped skunk.  The spotted skunk, sometimes called a civet, is another major species.    It is among the smaller species, having habits much like the striped species. Some consider it the prettiest of all skunks with its soft, glossy fur and white-tipped tail proudly held over its back.  The white areas of its fur form many patterns over its body, with no two skunks the same.

This skunk is most likely to make its den in a burrow or under a boulder, but sometimes it invades barns or crawl spaces under houses.  Its musky spray is not as strong as others, but it is still effective.  Unlike the striped skunk, it can easily climb trees for fruit and to raid bird nests.  It will even go into water for frogs and crayfish.

The hooded skunk is the least numerous of skunks and does not have the prominent markings of other species.  Its name comes from the long, white hairs that stand up on its head like a hood.  It is found only in Arizona and New Mexico and in the country of Mexico.  It prefers to make its home in an abandoned burrow.  Living in the desert, its choice of food is limited to rodents, beetles and other insects.  Occasionally it will add to its diet an unwary bird or its eggs, as well as fruit from desert plants.

The hognose or badger skunk has colouring different from the rest.  The entire top of its body is usually white, as is its long tail, but the rest of it is brown or blackish with an occasional white spot.  Its snout is bare, accounting for the name hognose.  It is sometimes called a badger skunk because its claws are so much like a badger’s.  Its back claws are dark and short, while its ivory-coloured front claws are strong and long, provided by the Creator for digging.  Its food is similar to that of the hooded skunk.

Skunks show us the Creator’s wisdom in providing for all of their needs and giving them such an unusual means of self- defence.  They have no way of knowing the One who watches over them, but the Bible tells us that “the works of the Lord are great. . . . He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion” (Psalm 111:2,4).         

Love you all - Grandpa

Jewel # 445 (May 19, 2021)

 

“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

A Skunk — Be Careful!

(Part 1)

 “The Lord of hosts … is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."  Isaiah 28:29

Would you like a skunk for a pet?  Probably not, yet many people have them as pets…after removing the scent glands.  They find that skunks are friendly and can be playful.

These animals live only in North and South America and are part of the weasel family.  There are about a dozen species, which are all very similar.  Although often seen in daylight, they are most active at night.  They have a slow and deliberate walk.  All have distinctive black and white markings and have long bushy tails.  Perhaps the Creator gave them these special features so they may be recognized and avoided even in the dark.

Skunks have a very effective chemical weapon called mercaptan, which is produced in a pair of scent glands near their tails.  These animals prefer to be left alone.  However, any animal or person who comes close enough to make them feel threatened will first be met by a cold, unblinking  stare and thumping of feet on the ground.  These are intended to warn, “You’re too close!  Back off!”  If the intruder does not retreat, the skunk will quickly turn around, lift its tail and, without further warning, squirt a vile-smelling fluid up to ten feet with good aim!  Besides smelling terrible, this fluid burns skin and can cause temporary blindness.  An animal or person who has had this experience will usually stay far away from a skunk!  However, some dogs never seem to learn the lesson.

The most common skunk is the striped skunk.  It is about 30 inches long, including its tail, and has fewer white markings than other kinds.  It is at home in wooded areas, near farms and has adapted to residential areas where there are fields nearby.  Sometimes a female skunk will make a nest in a barn or under a porch or deck where she and her four or five babies, which are called kits, can become a real problem.  Getting rid of them is usually done by trapping.

Their main food in the spring is mice.  In summer they switch over to grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects, often ripping open rotten logs to find them.  Another  favourite food is eggs, and sometimes they raid chicken coops.  They also eat ripened tree fruit that has fallen to the ground.

The care given to these animals by the One who created them is written in Psalm 119:64: “The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy." For you and me, there is a companion verse which says, “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding” (Psalm 119:73). It is good to ask for an understanding of His love, to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, and to thank Him for all His kindness.

(to be continued)

Love you all - Grandpa