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)