Birds of the Bible - Niami, Niger, West Africa (Lee Dusing)

Our missionaries in Niami, Niger (the Totmans and Marines), encounter different Birds of the Bible than our missionary in Brazil, that I wrote about last week.

These are some of the different birds mentioned in the Bible that they might see in Niger that we don't see here. Some do not have pictures, so this is not a complete list. All of these pictures are from the Niger, Africa list of birds from Wikipedia.

Avibase Checklist of Birds - Niger

Birds of the Bible - Study Tips (by Lee Dusing)

When the Birds of the Bible were introduced in February, 2008, "Introduction to Birds of the Bible", the goal was to acquaint you with each bird that is mentioned in the Bible and for you to learn of God's great handiwork in their creation. These blogs have grown greatly since then. I would like to share some of the methods that I use to produce these articles and to study God's Word.

As you are reading along in your Bible, you may come across the mention of a particular bird (or any other topic) in a verse. You see a bird and are wondering whether it is mentioned in Scripture. Your curiosity is caught and you want to find out more. What do you do?

• As a "birdwatcher," you can pull our your handy bird handbooks like: Peterson Field Guide to Birds, Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds, The Sibley Guide to Birds, etc.
• As an "internet birdwatcher," you can "Google" that bird and get instant information (more than you can ever read) and learn many interesting things.
• As a "Bible birdwatcher," you can look in your concordance for references to that bird and if you have a Bible software program, such as "e-Sword" (free), you can search for the bird.
• Also as a "Bible birdwatcher," you may want to see why the bird is mentioned and what applications can be made by that passage of Scripture used. I like to use the Topical references, like Nave's Topical Bible and Torrey's New Topical Textbook. That is one reason that they are available here to help in the study of the "Birds of the Bible." The ones here are different in that I put a picture of the bird on its page.

But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; (Job 12:7 NKJV)

This verse has been quoted many times in these blogs and we have tried to apply it to the lessons to be learned. Also, there are many other verses that give encouragement to study God's Word.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

As you study about the birds (or whatever in the Bible), I trust you will:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16 KJV)

* (Emerald Dove by Birdway)

Birds of the Bible - For His Pleasure II (by Lee Dusing)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33 NKJV)

Last week the "Birds of the Bible - For His Pleasure" that I wrote was about the Lord's Handiwork with the colors and markings of the Birds. This time, how the Lord designed their bill or beak will be considered.

It is truly amazing to observe the birds around us. They come in all kinds of sizes, shapes and colors. Have you really noticed their bills or beaks. God has designed them with various shaped bills, different length, and uses for them. Depending on what niche they fill, they have just the perfect bill for that food that they need to partake of. Some times the food that they consume is not available and they either adapt to what is available, they move on to find that food, or they become endangered or extinct. Let's look at some of the variety of bills and the birds attached to them.

Toucan - "The colorful, giant bill, which in some large species measure more than half the length of the body, is the hallmark of toucans. Despite its size it is very light, being composed of bone struts with little solid material between them. The bill has forward-facing serrations resembling teeth," which is used for eating fruit. "It does aid in their feeding behavior (as they sit in one spot and reach for all fruit in range, thereby reducing energy expenditure)...Also, the beak allows the bird to reach deep into treeholes to access food unavailable to other birds, and also to depredate suspended nests built by smaller birds."

Hummingbirds - Their thin long bills are used for collecting nectar and to protect their split tongues.

Egrets and Herons - They have long pointed bills that can be used to spear the fish they catch. They also catch them by a quick closing of the beak.

Woodpeckers - Their beaks are use to peck and tear off the bark of trees to catch bugs hidden there.

Pelican - They have a big beak with a pouch that they can hold the fish they catch.

Gnatcatcher - A very fine and small beak helps them catch gnat and other tiny insects.
Sparrows and similiar - They have a cone shape bill that allows them to crack open seeds.

Parrots - Have even a bigger cone like beak that can open larger seeds and nuts.

Spoonbills - Have what looks like a spoon for a bill. They use it to swing back and forth in the water and have a very sensitive touch that will snap the paddles together when something gets in between them. Video

The list goes on and on and you will find in each case, that the bill and the bird match-up shows the infinite wisdom of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of them all.

As Christians, we also each have some niche that the Lord wants us to fill. He has given us the talents, abilities, gifts, etc. to do that task or ministry. Our problem sometimes is the will to do His Will with what He has provided for us. Again, let us learn from watching the birds and how they use what was designed for them.

See also: Beak from Wikipedia