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Birds have always been fascinating to me since I could walk and talk, with a wonderful influence from my paternal Grandfather Fred. He would stand there in front of me and make bird calls of different varieties while I looked on in awe and astonishment. He towered over my insignificant frame to delight the wonder of an innocent wide-eyed child -- my eyes must have been as wide as saucers staring up at this man who was an avid birdwatcher. After his all-too-soon and untimely death I inherited his binoculars in their solid black case replete with a strap that held them securely around the neck or shoulders depending on your preference at any given time. My 6 year old mind called them "spy glasses" as I saw the magnification of a bird at quite a distance. They are still in my possession and have come in very useful over the years. Faded memories of Grandad also exist using his spy glasses at the footy too when we were taken along to see his team The Tigers play at The Bay (Glenelg) in South Australia, the home of my birth. Whilst I never did take to football, I certainly took to birdwatching and all things birdlife. God's marvellous creation thrilled me even back then while I wanted nothing to do with man's idea of what constitutes good sport.
Then several years later we lived in Melbourne, Victoria due to Dad's work transfer and I happily discovered other birds such as the red, red robin that bobbed all over our backyard lawn when we girls had the duty of shaking out the tablecloth to drop all the crumbs off after breakfast to feed the birds. Watching these robins feed through the window could have made me late for school as it was so much fun to me. They were tiny but gorgeous and very brave as we had a pet cat who lived outside. Smokey never managed to get one for which I am truly thankful. Some of my precious memories that still remain are of Mum placing a large bowl of water on the front porch on hot days for the birds to drink from or splash about in to gain some relief, especially while we lived in Adelaide, known for many heat waves with temperatures in the mid 40s Celsius for up to 10 days at a time. Then after the death of our dear mother I returned to Adelaide along with my sister. Birdwatching continued with much joy and each summer bowls of cold water have been placed outside just like they will be over the coming weeks and months as another summer arrives shortly.
Reading through the Bible God has much to say about birds. We can probably remember many scriptures where mention is made of the Owl, Storks, Cranes, Quails, Sparrows, Eagles, Doves, Ravens, and Pigeons which are there throughout both Old and New Testaments. The Psalms have a veritable plethora of birdlife to hunt after and examine. Of course we have Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 where clean and unclean birds are listed for our knowledge of what is good to eat and what to avoid. In Genesis 1:20 we can see that God created all birdlife on the 5th day. The bird most numerously noted in the Bible is the Dove and my mind immediately goes to Genesis 8:11 as well as Matthew 3:16. We are told by God to be as innocent as doves in Matthew 10:16. God used birds for meaningful and great purpose to help mankind and also for instruction and learning, both physically and spiritually -- just think of Noah, Elijah, and Abraham to start with.
For us, all scripture is given in order that we may benefit (2 Timothy 3:16). There is a particular scripture which gives me enormous pleasure and profound comfort about birds and that is found in Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble".
There are many Australian birds to learn from such as the laughing Kookaburras, the warbling Magpies, the interesting Lyrebirds, and plenty of others. In my twilight years God has blessed me with a Blackbird who is partnered and they have a young family. This blackbird has spent the last 12 months or so watching me in the garden, sometimes daring to come so close to my feet while I am busy raking up leaves. He then jumps in skillfully to pick up the prize of a tasty wriggling morsel and flies off back to base -- I imagine Blackie sharing this with his female counterpart. Yes, we have become friends, symbiotic buddies. Blackie has a little trick up his feathers -- he runs loudly along the back fence akin to a stomp while I am in my bedroom watching. He does short, sharp runs to gain my attention, then I call out his name in an excited, friendly tone of voice. To my delight he repeats this trick until I come outside and we have some time in the garden. His gift of beautiful song is so incredibly sweet and musical I never grow tired of hearing his sound. Indeed I have become quite accustomed to listening to Blackie with peaceful enjoyment while reading or studying and it is pitch perfect every time.
Over the years there have been many Shrikes, Maggies, Spoggies, Parrots, Galahs, Wrens, our beloved Willie Wagtails, Kites, Kingfishers, Lorikeets, and even what Jim calls the Señorita Bird which makes a unique noise peculiar to it, of which no other bird can claim. Imagine our pleasant surprise to discover that Jim’s Señorita bird and my Blackie are the very same bird! Here are some links to give you a sample of the types of birdsong we have come to enjoy in the land down under. Perhaps you will have a favourite -- the Kookaburra never ceases to amaze many an overseas relative or friend and particularly delights children. To have a world without birds would be a world I cannot imagine. I hope this gives you a taste for Australian birdlife and the study of which is known here as "birding" and that you have many learning opportunities along with a few chuckles. https://youtu.be/yPu32Yp_Bho https://youtu.be/bEefRX4hccg https://youtu.be/vhlE13EqjJk
https://chirb.it/NhHq7E?fbclid=IwAR3ko_jI-eY_ZnzyijLM38SX_GMYV6Mg72aE-Gka7uIv7PCGf-ZR_Ci_YQY https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/birds/featured/Top-40-Bird-Songs