In Australia, New Guinea and neighboring islands, there are eighteen known varieties of bowerbirds. Some have descriptive names such as stagemaker, spotted, satin and gardener. They range in size from the nine-inch golden bower to the fifteen-inch Archbold’s variety.
Many are very pretty with feathers of green and orange and other bright colors. The satin bower is one of these, as is the regent with its golden-yellow head, neck and wing patches contrasting with its black body. Others are plain gray or brown. All nest either in bushes or in holes of tree trunks where four or five eggs are laid. These hatch in about two weeks, and the young soon learn to find their food, including fruits, seeds, lizards, frogs, spiders, insects and even small snakes.
The outstanding feature of these birds is that the males build elaborate playhouses, called bowers, which are used only to attract a mate. The most common type is located in bushy areas. The male first finds bushes where there are two rows of bare bush stalks that run parallel for several feet, a foot or more apart. He busily covers these rows by attaching long twigs and grass, arching them to make a dome overhead. Then he cleans out the walkway underneath to provide a smooth “run.” Some build more than one room and run and connect them together.
The male then decorates the walls and coverings with shells, bright feathers, flowers, colored leaves and pretty stones. Some of these items will also be spread on the walkway underneath. The final touch is made by smashing juicy berries into pulp and then, with his beak, painting it on the bare upright stalks. Each male decorates his bower with bright objects of one color. Interestingly, the nests of bowerbirds are not decorated; they are simple structures built mostly in trees and not on the ground.
Since these unique birds do not learn how to make bowers from their parents, how do they learn to build and decorate them? The answer is that when God created bowerbirds and placed them on the earth, He gave them the instincts needed for this special trait.
Considering how obedient these birds are to these instincts, perhaps we should consider if we are obedient to God’s instructions to us. One of these tells us, “[God] now [commands] all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30-3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)). Another verse gives us this promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). Have you repented, confessed that you are a sinner, and accepted God’s wonderful salvation?
ML-11/16/2003