Last week we learned about the God-given ability of bowerbirds to build dome-shaped playhouses, called bowers. Other types of bowers are also made by other species of bowerbirds. The golden finds a dead stalk out in the open that is six or seven feet high. He adds twigs and sticks that he has decorated with colored objects to the sides of the stalk. He may add shorter towers close by, carefully clearing the ground around all of them.
The MacGregor also makes his bower around an upright stick, but his is more elaborate. He adds a patio at the base, enclosed by a circle of pebbles in which he displays additional bright items. Another species, the gardener, builds a cone-shaped playhouse with a moss-covered court where he places flowers and fruits. He replaces these daily.
The golden crested uses a tree fern with its umbrella top. He interlaces sticks several feet high around this fern, forming a fence. Attractive objects are attached all around, and a patio is included. He usually places three neat mounds of fruit on the patio, with each mound a different color.
Why do the bowerbirds build these strange playhouses? For one purpose only - each wants to show his work of art to a female bird, hoping she will be attracted to it and accept him as her mate. Having completed his project, he flies to a nearby branch and pours forth song after song, hoping a curious female will come to investigate. When one shows up, he becomes greatly excited, flies to the ground, perhaps picking up a berry and offering it to her. Then to attract her to his bower, he struts proudly through the run or around the patio with his wings outstretched, showing off his bright colors. Outside the run he hops around and sometimes jumps over his bower to impress her. But if she isn’t interested, she flies away, and he returns to the tree branch to invite another female. Strangely, when the male has finally attracted a mate, they abandon the playhouse and build a simple nest elsewhere to raise their family.
How great a variety of birds God gave us! Each one displays His wonderful creation. Revelation 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) tells us why He created so many wonderful and interesting things: “Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” As we view any part of His creation, it is plain that it is only God who could produce these many wonders. At His word all were instantly created and given the ability to “bring forth after its kind.”
ML-11/23/2003