When we look at the great variety of birds the Creator has placed on the earth, it is not difficult to understand the above Bible verse and see that He had real pleasure in creating them.
There are many millions of sandpipers in many varieties throughout the world. They are found mostly in North America and Europe but some live in other countries also. The one most often seen in Europe is known as the common sandpiper, and the two most common ones in North America are the spotted and the western. Some of them are given nicknames such as “stilts,” “shanks” and “peeps,” because of their special habits.
Most sandpipers migrate, spending fall and winter in warm southern areas and flying thousands of miles to northern Canada, the Yukon and Alaska in spring. As an example, over six million of the western species leave South America in May for northern places where they nest, raise their young and find abundant food provided by a kind Creator.
Some of these fly along the Pacific coast, others across Midwestern states, but the greatest number prefer the Atlantic coast. Whichever route is taken, many stops are made along the way for eating and resting. They fly in great masses, but not in formation like geese and ducks.
Sandpipers find much of their food in water or on sandy shores, eating mostly at night. Food includes many kinds of small sea life, such as clams, mussels, a small fish now and then, and many insects caught while flying over the seashore. Large groups often stand perfectly still on the sand, heads pointed into the wind, and many, if not all, stand with one leg tucked up under their feathers. They are also interesting to watch as they run rapidly in a group, feet in shallow water, some stopping now and then to poke their beaks into the sand or water to snatch a tasty bit of food.
Sandpipers usually nest on the ground, scraping out a shallow round spot and lining it with grass. Two or four eggs are laid, with both parents taking turns incubating them. By late fall, parents and young are ready to make the trip south to their winter homes.
In the following issue we will look at a few of the interesting varieties in more detail. Meanwhile, if you are near a sandy lakeshore or ocean beach, keep your eyes open and you may see some.
We have already mentioned the Creator’s pleasure in placing these birds on the earth. Another Bible verse tells of His watchful care over them: “Thou hast made . . . the earth, and all things that are therein . . . and Thou preservest them all” (Nehemiah 9:66Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. (Nehemiah 9:6)). Have you thanked Him for His watchful care over you?
(to be continued)
ML-11/13/2005