The black skimmer is one of the world’s most unusual birds. There are five species, and the one called “black” lives on several shorelines in the southern and eastern United States. About eighteen inches long, they have wide, long wings. They are black on top and are quite striking with a white face, neck, breast and underside and red legs, as well as a red bill with a black tip.
A person might think something is wrong with the bill, since the lower part is an inch or more longer than the upper part. However, their sides match perfectly and are as sharp as a pair of scissors, sometimes causing them to be called scissor bills.
Skimmers live almost entirely on fish or other small marine life which are often just below the surface of the water. At times a skimmer may be alone, but more often several fly together, skimming above the water’s surface. They hold their bills open, keeping the lower half just under the surface to scoop up insects, small fish and shrimp.
If a fish is a good size, the skimmer may hold it in the closed bill and carry it to its nest. But if there are no young birds to feed, it will probably cut the fish into small pieces with its sharp bill or may just swallow it whole.
It’s amazing how many little fish are close to the surface, that would probably never be seen by a person in a boat, and are almost always present in bay areas or even in open waters. The skimmers are given instincts by the Creator to know they are there. However, in stormy weather and high waves, they can’t undertake these fishing trips.
Other birds floating on the water will often catch a glimpse of a small fish nearby and grab it with their sharp bills, but no other bird can match the way a skimmer catches fish.
The opening Bible verse expresses how God, the Creator, takes care of all things He has placed on the earth, and the delightful skimmers are just one more example of this.
Another verse in the same chapter tells of His special care of boys and girls, men and women. “The Lord is nigh [near] unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:1818The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)).
Have you ever called on Him, confessing that you are a sinner and accepting Him as your Saviour? He loves you and wants you to come just as you are. He will make you one of His children if you do as the verse says: “Call upon Him in truth.”
ML-10/07/2007