The Wonders of God’s Creation
There are six species of flamingos, the most beautiful and outstanding bird throughout the world. Three species are in the Andes mountains of Peru, Chile and Bolivia and the Galapagos islands west of South America. The others are in Central America, Mexico, parts of Africa and the Bahama islands. Because plume hunters killed so many, they no longer live wild in the southern United States.
It is a memorable sight to see a flock in flight, with colors ranging from pale pink to deep scarlet, or a combination of the two, with some white accents as well.
One species known as the greater flamingo is the largest and most numerous. It is as much as six feet tall with a wingspan of five or six feet and can fly 35 miles an hour. Another species, called the lesser flamingo, is the smallest.
Each flamingo (regardless of species) has a long, graceful, snake-like neck and heavy body held high on long legs with webbed feet. During resting periods it stands on just one leg, with the other lifted up and bent, having its head snugly tucked under a wing. Its box-like beak is distinct from that of any other bird: the lower part is like a scoop and the upper part forms a lid.
When feeding, its bill is thrust upside down with scoop open into the ooze at the bottom of a marsh, and its flexible neck swivels this around in circles to collect food of various kinds. Then it lifts its head out of the water, pressing the two bill parts tightly together to squeeze mud and water through the sieve-like center edges of the beak. The food that remains (algae, small shellfish and other animals) is passed into its throat by its long, thick, oily tongue.
In one of the Bahama islands, a colony of a species known as the Caribbean, consisting of over a thousand beautiful orange-red birds, is protected by the government. Many tourists go to see them, and some have been trained to march in perfect order, like prancing horses, and perform other tricks for the visitors.
During nesting season most of the South American group, as well as those in Central America and Mexico, are exceptionally beautiful, with brilliant red plumage over their entire bodies, except for their beaks which are a combination of light pink, white and jet black.
While the opening verse assures us of God’s watchful eye over these birds, they, of course, are not aware of their Creator nor of His care. But He has given us His Word, the Bible, to tell us this is so, and more importantly to tell us of His more special loving thoughts toward us. It is a very rewarding Book to read. Do you read it every day?
(to be continued)
ML-12/11/1988