Seasonal migrations are usual with many animals, fish, butterflies and other creatures, but none can match the wonderful migrations of billions of birds taking place all over the world twice a year—fall and spring.
It is an unforgettable experience to observe a little part of this when, in the countryside as the sun is about to set, the honking of a flock of geese overhead is heard and looking up, they are seen circling lower and lower, following the leader of their V-formation, until they drop down on a pond or swamp nearby. There they may remain just overnight, or perhaps for several days, resting and feeding before continuing their long trip from Alaska, the Yukon, or Canada's Maritime provinces. They are headed to the warmth of the southern United States or on into Mexico or even farther, where they will stay through the winter months before returning to the north the following spring.
Many millions of ducks, swans and other waterfowl make these trips over North America's flyways, and millions of other birds fly even farther than these twice yearly. It is understandable that many questions are asked. Why do they do this? How do they know where to go? Where do they get strength for such flights? How do they find their way?
Bird watchers and trained researchers take such questions seriously and have spent years of research and much money and effort, trying to find the answers. Although they still confess they understand very little concerning some of the things involved in such massive migrations, they have discovered things that are of interest, and we will borrow from what they have learned to bring some of their findings to our readers in this and following articles.
But when all is said and done, there is only One who truly knows all about them, and that is their Creator. He is the Lord God, the same Creator of the heavens and earth and all things contained therein, as the Bible tells us, “Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; Thou hast made ... the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is 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)).
It is claimed there are about 100 billion birds in the world, and while many make their homes in warm climates and do not migrate, a vast number do. For instance, in America alone there are an estimated 10 billion birds that fly to and from other countries. Additional billions in Europe and Asia, never seen in American countries, make their flights to other places, as well. We will consider some of these in the following issues.
(to be continued)
ML-10/12/2008