The hornbill’s head with its big bill and helmet (which we talked about last week) looks far too heavy to be held upright. But actually, it is quite light since the bill and helmet have very lightweight bones. The bill is covered with a thin sheath, and the inside is filled with air cells.
In addition to its unusual head structure, the hornbill also has a strange way of building its nest. The female finds a hole in a hollow tree trunk. She stuffs the hole with sticks and other jungle items, filling it up until its depth is just right. Then she makes a nest, lining it with feathers, which she plucks from herself. She and her mate plaster mud around the hole until it is just large enough for her to climb through. After she climbs inside, they continue plastering the hole until only a slit remains which is large enough for her bill to get through.
Remaining in her cozy “house,” the female lays several eggs and incubates them. Her mate faithfully brings food to her, placing it into her bill, which she sticks out through the slit. When the chicks hatch, the mother stays with them for several weeks. The father continues feeding all of them until the nest is too crowded. Meanwhile, new feathers have grown back on the mother. She and her mate peck at the hardened mud plaster until the hole is large enough for her to climb out. However, the chicks are not yet ready to come out, so the hole is closed up again for a few more weeks, leaving a slit for the parents to feed them. The young birds eventually break out and fly away.
The building of the nest reminds us of the words of Jesus when He was here on earth: “The birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” (Matthew 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20)). How good of the Lord of all creation to provide homes for the birds and other creatures, while He Himself did not have a place to lay His head!
The hornbills provide everything for the care of their young. It is good to think of God’s care and kindness to us too. “The living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein ... did good ... filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:15-1715And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15‑17)).
Have you ever thanked Him for all the good things you enjoy? Have you accepted that most wonderful of all gifts, His beloved Son as your Saviour? It was the Lord Jesus Christ “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)). If you have not done this, won’t you accept Him as your own Saviour now?
ML-12/25/2011