“Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone; 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).
Ptarmigans (pronounced tar-mi-gans) are about the size of hawks. Males and females stay together for life, making their year-round homes in northern Canada and Alaska. Their name means “feet like a rabbit,” because thick, soft, warm feathers cover their legs right out to the claws.
In spring they build their nests on the ground. The female lays six or more eggs, which both birds take turns incubating. Foxes, weasels, hawks and other carnivorous birds are a threat at such a time, and both parents are very protective of the chicks.
While the female is tending the chicks, the male often conceals himself on a nearby rock or branch of a tree. When an enemy approaches he will either attack it or draw it away so it will attack him instead of his family. Sometimes the male loses his life protecting his family. And if the female should be killed while the chicks are still in her care, the male will sometimes take over and raise them by himself.
An amazing thing about these birds is the pure-white color of all their feathers in winter, making them almost invisible against the deep snow of their homeland and preserving them from hungry enemies. In the fierce cold they could not survive without these thick layers of warm feathers. If overtaken by a fierce snowstorm before they can get back to the nest, they will sometimes burrow into a snowbank for protection. They come out later, none the worse for the experience.
As spring begins and the snow melts, large rocks, patches of bare soil, and dark clumps of vegetation appear. Ordinarily, an all-white bird walking across such a place would be immediately visible to a hungry fox or hawk. However, just as these changes take place, the color of the bird’s feathers also changes, turning into a combination of dark and white, helping to assure its safety.
Another complete change of color is timed with the final melting of the snow. This is when its feathers turn a soft yellow, blending with the brush and grass. But that’s only part of the story, for as the fall season approaches there is one more color change to a combination of gray and brown, which remains until winter when it becomes all white again.
Do you think the ptarmigans plan these color changes? No, they couldn’t. Everything about them displays the wonders of the Creator’s care for them. But He has an even more special care for every boy and girl, man and woman. Here is what He tells us in a Bible verse: “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:33The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3).
Have you thanked Him for that kindness and accepted Him as your Saviour? The Bible warns us, “To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:1515While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:15). Will you to come to Him this very day?
ML-08/16/1992