The Wonders of God’s Creation
Among the many strange birds in Australia and nearby areas are those called “Incubator,” or “Thermometer” birds. They have very strong legs and feet.
The Incubator birds do not hatch their eggs by sitting on them, as most birds do. They depend on a very different method of incubation (from which they get their name). Several pairs of males and females working together make a mound of dirt, mixed with leaves, moist vegetation and most anything that is handy.
Walking with their backs toward the spot where the mound is to be, the birds move around it in ever-widening circles, using their strong legs to kick everything they find into a central pile. As the pile gets bigger their circles become wider and wider, until there is a hill as high as fifteen feet and perhaps thirty feet wide. Just think how hard they have to kick to get dirt, leaves, and everything else up on top of that pile!
Next, each pair picks a suitable spot in the mound and makes a tunnel in it, scooping out a crude “nest” at the end, where the eggs are laid. Then the pair walk away and forget all about the eggs. How are they ever going to hatch inside that big pile? As the leaves and other vegetation rot they give off heat, and helped by the warmth of the sun, the eggs soon hatch and the baby birds come out into daylight to start life “on their own.”
Why do these birds do such unusual things? Who told them to work together with others to make such huge nests? What makes the little ones leave the tunnels, and how can they take care of themselves when outside? None of these are things they could teach themselves or learn from experience. We can easily see that it pleased the Creator to make a great deal of variety in His creation. Not all birds, animals, fish, or other creatures follow the same manner of life. These birds are an example of this, displaying one of His delights in the days of creation. Now He keeps them in the same pattern of life as when He first placed them on the earth. “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven (the atmosphere), and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” Psalms 135:66Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. (Psalm 135:6).
We hope everyone reading this will find Him and learn of His wonderful love. “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” Proverbs 8:1717I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17).
ML-01/18/1981