The water ouzel, or American Dipper, is an interesting bird about the size of a robin, with brownish-gray feathers and a tiny stripe of white feathers on each eyelid. It lives in the western parts of North and Central America. Anywhere there is clean, rushing water and enough food, it can live in either deserts or cold mountains. It is only found where there is pure water, and it almost never leaves the area close to whatever water it lives by.
It is a cheerful bird, with a very loud song. Its song has to be loud for other birds to be able to hear it over the roar of the water.
The Dipper spends a lot of time finding food, which comes largely from the bottom of the stream. This food might be found in shallow water where it can wade, but often it will be in deeper water.
The Dipper hunts for food in deeper streams by diving in and then walking along the bottom of the stream with its body completely covered by water. Gripping the rocks on the bottom with its strong feet and working its short, strong wings like oars, it can walk and hunt for food underwater. It has no problem walking through strong currents, even currents a person wouldn’t be able to walk through.
There are several things that help it do this besides its strong feet and wings. For one thing, the Lord has given it solid bones, instead of hollow ones like many birds have, which make it less buoyant. He has also given it a flap on its nostrils that keeps it from breathing in water. An extra eyelid protects its eyes when it is underwater. He has also given its blood extra hemoglobin, so it can store up oxygen for its underwater dives.
The Dipper eats all kinds of water bugs and larvae. Two larvae it especially likes are mayfly and mosquito larvae. It also eats some flying insects, worms, fish eggs, tadpoles and crayfish.
Finished with underwater food gathering, it will suddenly pop out of the water, fly to the edge of the stream, and bow and curtsy, bobbing up and down. This is where it gets the name of Dipper bird.
This bird thrives by staying near pure water. In the Bible, water often refers to the Word of God. We can learn a good lesson from the Dipper bird. The Bible tells us that “the Word of God ... effectually [works] ... in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:1313For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)). Just as God made the Dipper bird to find its needs met in and near the water, so we Christians find our food, strength and joy as we get to know God our Father and the Lord Jesus by reading the Bible every day.
Did You Know?
Dippers hunt for food in streams by walking underwater along the bottom of streams.
Messages of God’s Love 4/7/2024