Among the many strange birds in Australia are those called incubator or thermometer birds. Incubator birds do not hatch their eggs by sitting on them, as most birds do. They use a very different method of incubation, from which they get their name. We will look at one called the Maleefowl.
These birds have very strong legs and feet. To build their nest, the male first digs a hole about 3 feet deep and 10 feet wide. Then he collects plant material and fills the hole. He is very careful about what he puts on this mound, as the mound is a nest that will incubate the eggs the female will soon lay in it. He picks just the right material that will decompose correctly to keep the temperature in the nest just right for the developing eggs. Once he has the nest at the perfect temperature, the female begins laying eggs. She will lay an egg every week or two for about six months, until she has laid up to 30 eggs.
Then the male continues to care for the nest, checking the temperature with his tongue and bill, keeping it at a temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. He may add sand to protect the eggs from the sun if they’re too hot, or he may uncover the eggs to let the sun warm them up if they’re too cool. After months of hard work, the chicks hatch. They take up to 15 hours to fight their way out of the nest. Unlike many birds, they are completely ready to begin life on their own and get no further help from their parents.
How do these birds know how to build their nests, with no training from parents? What makes the newly hatched chicks know how to leave the nest? And how can the chicks take care of themselves without parents to teach them how? The only answer is that God made them with this knowledge.
We can see that it pleased the Lord to make a great deal of variety in His creation. Not all birds, animals, fish or other creatures follow the same way of life. Malleefowls with their unusual nests are one of the things He created for His pleasure (or purpose), as our opening verse says.
Have you ever thought that the Lord also made you for a purpose? People have the most wonderful purpose in all of God’s creation. We were made to glorify God. However, just like in the animal world, not all people are given the same work to do in life, but each of us has been made to reflect God’s image in some special way. I hope you think about that, and ask Him to show you His will for your life and how He wants you to use the special gifts He created you with.
Did You Know?
After hatching and escaping from their nest, maleefowl chicks are completely ready to begin life on their own with no further help.
Messages of God’s Love 6/29/2025