Birds--lessons we can learn from them

The sun was touching the tops of the trees with golden fingers of light. There were varied species of birds flocking to the feeder this particular morning . At the end of May of this year we will have lived at this address for twelve years. For the first years we were treated by the appearance of an occasional Cardinal. Then we began to see the elusive bird every year. This year we have been graced to have at least four Cardinal couples.

Saucy Blue Jays are pushy and domineering. Although the feathers are pretty, during the cold snowy weather it's the red Cardinal males that stand out and their quiet russet colored females. The dark Juncos, with dark charcoal back and creamy white underfeathers are a stark contrast to the cold white snow. A solitary Flickenger makes his appearance--we only see one at the feeder at a time, so I believe there is only one. There are several species of finch including the Iowa state bird, the Goldfinch. This time of year they are a muted color, not the bright gold of summer. These are some of the more notable birds as well as the black capped Chickadees, a  Nuthatch, and a red bellied woodpecker.

What I found strange, and at first I was a bit disgruntled, was how the birds at the feeder--especially the Jays, would throw bird feed over their backs as they ate. When I saw this I felt like swatting them. I noticed however, that the small birds would pick up the seeds off the ground. It looked to work well since all the birds could not get on the feeder at the same time. The large birds were perched on the tray, and the small ones cleaned up off of the ground.

I enjoy watching this part of creation on a cold winter's day. The birds on the ground pop around like popcorn in a hot pan as they clean up. All of the different species come and perch in the bare-limbed crab apple tree, beside the feeder. They look like they could be posing for a picture.

What a beautiful world God created for us. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

 "Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?  And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
                                                                                                   Matthew 6:26, 27, 28, 29