Vireo is the name of a family of small birds of the Americas. They are charming birds, four to seven inches long with short, strong legs, medium-length tails, short necks and a variety of wing sizes. Their coloring is not bright, but soft and subdued. Color combinations include olive, greenish or gray upper parts, with white, light gray or yellow and sometimes a touch of light red or blue on their underparts.
A large number of species make their homes in North, Central and South America, migrating back and forth in spring and fall. Often they form colonies, and the air is filled with their pleasant chirpings, songs and whistles. They are helpful to farmers, eating great numbers of caterpillars, flies and other harmful insects, picked off bushes or trees or caught in mid-air. They are also fond of berries and fruit found in the wild.
Building cup-like nests is a big occupation. Before the male has a mate, he picks a suitable spot and begins building the nest. He ties long fiber strands to the forked branches of a tree or shrub. These strands hang down in big loops to support the actual nest, which is made of grasses, fibers and spider webs. The nest is often lined with soft bark, and the bottom inside is lined with soft cottonwood seeds.
By the time he has the framework underway, he has attracted a female bird that adds the finishing touches. She lays three or four white eggs marked with a few dark specks near the large end. Incubating these takes about two weeks. When the little ones hatch, the real work begins, as both parents spend most of their wakeful time bringing them food. When the little birds are ready to fly, the father bird takes over, flying ahead a short distance and calling them to join him. Soon they are on their own.
But something strange has been going on while the mother bird has been incubating the eggs. The father gets busy building another nest nearby, and when the little ones are on their own, the parents move into the new nest where another brood will be raised.
Isn’t it nice to know that the Creator is always watching over these little birds, as the opening Bible verse tells us? And even nicer is knowing that He is always watching over us and loves us in a way the birds could never understand. If you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, it gives Him great joy to know that soon you and all who trust Him will be together in His heavenly home. Is He your Saviour? You can be sure by following this Bible verse: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
(to be continued)
ML-07/22/2007