Among the most unusual birds’ nests are those of several species of sea birds in the high, rocky cliffs of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. One species will choose a section of the cliff, from the top to the bottom, for its nests. Other species will choose their own section on the same cliff, but the species do not mix. So one section might have nests of petrels, next to it seagulls, then puffins, or sometimes gannets, guillemots and murres. This separation of nests is a wise provision of the Creator, for it keeps the various species from fighting with one another. However, in daylight hours there is always a terrible racket from such a collection of birds.
Openings between the levels of the cliff may be several inches high and not very deep in some places, but several feet deep in other places. Eggs are laid in these openings, often on the bare rock but sometimes in nests made of mud and grass. The eggs of most of these birds are pear-shaped instead of round or oval. Can you guess why? I’ll tell you: If a pear-shaped egg is knocked out of the “nest,” it will not roll over the edge. Instead, it will roll in a tight circle and stop. The mother bird can then fetch it back to where it belongs. Isn’t that a wonderful provision of the Creator?
These birds get almost all their food from salt water. It is most interesting to watch one make a swift dive through the air and right into the water and then come up with a fish in its beak. The fish is often carried back to the baby birds crouched in their rocky home.
When there are hundreds and sometimes thousands of nests so close together, how does each bird find its own nest when returning from a fishing trip? Or how do the young birds dare to jump from those high cliffs and use their wings the very first time? Answers to these questions can only come from our Master Designer and His ability to provide so wonderfully for all that He has created.
The opening Bible verse refers to the Lord Jesus who left the riches of heaven to become a man on earth. He showed kindness to needy people, but He was so poor Himself that He did not even have a bed of His own. At the end of more than thirty-three years, He allowed wicked men to nail Him to Calvary’s cross where He bore the sins of all who will confess they are needy sinners and accept Him as their Saviour. Have you done this?
ML-04/25/2004