“And God created... every winged fowl after his kind... and God blessed them, saying... let fowl multiply in the earth.” Genesis 1:21,2221And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. (Genesis 1:21‑22).
Pronounce this New Zealand bird’s name “caw-caw-po.” They are heavy birds, weighing up to six pounds. They cannot fly, and they nest in holes dug in the ground. They feed mostly on seeds of plants. They are related to parrots, and because they do most of their feeding at night, they are also called the owl parrot.
Their enemies include dogs, rats, cats and other animals, as well as hunters who not only like their pretty olive-colored feathers, but consider them a nice addition to the dinner table.
Their calls are unusual. Wanting to attract another kakapo, a male fills his breast with air and, after a bob or two of his head, lets out a loud booming call like someone blowing a blast of air across the top of a large bottle.
It is sad to note that there are not many kakapos left. Years ago well-meaning people imported some new animals that promptly found the kakapos very tasty and have continued to kill them ever since. As a result, when a male bird tries to attract a female with his booming call, there are seldom any answers. Because of increasing scarcity, few nests now have eggs in them or little ones to take over when the older ones will all be gone.
Strangely, although this unusual bird has fairly large wings, it only uses them in the utmost emergency. Explorers visiting their area reported that walking through a forest they suddenly saw a big kakapo perched high in a tree. Trying to get close to it, it spotted them, and instead of flying away as other birds would do, it dropped to the ground, never once opening its wings to break the fall, and then scooted off through the brush on foot.
It is interesting that since these birds don’t use their wings, the only way they can get up a tree is to claw their way up the trunk, using their strong toes and beaks to get from branch to branch.
The Creator included these beautiful birds in the vast number of other kinds and instructed, “Let fowl multiply in the earth.” He not only created them, but provided ample food and nesting places for them as well.
With most bird species we can see how they have multiplied in abundance over the centuries. But because of man’s carelessness, some, like this lovely bird, seem destined to completely disappear before long. Let’s always do what we can to protect birds and other creatures that were put on the earth so long ago and that the Creator looks upon with pleasure. The Bible really tells us to do this in Isaiah 65:1818But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. (Isaiah 65:18): “But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create.”
ML-10/25/1992