The Wonders of God’s Creation
Grouse of every kind at least once a year put on one of the most amazing shows of any wild creature, and those who have witnessed it describe it as follows: When male birds are looking for mates, they invite female birds (hens) to come and look them over. Usually the first invitation takes place before sunrise. A male stands on a stump or log where, with tail spread wide and claws dug into the wood, he gets down to the business of “drumming.” He makes this loud noise by beating his wings vigorously while his body feathers are puffed out and his tail feathers are spread wide in a big arc.
The woods echo with this thunderous noise, repeated time after time. Soon other males come to investigate and join in the “drumming.” It is not long before the hens show up, too, no doubt admiring these glamorous males for their grand display of feathers, the drumming of their wings, and stamping of their feet.
The next step calls for males to get into a lively dance, some circling to the right and some to the left, while others just run around in any direction. As the dance gets livelier the frenzied birds start leaping into the air, bodies and feathers puffed out, and occasionally jumping clear over one another.
The hens, excited by this grand show, get into the act as well, leaping into the air with the males, then lowering their heads and stretching their wings to the ground. They all make quite a display, stamping their feet, rattling tail feathers, running and jumping, reminding an onlooker of an exaggerated war dance.
One by one, the males eventually leave the dance arena, bowing gracefully to a female which interests him. When the show is over and choices of mates have been made, these otherwise-normal birds begin building nests to raise families.
In the world of wildlife, there are many ways in which a male and female are attracted to one another, but perhaps this extraordinary performance of grouse outdoes them all. Actually it is another reminder of the pleasure God the Creator had in making a world with so many interesting things in it. His voice in the opening Bible verse is a message that we should be glad to observe when we see how wondrous His ways are.
Have you heard His voice inviting you to come to Him and know Him as your Saviour? That invitation is given many times in the Bible. One invitation says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
ML-06/04/1989