Here’s an interesting video of a friendly crow in Denmark who has befriended a youngster. Trust you will enjoy watching the interactions between them. “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.” (James 3:7 NKJV) I believe this is a Hooded Crow. Hooded Crow. Warren Photographic The Hooded Crow, also called the scald-crow or hoodie, is a Eurasian bird species in the genus Corvus. Widely distributed, it is found across Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as parts of the Middle East. It is an ashy grey bird wit ..read more

DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE! Dr. James J. S. Johnson And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. (Genesis 1:22) Winter is a welcome season for many birdwatchers, especially those of us who live south enough to see wintering migrants, such as the “winter Texans” who congregate in the Lone Star State where I currently reside.  SNOW GEESE as “winter Texans” (Moreno/Hagerman NWR photo credit) Of course, some regions see southbound flocks, in transient stop-over mode, as pass-through migrants who refuel and res ..read more

Bird Nests, illustrating God’s Providence Dr. James J. S. Johnson There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow. (Isaiah 34:15a)  BALTIMORE ORIOLE upon its nest Sharon Friends of Conservation photo credit NEST — this simple word “nest” represents an enormously important context for a bird’s early life, and for bird parents, so bird nests are critically important for the life of entire bird families. A baby bird’s beginning is experienced inside a nest.  From embryonic egg to hatchling, from hatchling to fledgling, a baby bird’s life ad ..read more

Hallelujah! — A Beautiful Scissortail! Dr. James J. S. Johnson He [i.e., God] hath made every thing beautiful in His time; also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER Ken Slade / BirdNote.org photo credit It was a welcome sight to see a beautiful Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, last week, when my wife and I were returning home, in our van, near the Elm Fork of Texas’s Trinity River. The scissortail was perched upon a utility line, paralleling the roadside, near the edge of ..read more

Loggerhead or Northern Shrike on Bench While looking back through our visitors this winter, I remembered the one bird who would appear to be ready for today, Halloween. Not that we celebrate it much, other than giving out candy to the kiddos in the neighborhood. When Dan and I spotted this bird the first winter, I thought it was a Loggerhead Shrike. They, sometime two of them, usually land on a post out in the yard, but this time I caught him right outside the door on the bench arm. Loggerhead or Northern Shrike on hook – by Lee Closeup Today, while writing this post, and going to the All ..read more

Back yard this morning – 10/30/23 Since we haven’t been “birdwatching” in months, that does mean that we don’t “bird watch.” Every morning the local ducks visit to see if they can quack us out of something for their bellies. Usually they win. We buy scratch grain that they seem to enjoy. The photo above was taken right after I came in from filling their feeders. Later the other will drop in along with the winter Grackle gang that has arrive. This photo is looking out across to where the Eagle, and lately it’s mate have perched off and on through the day. I remember trapsing through the wood ..read more

Doves Rest in their Nest Dr. James J. S. Johnson MOURNING DOVES in nest (Photo credit: DFWurbanWildlife.com) And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalm 55:6) Doves are known for their fluttering flight (Psalm 55:6a), and their peaceful disposition (Matthew 10:16); yet they are also known for resting upon their nests (Psalm 55:6b & Jeremiah 48:28). As recently noted (see my previous Leesbird.com blogpost, “Bird Nests are Important — the Bible Says So”, posted https://leesbird.com/2023/09/15/bird-nests-are-important-the-bible-says-so ..read more

Dr. James J. S. Johnson BIRD NESTS ARE IMPORTANT: THE BIBLE SAYS SO And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  (Luke 9:58) Hungry nestlings! (WhirlyBird photo credit) NEST – this simple word “nest” represents an enormously important part of a bird’s life.   Do you recall the first times you ever saw a bird nest, close up? Did you realize, then, that the nest was “home” to the birds who resided therein? A baby bird’s beginning is experienced inside a nest.  From embryonic egg to hatchling, from ..read more

Cormorants are Great; Great Cormorants are Really Great! Dr. James J. S. Johnson “But the cormorant [shalak] and the bittern shall possess it [i.e., the land of Idumea, a/k/a Edom]; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it; and He [i.e., the LORD, in judgment] shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.“ Isaiah 34:11 GREAT CORMORANTS in flight (Minnesota) photo credit: Bryce Gaudian In some contexts, CORMORANTS are not deemed as indicators of blessing — as in Isaiah 34;11, where it is prophetically mentioned as an indicator that the land of Edom is catast ..read more

American Woodcock through door 12-3-19 by Lee I would like to apologize for my lack of posting any articles since back in February of this year. (More explanation later.) What I am really thankful for is Dr. James J.S. Johnson, Dr. Jim, as Dan and I affectionately call him. THANK YOU, DR. JIM! Also a Hugh THANK YOU to all of you who have continued to stop by this blog. Many of you have read and commented of his articles and other previously published posts. Black-bellied Whistling Ducks feeding in yard. Back in February, a number of health problems began, and it seemed like about the time ..read more