FCP-05-BIRDS.

BIRDS. A further marvelous piece of scientific engineering can be seen in the wing construction of all birds. Every bone, joint, sinew, and feather is specifically designed and proportioned so as to offer to the air the minimum of resistance in the forward stroke and the absolute maximum in the power stroke. Observe also how the tail is designed and used in exactly the same way as man has done with the aeroplane. Furthermore, it would be hard to find a finer example of, strength for weight, and many other features found in the large wing feather of a bird. It is doubtful whether science today could devise a more efficient material, or in any way improve the design for strength and efficiency.

How does it come about that birds the world over have feathers of the same chemical compound and agree in every detail of design and construction? Are we to suppose that the various reptiles, (which according to the evolutionist were their ancestors), held an international conference and agreed to develop on lines uniform in every detail, and so perfect that science today can offer no improvement?

Surely, to all but the willfully blind, as God’s Word says, ’The visible things of Creation reveal the invisible Creator and so man will stand before God without excuse.’ Romans 1:19-22. And what a marvelous variety of designs are found in the nests of various birds yet, every bird in any given family will follow the same design, exactly, generation after generation. The little wagtail still builds his little open cup nest of spiders webs. The swallow, his of mud, each species to its own particular design and always under cover. The weavers, their woven hanging baskets, each species again to its own design and the starling and the sparrow, brought here from their native cold climate, show no inclination to adjust their instincts to the changed climate even after over a hundred years, because they still build their massive bundle of a nest, often in the hottest of places and, true to instinct, cover it completely in and then line it with all the warmest feathers they can find, just as their parents did in the cold country from which they came!

Then, of course, there are many other inherent laws, or instincts as we call them, to which every bird in every species remains true. For example. Mode of flight. Color and shape of eggs. General habits. Call notes. Design and coloring. All these are ’laws’, unchanging and unfailing. In other words. each part of this marvelous living ’machine’ fulfills its appointed duty as they did when they were first created by the Creator. Have you ever stopped to consider what intricate laws have to be observed in the color scheme of a bird, especially those of many colors? Have you ever realized that, to produce a particular color scheme, there may have to be four to five different colors on one feather, each color must be in exactly the correct position on that particular feather and, that feather must grow in exactly the right position on the bird? Now. Multiply this by thousands and you will have some idea of the marvelous miracle which composes the clothing of one bird.

Now. With this thought in mind, take a look if you can, through a book where hundreds of these birds are illustrated in full color and note carefully.

Every species is of a different design.

Just realize, as you look at those marvelous designs and color schemes, that every feather is placed in its appointed position and that is not all, for every individual feather itself is a marvel of workmanship and the most delicate and beautiful fabric produced by the most sophisticated of machines, sinks into insignificance when compared with the feather of a bird under a powerful lens because, apart from its beauty and perfection of workmanship, it consists of a double interlocked and most intricate mesh on either side of the feather.

High speed films and video today have enabled us to observe more about birds, especially when they are in flight, and we are able to watch them more closely than ever before and just to observe a seagull in flight is a tremendous experience. Have you ever wondered how, by the movement of the wings up and down, the bird is driven forward? The secret lies in the design of the flight feathers.

If you watch carefully you will notice that one side of the central rib is much wider than the other and under the pressure of the down stroke the feathers twist at an angle and act as a propeller, driving the bird forward.

I suppose many of us have wondered how a bird can sleep clinging to a tree twig in a storm but it has been discovered that, attached to the bird’s toes, is a long tendon which runs up the leg to the thigh and, as the bird lowers its body onto the perch, the tendon automatically tightens the toes around the twig and literally locks the bird to its perch.

Birds have a wonderful respiratory system also, far superior to animals and their lungs absorb oxygen while exhaling as well as when inhaling.

It has the richest blood of any creature and its bones are specially designed for extreme strength and lightness making the bird, with all its other numerous features, a perfect flying machine. Their migratory achievements are almost unbelievable! The Arctic Tern makes an annual round-trip of 22,000 miles and many of the birds, after these flights, return to rest in the same trees they departed from. The Golden Plover travels 3,000 miles over the ocean without a stop, losing only a few ounces of body fat, a million times more efficiently than the best aircraft. The tiny Blackpoll Warbler nests in Canada and then wings its way to Brazil, 4,000 miles away.

’And the fool says in his heart. There is no God.’ Psalms 14:1.

Surely all, who will but stop and think over these marvelous things around us, must acknowledge a Supreme Master Mind. A Creator and, having realized this is so, be encouraged to seek and find Him for they will. it is a promise.

Hebrews 11:6. ’He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.’