TODAY THE WORDS are WHEN THE BIRDS STOP SINGING. In these perilous times of murders, natural tragedies, and conflict on every corner; it seems necessary to stop and listen for the birds singing and chirping to escape from all of the frightening events. We are given warnings in life. One of the natural warnings is silence and if we cannot hear the birds singing, it means they have hidden themselves from dangers lurking. Please read the excerpt from this article about the Calm before the storm and then we will discuss how it applies to our current world environment.
Is there really a “calm before the storm”? by Jessika Toothman (excerpt from her article)
Have you ever spent an afternoon in the backyard, maybe grilling or enjoying a game of croquet, when suddenly you notice that everything goes quiet? The air seems still and calm — even the birds stop singing and quickly return to their nests.
After a few minutes, you feel a change in the air, and suddenly a line of clouds ominously appears on the horizon — clouds with a look that tells you they aren’t fooling around. You quickly dash in the house and narrowly miss the first fat raindrops that fall right before the downpour. At this moment, you might stop and ask yourself, “Why was it so calm and peaceful right before the storm hit?”
Let’s see how birds sing:
I found an article from Cornell.ab
(Topic: Songs + Calls)
Date: August 12, 2014
Authors: Mya Thompson and Annalyse Moskeland
Illustrations: Andrew Leach
Recommended citation: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2014. Bird Song. All About Bird Biology . Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. .
Songbirds learn their songs and perform them using a specialized voice box called a syrinx
syrinx:
SEE-rinks
the bird voice box, located at the branch point between the trachea and bronchi and containing vibrating tissues called labia, in songbirds capable of making two sounds at once via independent muscle control
. Vocally, they’re in a league of their own. These adaptations have been remarkably successful—songbirds
songbird:
a species from the oscine (ah-SEEN) group of passerine (PASS-er-een) birds, songbirds (including sparrows, thrushes, and warblers) have a specialized voice box called a syrinx that can produce complex sounds, songbirds must learn their songs rather than developing them instinctively
make up almost half of the world’s 10,000 bird species including warblers, thrushes, and sparrows. The vast majority of non-songbird species make simpler sounds that are instinctual rather than learned.
Now, that we know how they sing; what causes them to stop singing:
For a bird, singing can be draining. It is both energetically expensive and alerts predators. So then why do birds sing? Evidence suggests that in part, it is to proclaim and defend their territories
territories:
in birds, the areas defended by males, pairs, or families as dedicated nesting sites and/or foraging areas
. Studies have also shown that songs play a crucial role in attracting and impressing potential mates and may signal the overall health of the singer. As in humans, singing in birds is often a chance to show off.
A deeper thought……..All of us want to be happy enough to sing or hum along. Happiness is a gift and must be cherished, but as the bird sings not only for enticing other birds, it will sing to protect and defend. Let us use our voices in the same way, wisely and with the correct notes and not just to be a loud noise. Let us be wise with our thoughts and words. Too many people are “chirping” just to be the loudest bird in the room. Live life; Love life; Live Life to the fullest by singing a song of love and peace throughout the land.
DAILY FEATURED BIBLE VERSE:
Psalm 104:12 ESV
Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.
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