Two Green Herons perched on fence posts are watching the drying grasses of the vernal pool. A tiny toad struggled across the sidewalk at my feet, giving me an idea of what the herons might be watch for. This one got away!
My feeding station seemed deserted, but I heard a noisy House Finch jabbering away. Every now and then a small flock of about ten of them would take over the station, then take off in a flash. The bold little White-breasted Nuthatch darts in and out as it snatches one seed. A Mourning Dove has parked on the platform, looking up and around with each peck for seed.
Not much activity today. Why should it matter what birds I see today ? I still keep the daily list I have kept for years. Will it make any difference in my life or anyone else’s? Certainly I can find something more entertaining to do with my time, if that’s what I seek. Something more profitable and beneficial.
Why does God watch the sparrow, or any of His creation? He does far more than just watch. He provides for ravens (Luke 12:24) We’re told in Acts 17:28: “In him we live and move and have our being…” He upholds and sustains every creature, every plant, every atom…and the mind boggling list goes on and on.
Watching birds is for more than just entertainment or recreation. It is education, observing a segment of the ecology of this earth for a brief time, then fitting this observation together the puzzle pieces of other observations to create a mural that helps us appreciate our earth and how it works. In this observation of creation, are we not honoring and worshiping the Creator?
A few months ago, as I sat behind the library bird watching, a student approached me to ask a question. Afterward he apologized for interrupting my “quiet time.” I assured him this wan’t my bible reading/prayer time, just my bird time.
Thinking back on that, I realize this student had made an astute observation that I didn’t recognize until now. Indeed, bird watching can be a very personal worship time with the Lord as we give Him the glory for His wondrous creation.