Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
The United States has few endemic bird species, in part due to the fact that birds have wings and can relatively easily cross borders. But the Brown-headed Nuthatch is one that has elected to stay within this single country. It and the Pygmy Nuthatch, with which it shares a close resemblance, are the smallest members of the nuthatch family in the world. They move among the Southeastern pine forests in small groups, calling back and forth in their soft, squeaky voices. John James Audubon, who was always desirous of collecting new specimens, described their behavior as moving “…with a quickness of motion so much greater than that of most other birds as to render it extremely difficult to shoot at.”
Conservationists are concerned because over the past 35 years their population has declined by two percent per year. However, the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker lives in the same habitat and much effort has been put forth to protect this environment, so the nuthatches may benefit from this effort as well.
Paul recognized that we humans can also benefit from shared efforts. He writes about this in Romans 1:11-12. “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” (NIV) And that’s why Christians are encouraged to meet together, rather than isolate themselves on the tops of lofty mountain peaks for extended periods of time.