Photo and Commentary ©2022 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
With a name like Bare-throated Tiger-Heron you might not be exactly sure what to expect. But just like most others in the family it feeds on fish, frogs, crabs, and whatever else might swim, fly, or walk past the edge of the bank where it has been patiently waiting. Although one sighting of this species has been made in the United States, its general residence is far to the south, reaching from southern Mexico to Colombia. Shaped more like a night-heron than the traditionally long-legged members of the family, this cryptically-colored heron does most of its hunting in the early morning or late evening as well as into the night. Their name comes from their feathering which creates the real or imagined stripes on the body and the fact that during nesting season the bare patches on the throat may become bright yellow to orange.
There are certain unrelated kinds of birds that have specialized feathers called powder down, or pulviplumes, which other birds do not have. Included in that list would be herons, tinamous, and parrots. In some of these birds the tips of these feathers disintegrate into what appears to be a fine powder-like talc or “feather dust.” These feathers are never molted, but grow continuously. In herons it is used to waterproof and remove fish oils from the rest of their feathers and is spread around by preening.
Sometimes we may wonder whether God really has all the bases covered. Does He really know me so well that He understands exactly what I need, and when I need it? Does He know when I need some powder down to get me through those rough times? James 1:17 seems to provide us with an answer to these questions. “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (RSV)