Enormous
We have some huge birds in the world!
Take for example this array of feathered friends:
The Elephant Bird
It’s technical name is the Vorombe Titan. It used to live in Madagascar but became extinct 1,000 years ago. It was 10 inches tall and weighed 1,800 lbs. That’s larger than any living bird today!
The Wild Turkey
This guy is among the heaviest flying birds in the world. The largest wild turkey on record was harvested by a hunter in Kentucky and weighed 37.6 lbs.
That’s about twice the size of the turkeys placed on our Thanksgiving tables. They manage to gain all that bulk through a protein-rich diet of berries, acorns, nuts, seeds, insects, and ewwwww: small reptiles.
Kori Bustard
This guy lives in Africa and is the world’s heaviest flying bird. Males weight up to 40 lbs. They mostly hang around on the ground because it takes so much energy to fly. That’s my excuse as well.
Greater Rhea
This is the largest bird in South America, and it weighs between 33 and 66 lbs. They roam the grasslands of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. They can’t fly, but they use their long, powerful legs to outrun predators such as cougars and jaguars. They’re also great swimmers, But I’d hate to be in the pool with one.
Emperor Penguins
Adults stand at around 47 inches tall and can weigh as much as 100 lbs. During the brutal Antarctic winters, emperor penguins need all that blubber to insulate themselves from the extreme cold, and they huddle together in tightly packed groups to keep warm.
Emu
I bet you thought of that Geiko commercial, didn’t you? The emu is Australia’s largest native bird and the second-tallest bird in the world. They can reach heights of more than 6 feet tall, and the largest ones weigh as much as 120 lbs.
They can also jump 7 ft. straight up to escape trouble.
(Put one of these guys on the OKC Thunder team!)
Ostrich
The common ostrich is the undisputed heavyweight of the bird world. Adults typically weigh between 250 and 300 lbs. and can reach heights of up to 9 feet.
They’re also the world’s fastest animals on two legs and can sprint at 43 mph. Now that you’ve had your “bird lesson” for today, allow me to direct you to a couple of spiritual insights:
#1: Can you see a glimpse of your heavenly Father’s immense creativity?
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31 NIV)
And Psalm 19:1 tells us that God’s handiwork can even be seen in the heavens and skies.
#2: Are you beginning to view the enormousness of your Savior?
“The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” (1 Kings 8:27 NIV)
#3: Do you notice the power revealed in our Creator?
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV)
Take a moment to thank God for His creativity that shows up in the animal kingdom; then ask Him to work creatively through YOU!
You are loved!
Susie
