Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

 

The Burrowing Owl lives with unique "NOT BY ACCIDENT" design! Look at the nest material used for the babies of the round-headed, ground-dwelling little creature.

Who would think it wise to put the dung of other animals in and around an underground nest? Hardly sounds like a smart decision to us. But it is a wise not-by-accident construction plan—not thought through by the birds, but surely by their Creator. That lining material not only acts as an absorbent, but also attracts dung beetles, a delicious staple for an owl. Its decomposi¬tion masks the odors produced by the little birds. That in itself makes detection by their predators more difficult. Then that same decompo¬sition of the droppings from other animals produces heat which aids the little owl mothers in the incubation of her eggs.

Those short, fat burrowing owls look like they're on stilts as they stand upright on long, thin legs in order to see farther over the landscape. And where did they get the sense to settle near fence posts? Yet that is where you'll often find they choose their frequently-borrowed tunnel-homes. It gives them a conveniently high perch when they're on the lookout for food and for danger. A mature burrowing owl weighs only about 5 or 6 ounces, but can dive bomb their prey—or an intruder. (It happened to my husband Merlin one day when he was near one of their homes. He had his back to their hole when one attacked his head! As he put it, "They can ring your bell!')

The Designer of the Burrowing Owl juveniles gave them a special ability while they are babies in the burrow—where they spend the first 7 weeks of their lives. When threatened, they can make the same buzzing sound one hears from the movement of the tail of a rattlesnake! Most approaching predators back off with that noise. It's a not-by-accident gift from a tender Creator to a tiny creature--until baby Burrowing Owl needs that voice no longer!

Their Designer thought of everything a small owl needs to live successfully.

Would our Creator have done less when He created us?

 "NOT BY ACCIDENT" (c) Juanita Kretschmar is used by permission and was first published in the book "Not By Accident"  page 19

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Genesis

Turkey Vultures

The turkey vulture, who has some of the most amazing mechanisms to be found in a bird, was…
Turkey Vultures

Foxes

Foxes are one of the many animals mentioned in the Jewish Bible. Foxes are part of the dog…
Foxes

Tokay Gecko

Second largest among the gecko species, the foot-long aggressive Tokay gecko, with its blue…
Tokay Gecko

The Shrike

Different varieties of shrikes are found in many countries. Endemic to the USA is the…
The Shrike

Ants

The ants' brains are the largest of any insect, and their mushroom-shaped appendages have been…
Ants

Lightning Bug

The not-by-accident design of the flashing mechanism of the lightning bug is far superior to…
Lightning Bug

Northern Cardinals

A person would have to have a heart closed to beauty not to enjoy the sight of the gorgeous red…
Northern Cardinals

Porcupines

Not every "rodent" is as fascinating as the porcupine...nor are they as large...nor do others…
Porcupines
Moose

Moose

Moose are BIG mammals! They start out as 20- to 35-pound newborns—but when just five days old,…
Moose
The Sun

The Sun

"God is faithful" (1 Corinthians 10:13). When God made our world, He did not want it to be dark…
The Sun

Sea Otters

It is normal for a marine animal to have a layer of fat to protect it from cold ocean water.…
Sea Otters

Key Deer

Like all newly-born white-tailed deer, the fawn in the key deer sub-species has a beautiful…
Key Deer

Dolphins

One very real need for every creature is to stay alive and, for this, one needs to breathe.…
Dolphins

Doves

Doves are found all over the world and are normally unafraid of humans.
Doves
Creation

Foundation Genesis

According to the most recent polls, over the past 50 years, Americans have been pretty…
Foundation Genesis

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation