Lightkeeper's Journal

God Answers Prayer with a Sense of Humor

 

The storm clouds were rolling in behind the pecan trees.  

The clouds were turning dark steel blue and we knew that a gully washer was on the way!  

 

Photography by Curtis Beaird

Story by Norma Beaird

 

About a week ago in church, Curtis had requested prayer for rain.... much needed rain. It had become really dry down here and everyone's allergies were giving them fits. The blooming pecan trees were the main culprits. The next day after we prayed, we got rain. Praise the Lord! Then, my allergies continued to get even worse and I asked Curtis to request prayer for a gully washer (a Southern term for heavy rainstorm).

We needed a heavy rain to wash away all of the pollen, dust and every other airborne particle that wreaks havoc on our sinus passages. Again, God answered prayer.  The picture above shows what happened right before the storm broke loose!  Notice where the storm clouds are - right behind the pecan trees.   

God answers prayer, and this time He did it with a sense of humor!  

It seemed as though He was saying,

"See, I'm going to help you out!" 

 

 

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

 

 

 

Copyright 2016, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

How Weather Affects Birds

 

Eastern Bluebirds & Pine Warblers flock to the buffet for unsalted peanuts

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird 

Article by Norma Beaird

 

In our three years of intense observation and research of birds and nature, if there is one thing we have learned, it is this....  

Birds will predict changing weather patterns.  For example, weather fronts including rain and cold air will facilitate bird movement and birds looking for food.  We can see frantic behavior and a feeding frenzy at the bird feeders and know that either rain or some very cold air is on the horizon.  

American Robin perched on a limb in the backyard  

If we look at the weather forecast and see very cold temperatures, we will put out extra unsalted peanuts, white millet, black oil sunflower and suet, because we know that flocks of birds will arrive hungry.  It's the same behavior for the regular birds who come to our feeders every day.  They can clean off a feeder in thirty minutes during really cold weather or right before a thunderstorm.  

For example, today it is very cold in the mid to upper 40's (well, cold for Georgia).  On top of this, there was rain in the forecast.  We had been seeing flocks of Red-Winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and American Robins flying through our area and stopping for a snack in the yard.   Yesterday, we put out extra seed all over the backyard and the following bird species list is the result, thanks to changing weather patterns.  Plus, migration is in full swing and nesting season is just around the corner.  Having a good buffet and water available to your avian visitors can result in many bird species coming to your yard.  

February 28th - Bird Sightings - Backyard - 8:30 am - 1:00 pm 

1.  Pine Warblers (20)
2.  Eastern Bluebirds (2 male & 1 female)
3.  Chipping Sparrows (50)
4.  Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (male)
5.  Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
6.  Tufted Titmice (3)
7.  Carolina Chickadees (2)
8.  Mourning Doves (6)
9.  Eurasian Collared-Doves (2)
10. Northern Mockingbird
11. Red-Bellied Woodpecker (male)
12. Pine Sisksins (20)
13. Red-Winged Blackbirds (100 +)
14. Turkey Vultures (3)
15. American Crows (3)
16. Brown-Headed Nuthatches (2)
17. Carolina Wren
18. Yellow-Rumped Warblers (5)
19. House Finches (3 male)
20. American Robins (70 +)
21. Northern Cardinals (male & female)
22. Common Grackles (20 +)
23. Blue Jay
24. Downy Woodpecker (male)
25. American Goldfinches (4)

Excited to see Mr. & Mrs. Red-Winged Blackbird visit Le Avian Cafe.  

 Even though it's cold right now, the weather is changing and it will soon be springtime.  Birds are moving.  Don't miss out on an opportunity to experience a backyard full of colorful avian visitors!!

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2015, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.   

 

Weather Systems and Avian Arrivals

 

Painted Bunting female with a lovely mohawk

 

Article and Photography by Norma Beaird

 

The Lord smiled upon us today.  Anyone who knows us also knows that we love all species of birds.....songbirds, shorebirds, birds of prey and even turkey vultures!  Still, we had not been visited by a beautiful Painted Bunting.  

In the last 48 hours, there has been a huge and very severe weather system that included tornadoes ripping through several states causing much damage; and sadly, heart-breaking fatalities in several states.  

This severe weather system also helped to push migrating birds even further north during the migration period.  For example, the following radar map shows a large number of birds leaving ahead of the storm headed towards Metro Atlanta and North Georgia:

The round blue plumes in the middle show birds migrating North 

When a weather front comes barreling through, birds will leave ahead of time to get out of the way.  In the case above, the birds most likely landed instead of escaping the storm.  This means that migrants who were visiting your feeders will probably leave if a storm is coming your way.  In addtion, this also means that birds from other areas may arrive at your feeders, looking for some food and rest.  

Painted Bunting female dining on white millet 

Wind, rain, thunderstorms, barometric pressure - weather systems in general contribute to bird movements all over the U. S. and Canada.  If you feed birds on a regular basis and the barometric pressure changes, you will notice a change in their behavior.  Birds will become frantic, flying all over the yard, landing on the feeders, grabbing seeds and leaving.  Sometimes, they will run each other off the feeders. Maybe we can call it a feeding frenzy!  

We can basically predict the weather by watching the birds at our feeders and know that the barometric pressure is changing. (Barometric pressure is also referred to as atmospheric pressure)  As the barometric pressure affects the birds, it also affects humans.  

Painted Bunting female  

Weather systems, birds and all of nature work together.  One affects the other and vice versa.  That's one reason that we always watch for the full moon and stay updated with the moon phases.  As barometric pressure affects the birds, the moon affects the ocean tides.  

As a matter of fact, many people plant crops according to the phases of the moon.   As God intended, all creation works together in cycles, seasons and movements. Understand weather and moon phases gives us a better understanding of all things avian.   

Therefore, when you feed and watch birds, pay close attention to migration patterns, weather systems and moon phases.  By closely monitoring the migration patterns and weather fronts, you can learn to predict when new migrants may be arriving in your area.  It creates a keen sense of awareness and understanding in us, knowing that in God's plan, it all works together.

As you can see in this article, the good Lord and a storm sent us a gorgeous female Painted Bunting!  

 

 

Copyright 2014, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.  

Wild Weather in Georgia

  

 

Photography by Curtis and Norma Beaird

 

Sharecropper's cabin in South Georgia on a rainy day

 

Even the Blue Jay and the Northern Cardinals couldn't stay dry! 

 

Reminds me of the Bluegrass song, "Ahead of the Storm"

 

Raining in the Georgia Pines and on the broom straw

 

 

 

Copyright 2014, Curtis and Norma Beaird.  All rights reserved.

 

Birds, Rain and Radar

 Northern Mockingbird shows up at the feeder on a rainy day!

 

Article by Curtis Beaird

Photography by Norma W. Beaird

 

Bird migration was in full swing until the weekend of the Masters Golf Tournament. A cold front stalled over the Northern half of Florida to include the panhandle, a good portion of South Georgia and Savannah, to the lower east coast of South Carolina.

Sunday morning started as a gray and misty day with light rain. By mid-afternoon the day had become an umbrella-necessary experience.   While the golfers played on in the rain and worked to keep the golf grips dry, the birds remained grounded.

If you missed the weather map it look like this:

This regional map (above) gives you an idea of the cloud coverage and rain density later in the afternoon.  As night fell, the storm increased intensity both in terms of rain and wind. It was easy to conclude that birds downed along the FL/GA border would go nowhere until Monday after sunset. I guessed wrong.

 Migrating birds are moved by a rhythm greater and more demonstrative than the clock on our wall or our logical understanding of best travel times.  About 11:00 pm, I checked NEXRAD. Doppler radar can distinguish quiet handily between a storm and birds. It is sensitive to the point of reflecting pollen, smoke and insects.  When I looked, what I found was a surprise, at least to me. The birds knew what they were going to do all along.

The above NEXRAD graphic demonstrates the storm dissipating. Note the purple band separating the blue swatch into Florida and the Gulf at Figure A.  Also, note the other "broken" section at "C" sliding into the Atlantic. 

What we see at section "B", especially the light blue dots below the B, and the smattering of red dots north of B, are for the most part, birds. It appears that as soon as the weather broke, they continued on their migrating way.  My confirmation for this action could come Monday morning on April 15th.  We are located north of their current migration route and could see some new arrivals in the morning.  I will keep you posted. Oh - by the way, Adam Scott from Australia won The Masters in the rain.

Happy birding.

 

Copyright 2013, Curtis Beaird.  All rights reserved.