aussiebirder

Another interesting aspect to Intelligent Design in bird morphology is the appearance of hooks at end of particular species of birds and what they are used for. As is the case of meat eating raptors, which have a small hook on their upper mandible for tearing their prey into swallowable pieces because they lack teeth to chew their prey. You may think that all other birds with hooked beaks would do likewise but this is not the case.

1. Yes, the most common use of the beak hook is to tear flesh as mentioned above. This Australian Hobby is tearing at a large bird it is dismembering into small edible pieces, occasionally using its beak to tear at the carcass. Eagle, Owls, Falcon, Kestrel, Hobby, Goshawk, Harrier. Osprey, Kookaburra, Butcherbird, Currawong and others all have a beak hook for tearing prey. Click on images to enlarge them.

Australian Hobby feeding on a large waterfowl

Some may ask why the Australian Magpie does not share a hook similar to the Currawong and Butcherbird as they are similar birds. The fact is that the Aussie Magpie is essentially a ground feeder, feeding mainly on subsurface larvae and insects. It needs its super hard beak to pierce the earth quickly to gain its food, therefore a hook would not be helpful but more a hindrance. Magpies take several years to learn the art of listening and then striking their food which lies beneath the surface of the ground soil. The Christmas Beatle larvae is an example of its food.

2. The newborn Laughing Kookaburra and Blue-winged Kookaburra are both born with a small temporary beak hook. In a similar way to raptors, the mother Kookaburra may stagger the laying of eggs when she lays three eggs, which is the usual clutch. The eldest nesting, sometimes may use their beak hooks to kill the second and/or third sibling to prevent them competing for food, or in hard times to become food for them. Sometimes the second sibling may assist the eldest sibling and survive. They will then eat the dead sibling or the parent will on its return to the nest. It is a natural urge, and in a similar way the eldest eagles with their permanent beak hook, may do likewise when the parent staggers her egg laying, especially in poorer seasons where food is more sparce. The feature here is that as the Kookaburra fledges it looses the beak hook, having served its function. This is why Kookaburras and many raptor species may only raise one and sometimes two young per year.

Parent feeding one youngster the only one raised to maturity this season.

3. The Critically Endangered Forty Spotted Pardalote is the only species of Pardalote with a tiny beak hook. It is not used for any of the previous two functions but is used exclusively to pierce the cuticle of the White Gum ( Eucalyptus viminalis) leaf to make it bleed white sap which converts to sugary crystals when allowed to dry in the air. This is the basic food of this tiny species of bird, and also the reason this bird’s numbers are diminishing, as the trees are felled . The process if nicking the leaf cuticle with the hook also provides food for other small birds including honeyeaters. The 40 Spotted is endemic to Tasmania, and now most of the surviving breeding pairs are found on Bruny Island, where we visited last winter. You can check our my Click HERE to check out my blog post if you have not done so. It will open in a separate tab. Recent ornithological studies have found that many of Australia’s birds are tree dependant, and require the flowers or leaves of a particular species of Eucalypt to breed and live healthy lives. The Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater is an excellent example of this, with drastically reduced numbers due to the careless and extensive felling of the Mugga Ironbark ( Eucalyptus sideroxylon) trees for railway sleepers. Also the continual removal of old ancient forest trees used for nesting, which may have provided nesting for hundreds of years.

Have a wonderful week birding, and stay warm in the north and cool in the south as we all experience uncertain weather patterns. If you are new to my blog – Welcome ! Take time to check out the pages from my Home Page where there are many useful birding tips and info on how we can learn from the birds to live a happy and healthy life. Check out my unique birdbooks which can be purchased securely here online.

The words of Napoleon in the adjacent image are meant to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone of the irrational fear for your safety in previously uncharted unexplored experiences, and by faith overcome it by embracing new challenges thus developing new found accomplishments as well as strength and growth of character. Each of the above birds that were gifted with a beak hook, had to actually use their hook to assist the bird to achieve its goal, just as a bird must take its first leap of faith to know flight and utilise its wings. Am I using the talents and resources I have been gifted with to my best ability to bless others as well as myself ? Am I seeking to improve to reach my full potential as God created me to do ? We will eventually all give account for how we employed our gifting.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” – Proverbs 11:25

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,  and he will reward them for what they have done.” – Proverbs 19:17

“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14

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