Black Herons (May 29)
In the shallow waters of Africa lives the Black Heron, which has an incredibly creative way of catching its food. Sunlight can cause a harsh glare on the surface of water, making it nearly impossible for the Black Heron to see into the water and find fish. In addition, fish tend to avoid the bright sunshine at the water’s surface. So, what does a Black Heron (also known as the “umbrella bird”) do?
As he slowly wades through the shallow waters, he spreads his wings, forming a dome-shaped black umbrella over the water. Then, he crouches down until the wings almost touch the water’s surface. The fish think this darkened area is a good place to hide, just like under a lily pad. But in the case of the Black Heron, it is actually a trap for these little fish. As soon as an unsuspecting fish swims over into the shade, the umbrella bird pokes his head into the water and comes out with a squirming fish. Ask any fisherman which part of the lake he gets the best catches and he will say, “The shady part.” How did the umbrella bird learn to hunt in this way? Evolutionists call this “canopy feeding,” but just because they name it doesn’t mean they understand it. As Bible-believers, we do; God created the umbrella bird to fish in such a manner.