Daily Devotional – June 10

Biology

Have you ever thought about a spider web saving a bird? Every year, many birds are killed when they fly into window glass. Either they can’t see the window glass, or they see the reflections of nearby trees, sky, and other objects - either way, they slam into the window glass and are killed. It has been found, however, that spiders that spin orb webs (spiral wheel shaped webs) use silk that reflects ultraviolet light. We can’t see the UV light, as it is outside the range of human vision, but many birds and insects can see it. Biologists have discovered that the use of this UV-reflecting web material serves two important purposes:

1. It attracts insects like a neon sign; some webs even display a flowerlike pattern.
2. It warns birds not to fly into the web as if to say, “I don’t want to rebuild this web, so please avoid.”

The Arnold Glass Corporation has copied this UV reflecting property by coating their glass with criss-crossing UV reflecting strips. This coating is invisible to humans but not to birds. Birds make every effort to avoid this UV-treated glass. Nature is filled with design ideas, but of course, God put them there when He created the world! His power is displayed through what He has made. Who would have thought that spider webs would lead to protecting birds!

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

~ Psalm 33:6-9

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.