Daily Devotional – September 29

Biology

What bird makes the longest non-stop migration? The Bar-tailed Godwit flies non-stop for five or more days from Alaska to New Zealand/Australia - approximately 7,000 miles. During the day, they analyze polarized light to get the Sun’s position even when it is cloudy. By night, they follow the stars, which means they know how the constellations move in both the northern and southern hemisphere! But as amazing as their navigational ability is, their endurance is even more awe-inspiring.

Just before they migrate from Alaska, they gorge themselves on clams and other creatures in the coastal mudflats. Fat builds up in thick rolls under their skin, increasing their total weight by 55%. Yet, even the type of fat these birds produce is unique. This fat is low in water content and very concentrated. As soon as they stop eating, a very unusual change takes place. The birds’ internal organs -- the intestines, kidney and liver – all shrivel up. Now the fat fills in the empty space and the birds’ bodies are once again streamlined for flight. How would the first Godwit that migrated from Alaska to Australia know that it needed to shrivel its organs in order to pack on the fat? Can you shrivel your organs and survive? This is truly a uniquely God-designed creature.

Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.

~ Isaiah 40:28

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

References for this devotional.