Migration is a Part of God's greater plan

Nothern Shoveler at the Wildlife Center where we also saw Whooping Cranes

Each year, Jimmy and I look forward to the ducks, loons, grebes, and other waterfowl, passing through our area on migration. The ability of these beauties on wings to find their way, in spite of weather, storms, changing environment, loss of food sources, and so many other obstacles suggests to me the intervention, or plan, of a greater being.  But sometimes they need help, because humans can really do damage to the  patterns developed through centuries of travel coming and going to wintering grounds or nesting grounds.

We are following the progress of the re-introduction of Whooping Cranes into the Eastern flyway, a migration route from which they were almost entirely extrapolated last century. Humans killed this magnificent bird off at such a rate as to almost destroy the species entirely, so it's only right that we be involved in bringing their numbers back to a state of self-sustaining numbers.  Part of that success depended upon the success of a population of Greater Sandhill Cranes, along this flyway.  In the last 20 years just a little help along the way has increased the numbers of Sandhills to a population large enough that the first response of people is to allow them to be hunted once again. ??? Really.

But the result has been that the most obvious, (it would seem to us,) result is the killing of Whooping Cranes as well.  We are told it is not by hunters, but uncaring individuals.  What do these people get to just go out and shoot whatever they please?  Well, rather than complain, I have decided to increase my prayer regimen for the process of bringing Whooping Cranes back to a viable population.  My mother would say I cared more about those birds than about people.  But she is wrong.

What this will mean is that I will need to pray for the people involved. Those who lead the Whoopers in Hang-gliders, and their teams from Canada to Florida and back. And those who don't presently care about the birds. To pray for those who actually kill the lovely, majestic Whoopers. Yes even them.

7 of the introduced Whoopers protected by Woodland from the interaction with humans that might lead to their demise.
3 are standing so closely together that only their heads signify there are 3 there. An immature bird was outside this picture to the extreme left, and another adult to the extreme right is also not pictured.  There are 5 of the 7 in the picture. Their leg-bands were clearly visible.
 

Why bother? Early in the Old Testament God gave directions to Adam to have dominion over the animals and environment of the earth because He knew we would be responsible for the survival of large parts of it.  He even told Adam to go out and find and NAME the species of the earth, thus making him the first Naturalist of history. It was a directive God gave long before he gave man wisdom on keeping gardens for food etc.  It had to mean something to God that we care. 

A couple of days ago, I actually got to see 7 of the released Whoopers, some of which were led by ultra light airplanes by the Operation Migration teams. At least one is a bird released to find his way in the company of other Cranes, to learn the ancient survival tool of migration for itself.  To add variety to the Gene pools should it find a mate in the next few years.  So much depends on man protecting these innocents.  As large as these birds are, they are highly vulnerable to preditors, and it seems unimaginable that man becomes the one preditor from whom no one can protect them. It saddens and maddens me. But it is much better to focus those emotions into something productive. And that is prayer.  So this prayer project is definitely worthy of a place on this, my prayer blog.

Lord, Bless the efforts of those whose passion it is to bring these birds back into the wild, whose life's work it has been to aid their reintroduction into the habitat in which you set them. Forgive us Lord for destroying their numbers and taking them to the brink of extinction. Please turn the hearts of men who would harm them to understand the responsibility we have to them.  And I pray for the birds. I asks you mighty hand upon them that where we are weak to protect them, you will show prove your mightiness to be strong on their behalf. For all which have recently died, make the news of their passing become a cry to education that people will hear, that any who lack knowledge may hear and be convinced that this creature deserves the protection we beg for. I pray for all who have killed these birds, knowingly or otherwise, that they might have a change of heart, to compassion, and sorrow. In Jesus' name, AMEN