The Helpful Honeyguide

August 1, 2025

Category: Animals, Birds

Speaker: Ian Taylor

Tags: creation science, radio broadcast, creation moments, today's creation moment, ian taylor, daily creation science, honeyguide

It has long been known that an African bird known as the honeyguide leads badgers to bees’ nests, where the badger tears the nest apart to eat the honey. The badger always leaves more than enough for the honeyguide.

Now it has been learned that the honeyguide has a similar relationship with the Boran people of Kenya. When the bird has found a bees’ nest, it will alert the Boran, bidding them to follow it to the honey site. On the other hand, if the Boran want to know where honey is, they know how to whistle and call for a honeyguide.

The honeyguide also calls to the people so that they know which way to go. When the Boran reach the honey, they always make sure that they leave some for the honeyguide. Researchers also reported that they saw honeyguides scouting out bees’ nests at night so that they had good sites to lead the Boran to the next day.

While the honeyguide does get its reward of honey in return for its help, the intelligence of the honeyguide in establishing these relationships with human beings is impressive. But while the honeyguide can help teach us that the creation is the work of an intelligent Creator, it cannot teach us how to have a relationship with Him. For that we must go to the Bible.

Job 35:10-11
“But none saith, Where [is] God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?”

Prayer: Dear Lord, all things were made through You, and for that we give thanks to You. Open the eyes of those who do not know You so that they might see Your hand in creation, and so be led to find Your love in Scripture. Amen.

Ref: “Honey Hunters Follow Bird to Reach Bees.” Science News. Image: Greater honeyguide, Paul Cools, CC BY-NC, iNaturalist.org.

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