The Bowerbirds of New Guinea

Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He hath made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”

The bowerbirds of New Guinea and Australia are among the most unusual birds in the world. The group of species known collectively as bowerbirds are named from the bowers, or small huts, that the males build in the hope of wooing a mate.

These bowers are constructed of sticks, stood umbrella fashion around a center support pole. They are usually built on green moss right on the ground. Most bowers are around two and one-half feet tall and six feet in diameter. They are so well built by the birds that they are waterproof.

Once construction is complete, the bowerbird sets out to collect colorful decorations. He uses these to decorate the inside of his home and his front yard. Decorations include fruits, leaves, flowers, butterfly wings, and even dead beetles. The more colorful the bauble, the better. In decorating his front yard or inside his home, same-colored items are always stacked together, and decorations are moved and replaced daily. This is done in the hope that some nice lady bowerbird will come by and be attracted by his sense of interior and exterior design.

It’s interesting that, contrary to what we often hear, there is a common sense among creatures of what is beautiful. The bowerbird’s colorful arrangements are attractive to bowerbirds as well as to humans. This suggests that we share a common sense of beauty with other creatures because our Creator has an appreciation of beauty.

Prayer:
I thank You, Lord, for all the beauty that surrounds us. Your life, death and resurrection have made my life beautiful to the Father through the forgiveness of my sins. Help me to live this new life You have given me as a beautiful offering to Him. Amen.

Notes:
Diamond, Jared. 1984. “The bower builders.” Discover, June. p. 52.