Jim Hughes

Friday I drove down toward the coast, spending some time in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and then going on down to Freeport to spend some time looking at the water.

Brown Pelicans Preening on a Freeport Dock (copyright Jim Hughes 2009)

I found this group of Brown Pelicans hanging out on a dock by a bait shop on the Intercoastal Waterway, and couldn’t resist taking some up-close shots.

Pelicans have long been made fun of, ridiculed because of their strange-to-us looks.

But if you know much about Pelicans, you know that they are perfectly made for the life they live.

A Pair of Brown Pelicans (copyright Jim Hughes 2009)

This photo shows a little more detail of the long beak of the pelicans, which has a built-in expandable bucket that will hold a gallon of water including fish.  (Click here for full-size photos.)

They dive into the water when they see a fish, scoop up a gallon including the fish, expel the water, and swallow the fish.  Being big birds, they need big fish — thus the large beak with attached bucket.  Their white cousins, by the way, can grab three gallons worth!

Brown Pelicans in Flight (copyright Jim Hughes 2009)

Besides their unique fishing abilities, these guys are amazing at flying. They can often be seen skimming inches above the water in perfect formation.

For flying, their long neck allows them to rest their head on their shoulders, becoming more compact and aerodynamic.  Just perfect!

You really have to admire these beautifully built creatures.

Now back to the title:  I doubt these guys ever spend time worrying about what they look like.  I’m sure they recognize that they are very unique in God’s creation, perfectly equipped for the role He as assigned them.

So why is it that we spend so much time worrying about what we look like, often wanting to change it?  Do you really think God would create something as perfectly fit for it’s purpose as a pelican, and then mis-design you, the crowning achievement of His creation?

I bet we can all benefit by spending more time meditating on brown pelicans and how wonderfully they (and we) are made — and less time being concerned about our looks.

So I took a few minutes to go sit on the back porch this morning, and looked around to see which of my bird friends were visiting.

Two wood ducks were present, sitting on the top high power line, just down the creek.  Now ducks sitting on power lines is an interesting sight, but these guys are equipped with feet different from other ducks, which allows such stunts.

Photo copyright 2009 Jim Hughes

As I watched them, perched high above everything else, they just looked around.  They looked one way for a while, then they turned around and looked the other way for a while.  I wondered what they might be thinking.  I wondered what their purpose in sitting up there could be.

I finally decided that they were just pausing to enjoy the view for a few minutes.  Taking time out from looking for food and whatever else wood ducks do for a little R & R.  Taking time for a little perspective, maybe.

So what do wood ducks know that you don’t, that I don’t?

Maybe just that they will be provided for, and that stopping to view the sights along the way is okay,  because that’s the way God made them and the environment they live in.

And if He cares that much about wood ducks, then how much more must He care about us?