Bye, bye Blackbirds?

Tri-colored Blackbird in California (Tsuru8)

California reportedly has had a major drop in the number of blackbird that live there:

July 5, 2014

Bob Meese…has spent the last decade studying the tri-colored blackbird, which once numbered in the millions.

The decline, Meese says, is unprecedented based on surveys coordinated by him and his team at the University of California, Davis.

In 2008, the state was home to 400,000 tri-colored blackbirds. Today, there are only 145,000 – a 64 percent loss in just six years.

“There are parts of the state where the birds seem to be disappearing altogether,” Meese said.

Meese is now catching the birds so he can tag them and track their movements. He believes the birds’ natural habitats are being increasingly turned into farmland and vineyards, which rely on pesticides that kill off the very insects they feast on.

“If they do not have enough insects in their diet, they simply cannot form eggs,” Meese said.

So Meese is trying to convince growers to give up pesticides

“The blackbirds could act as a natural insecticide,” Meese said. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-blackbird-population-at-grave-risk/

The tri-colored blackbird population was noted as being in decline in the 1980s, and steps were taken in the 1990s. The population started to go back up, but according to the report above, they have declined significantly in the past six years. Dramatic drops in bird populations should be a concern.

There are also concerns about the loss of bees in certain parts of the world. Last month, US President Obama ordered an investigation into that. Bees are necessary for many foods that humans eat to become pollinated.

Humans do get affected by other life forms on this planet.

God made birds and other creatures:

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:20-28)

Having birds and other creatures is good. Having dominion over them does not mean contributing to near extinction.

Notice something that the Bible teaches:

15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. (Genesis 2:19-20)

The concept of tending and keeping a garden suggests proper environmental stewardship. Including animals, like birds which Adam was told to name.

However, Bible prophecy tells of the following:

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18).

Thus, God is not pleased when humans destroy the earth.

And the time for God’s judgment is coming. The time to turn to God is now, for whosoever will respond to God’s calling.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Bible, Christians, and the Environment How should Christians view the environment? Does the Bible give any clues? What are some of the effects of air, water, and land pollution? Is environmental pollution a factor in autism and death? Do pollutants seem to double the autism risk? What will Jesus do? A YouTube video is available titled Air Pollution, Autism, and Prophecy.
Is God’s Existence Logical? Some say it is not logical to believe in God. Is that true? Here is a link to a YouTube sermon titled Is it logical to believe in God?
Is Evolution Probable or Impossible or Is God’s Existence Logical? Part II This short article clearly answers what ‘pseudo-scientists’ refuse to acknowledge. Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Quickly Disprove Evolution as the Origin of Life.
Weather Blessings and Sorrows Are weather problems a warning? What should be done?
How Old is the Earth and How Long Were the Days of Creation? Does the Bible allow for the creation of the universe and earth billions of years ago? Why do some believe they are no older than 6,000 years old? What is the gap theory? Where the days of creation in Genesis 1:3 through 2:3 24 hours long?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? There is also a video titled What is the meaning of your life?
Just What Do You Mean — Repentance? Do you know what repentance is? Have you truly repented? Repented of what? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2021 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2013 o 2014? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?