THE BIRD WITH THE LONGEST WINGS OF THE WORLD: THE ALBATROSS

On land, albatrosses walk with a waddle and appear to be very clumsy, but in the air, they are among the most graceful of sea birds.

Albatrosses are oceanic birds with very large wing spans, which are about 3.5 metres (11,5 feet). They spend 92% of their lives at sea and come to land only to breed. The most important characteristic of these birds is that they can fly for a very long time without stopping. They perform this difficult task by means of their style of flight.

In order to fly, it is enough for an albatross to open its wings wide open against the wind. In this way, it can fly for hours without flapping its wings at all. The bird does this by extending its wings as wide as possible, and the span of its wings reaches up to 3.5 meters (11,5 feet). This is the largest wing span among bird species.

Making use of ascending air currents and winds, the albatross moves in their direction. It proceeds in zigzags in the wind and passes from the top of one current to another. So, the albatross flies over the sea for hours without flapping its wings. But how can it perform this quite difficult task? What makes this bird so strong?

First of all, a great amount of energy is needed to keep these giant wings steadily wide open. To have a better understanding of the difficult task albatrosses carry out, let's compare albatrosses with humans. It is difficult for a man even to keep his arms open in the air for a brief time. Soon his muscles begin to ache and he lowers his arms. However, albatrosses can fly suspended in the air for hours with their wings wide open.

There is a locking system inside the wing bones of albatrosses that enables them to keep their wings open. By means of this locking system, they don't use any muscular strength. This makes flight much easier for the bird. Thanks to this special system, it can fly without stopping for days, weeks, or even for months expending only a very little amount of energy.

One merely needs to reflect for a moment to grasp that these features could not have come into existence by chance. We see the mercy and compassion of Allah upon these birds, which fly over the seas for long periods. It is Allah Who granted albatrosses all the features they need to stay alive. Allah, Who has power over all things, protects and gives albatrosses all their needs like all other creatures. Allah refers to birds in a verse:

Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for people who believe. (Surat an-Nahl: 79)

ADORNMENT ARTISTS: BOWERBIRDS

Did you know that there are birds that adorn their nests? Just like humans who decorate the place in which they live, some bird species adorn their nests too. The behaviours of these birds is certainly amazing; sometimes they embellish their nests with the decorative objects they collect or paint the walls of their nests with pink fruits.

The bowerbird, which is one of the birds that paint their nests, is a real "master of architecture". The size of a male bowerbird is like that of a pigeon. While building its nest, it arranges hundreds of thin branches in two lines each facing one another, as seen in the picture. This way it builds a bower. It piles up all the stuff it picks from the environment in front of this bower. This may even be a butterfly's wing, a bird's feather, a car key or some wrapping paper. This bird is particularly interested in blue objects. As you can see in the picture, it has gathered all the blue objects it could find in its nest.

In addition to this, it uses some other means of decoration as well. The bowerbird also paints the walls of its nest. What is more, it prepares the paint itself. Do you want to know how? It gathers plants in different colours and paints the walls by using their extracts. Sometimes it uses coal, which it mixes with its saliva. It also paints the nest's walls, which are made up of branches, with a piece of bark it chews in its mouth.

Allah is the Creator of all bird species, including those we don't ever see like bowerbirds and those that we frequently see like pigeons and gulls. Allah the All-Glorious teaches a little bird how to build and decorate its nest. What we should do is to reflect thoroughly on such characteristics of animals to have a better understanding of Allah's boundless power. Allah states in a verse:

And He has made everything in the heavens and everything on the earth subservient to you. It is all from Him. There are certainly Signs in that for people who reflect. (Surat al-Jathiyya: 13)

BIRDS WHICH LAY FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR YOUNG

Megapodes live in Australia and build very special nests for their eggs. The male megapode digs a large hole and fills it with wet, decaying plant matter. The bird has a very important and specific reason to do so. Bacteria in the decaying plant matter produce heat and thus warm the nest. In order to keep the temperature steady, the male makes ventilation openings and continuously checks the temperature of the nest by sticking its beak through these openings. It also makes a funnel shaped opening on the surface of the heap of vegetation. This opening lets rainwater leak into the heap during winter and thus keeps it moist.

Once the nest is ready, the female comes along and lays its eggs in the hole. However, the temperature of the nest increases continuously during the summer, upon which the male megapode covers the nest with sand. This way, it tries to prevent transmission of heat to the nest.

Now, let us ask a question. Before you read these paragraphs, did you know that heat is released by decaying plants? It is natural for you not to know about this unless you have already read a relevant book. Many people do not know. Yet, megapodes have this knowledge. What is more, they make use of this knowledge for the benefit of their young.

Well then, but how could a bird do such delicate calculations and sensitive measurements? How could it take technical precautions according to the results it achieves? Why does it bear such a troublesome task for its young?

In order to do all these, a bird needs to have technical knowledge like that of an engineer and the intellectual function of a healthy human being. Certainly, a bird does not have the reason and the brain to act like an intelligent and learned person. There is a Power Who directs and makes the megapode carry out these tasks, which require intellect. This power is Allah, Who created everything in the most beautiful way.

As you read this book, you immediately see that these creatures cannot do all these wonderful things by themselves and you understand that Allah created all of them. Yet, there are some people who refuse to accept this fact, which you have understood at once. Allah has informs us of these people in the Qur'an. In Surat ar-Rad, Allah states:

Say: "Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?'" Say: "Allah." Say: "So why have you taken protectors apart from Him who possess no power to help or harm themselves?" Say: "Are the blind and seeing equal? Or are darkness and light the same? Or have they assigned partners to Allah Who create as He creates, so that all creating seems the same to them?" Say: "Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One, the All-Conquering." (Surat ar-Ra'd: 16)

THE POWERFUL MEMORY OF JAYS

Jays gather acorns and bury them in the ground for future use. Sometimes they bury up to a thousand acorns in a day. Everything in a forest looks alike. This is why it is difficult even for man to find a certain place in a forest. So how can jays find the places where they have hidden their acorns? They act intelligently and mark these places using tree branches or pieces of stone. Still, it is quite difficult to find something buried in a forest. However experiments have revealed that these birds can find their acorns even nine months later. It is a miracle of creation that these birds have such a powerful memory that they can mark the places where they hide their food and then remember these places.

It is certainly not possible to explain the decision of a jay, which does not have intellect as we understand it, to hide acorns by burying them in the ground or marking these secret places to find them in the future as occurring by coincidence.

Burying a thousand acorns and marking their places with stones and branches in an orderly way is certainly something that a bird cannot achieve on its own. It is very natural for a bird to eat an acorn as soon as it finds it. However, only an intelligent being can save it for future use, mark the place where it is hidden and know this mark later.

A bird cannot do any of these by itself. Therefore, we understand that there is a Being Who possesses endless wisdom, has power over all things and makes jays do all the things they do. This superior wisdom belongs to Allah, Who created everything perfectly in an order and rules them all. This bird hides its food only because Allah wills so, and can find it only if Allah wills. As in every creation of Allah, we witness the signs of His perfect creation in this bird too.

THE ARMOURED TANKS OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

These animals of South America, which are called armadillos, have a very interesting appearance because of the armour covering their bodies. These creatures feed on insects and usually search for food by digging in the ground. Armadillos have a keen sense of smell. Perceiving the scent of food, the armadillo embeds its nose in the ground and delves into it in haste as if it is afraid of losing the scent. One might be surprised to see how the armadillo manages to breathe while doing this. However, armadillos do not breathe at that moment. Indeed, they are capable of holding their breath for up to six minutes. This prevents them from choking while digging into the ground.

Thanks to this ability to hold their breath for a long time, which Allah bestowed on them, armadillos can dig into the ground and find their food. This example manifests Allah's mercy and compassion towards the living creatures that He created. In a verse, Allah introduces Himself to us:

Truly your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. (Surat ash-Shu'ara': 9)

MIGRATORY BIRDS THAT CAN FLY EVEN IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT

Many bird species travel thousands of kilometres every year to regions where they can find rich sources of food and where they can lay their eggs and raise their offspring. Allah refers to the flight of birds in a verse:

Have they not looked at the birds above them, with wings outspread and folded back? Nothing holds them up but the All-Merciful. He sees all things. (Surat al-Mulk: 19)

Many aquatic birds successfully make long distance flights. This is thanks to their strong body structure and to the communication between them. Aquatic birds communicate with each other while flying by means of singing and producing different sounds. This holds every member of the flock together even in the dark of the night no matter how large they are in number.

Every member of the flock knows where the others are. Scientists suppose that water birds use the sun to reckon their location. Once they are close to their destination, they recognise certain marks. This is similar to your using certain streets and buildings to find your way home. Likewise, aquatic birds follow rivers, mountains and other landmarks. Some aquatic birds can fly without stopping night and day during their migration.

The skill in finding direction is peculiar to human beings who have intellect. Man can find direction by using some technical instruments or by the help of the sky. But, how do birds find their direction? How can they make use of the sun's position or of some other signs?

It is Allah the Almighty Who bestowed this wonderful skill upon birds, and created a special communication system among them. Allah manifests His artistry in creation with all the characteristics and features He creates in living things. In the verse "Have they not looked at the birds above them, with wings outspread and folded back?" Allah draws our attention to birds' flight. He wants us to reflect on these abilities He has bestowed upon birds. Thinking this way, we come across intelligent behaviour and perfect bodily systems that creatures cannot possibly develop on their own. Reflecting on what we see, we understand that Allah teaches them what to do.

Then certainly reflect upon such facts and share your thoughts with other people. Make sure they grasp Allah's exaltedness and that it is Allah Who created everything.

CLEANING WORKERS OF THE SEAS

What occurs to you if you see a small fish that is about to enter the mouth of a big fish? You think that the big fish will swallow the small fish, and you wonder why the small fish comes so close to it.

It is undoubtedly unusual that the big fish lets the small fish swim around it, does not attack it and does not care about its swimming in its mouth or through its gills. It is, however, possible to see such scenes in the oceans a lot. It is not only some small fish that fearlessly swim around the big fish. Sometimes shrimps, too, may be seen near the mouths of big fish. These are cleaner shrimps whose job is to clean some of the big fish.

There are many kinds of cleaner shrimps. The one seen in the picture is one of them. The red and white stripes of the shrimp make it visible like a lighthouse and help the fish which is in need of cleaning find the shrimp. When the shrimp, with its two long white antennae, settle in on the fish, the fish begins to wait patiently for the shrimp to eat the parasites on its skin or on a wound. The cleaner shrimp can even enter the fish's mouth to remove disturbing parasites. In this way, it finds its own nourishment. The shrimp keeps working until it makes sure that the fish is clean all over. When the job is done, the big fish does not do the slightest harm to the shrimp, which in fact could be a lavish meal. The shrimp acts without worrying whether the big fish will attack or not. As seen in the picture on the previous page, these two creatures get along very well.

Concepts like "getting along well", "giving guarantee" are peculiar to humans who have intellect and intelligence, and therefore cannot be valid for these creatures. Yet, Allah, Who has control and power over all things, taught these creatures to behave so, to trust and co-operate with each other. So, they lead their lives easily.

THE NOISY CICADA

The cicada is a noisy insect. It produces ticks, buzzes and whines by means of a system in its body. There are a pair of membranous organs at the base of the insect's abdomen. The cicada produces that well-known sound by vibrating these drumlike membranes. When these membranes are pulled and released by the muscles to which they are attached, a sound similar to that of an empty tin is produced. The insect repeats this pull-and-release process 500 times a second. Considering that you can only close and reopen your eyes once in a second, you can readily see how difficult it is to perform this task 500 times a second.

With the opening and closing of the extended part that exists on the lower part of the insect's thorax, the sound level may be increased and decreased. The human ear cannot perceive these openings and closings, which occur in a tenth of a second, so we do not notice that the sound is interrupted and we think that the buzzing song of the cicada is continuous.

CLEANER BIRDS

The birds you see in the pictures are cleaner birds, which are called oxpeckers. These birds feed on the parasites that live on the hides of animals such as rhinoceroses, elephants and zebras. For this reason, these birds' perching upon them, even upon their heads does not bother such animals.

This partnership benefits both sides a lot. This way, the animals get rid of the bothersome parasites and are also warned by the birds, which screech in case of danger. In return, the birds obtain food and even hair to cover the inside of their nests.

Allah created this mutually beneficial relationship between animals. Allah created all these creatures along with the creatures that meet their needs.

POND SKATERS THAT WALK ON WATER

It is impossible for human beings to walk on the surface of the water. Yet, some creatures can do so by means of the special body structures that Allah has given to them. For example, an insect species called the pond skater walks on water by pressing its thin, long legs into a kind of elastic skin on the surface of the water. As the legs of the insect push the water, a small hole is formed on the surface. This way the insect spreads its body weight over quite a wide area.

Observation and examination reveal that the legs of the pond skater do not break the surface of the water. In other words, its feet do not enter the water. Therefore, the pond skater is able to walk on the surface while other creatures cannot.

TENACIOUS SUCKERFISH

What is special about suckerfish is that they use vessels to get around the ocean. For this, they may use sharks or ships. The dorsal fin of the fish is like an oval sucking disc. It can move along with anything it attaches itself to, whether animate or inanimate. Whatever the creature to which it is attached does or no matter how fast it swims, the suckerfish does not become detached from it. In the picture above, suckerfish that are attached to the underside of a shark are seen. Allah knows where every creature is and what it does. In a verse, Allah states:

What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah encompasses all things. (Surat an-Nisa: 126)

WALKING FISH WITH RED LIPS

The batfish with red lips is the only fish in the world that walks on its four fins. Fins that are designed so as to enable walking, a weird looking nose and big red lips make the appearance of this fish quite unusual. What enables the batfish to walk on the sea floor like a human being is its pectoral and pelvic fins. Using these fins, the batfish can easily stand on the sea floor and walk on the tips of its fins.

Apart from this ability, the batfish with red lips has another interesting feature. It has small appendages below its nose, which it uses as a fishing line to deceive other fish. Batfish are carnivorous. Using their fishing lines, they prey upon other fish, crabs, larvae and cockles.

The complex design in these little fish that live at the bottom of the sea shows us one of the examples of Allah's artistry.

COLOURFUL HERONS

Herons can be seen at almost any place where water exists. The big blue heron seen in the picture is the tallest wild bird that lives in North America. Blue herons, whose colour attracts attention, live alone other than when they make their nests.

The nesting places where herons congregate are usually in remote hidden areas that are hard for humans to reach. Hank herons, another heron species, have various colours during spring. New colours appear around the colourful beaks of the adults only during the time of nesting.

Allah created birds in very different colours. We enjoy looking at the eye-catching colours in a bird's feathers. This wide variety of colours in birds is one of the evidences of Allah's marvellous creation. In the Qur'an, Allah relates that it is He Who creates the colours:

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and by it We bring forth fruits of varying colours? And in the mountains there are streaks of white and red, of varying shades, and rocks of deep jet black. And mankind and beasts and livestock are likewise of varying colours. Only those of His slaves with knowledge have fear of Allah. Allah is Almighty, Ever-Forgiving. (Surah Fatir: 27-28)