"God created...every winged bird according to its kind." (Gen.1:21)

Calvin, Adele and I have been studying the Apologia Winged Creatures of the Fifth Day book this year for Science. We are really enjoying this opportunity to learn more about the birds of Thailand...and there are many and they are varied and beautiful!  Years ago Grampy Henry bought us a beautiful field guide for the birds of Thailand and so we've been putting it to good use here.  It is quite a challenge for me to be a bird watcher in this nation.  Thais don't have bird feeders (that I've noticed) and so it's been challenging to know how to go about attracting birds to our yard (especially when we don't have one!!!).    PJ is studying plant life right now as well.  So, I decided we would make an effort to go to the beautiful King's Park (สวนหลวงร.๙) which is very near to where we live.  This park is huge with loads of green space, a great place to go looking for birds. So, last Friday morning we got up early, loaded the car, got "fast food" from the fried chicken and sticky rice lady at the end of the soi for breakfast and headed over to the park.  We were there by 8 a.m.  And, we immediately spotted some birds.  

 The keenest eyes, so far, in our family aside from Daddy, is PJ.  He immediately spotted this bird on the rock.

 We watched the bird from this bridge.  They're just so cute, I had to share!

 I took way too many pictures of this lovely.  Part of the fun in bird watching is looking up the bird in the field guide and correctly identifying it.  This, too, becomes difficult when living in another country!  But, PJ persevered and found this bird, a Juvenile White Stork, in our bird book.  Success!  

 We also spotted this egret (of some sort) and unbeknownst to me I also caught the Monitor Lizard swimming by in the shot!  PJ loves watching Monitors...and this was one of two or three that we saw that morning!

 I would not be a very good teacher without this kid...love his mind and ability to remember little details!  Here he is explaining to me why the stork is a juvenile.

 Above,we saw this beautiful flower (Juanulla mexicana) on our way into the botanical house. And below, this hybrid (Vriesea)...I told the kids it looks like something Adele would draw with the pink and purple on the leaves! It is so very beautiful! Many of the plants in this house were familiar to us as Florida has many of the same or similar type plants growing.  We are continually amazed at the beauty of the Lord's creation.  We are looking forward to our move further south as we get to explore even more of the diversity of birds and wildlife the Lord has created.

Thanks for visiting and check back in soon, I am hoping to be a better blogger!!!