Where did hummingbirds come from? God or Evolution?
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Text partially adapted from Fred John Meldau, Why We Believe in Creation Not in Evolution, (Denver, Colorado: Christian Victory Publishing Co., 1967).
The majority of the 580 species and sub-species of hummingbirds are tiny—under four inches in length.
The hummingbird cannot walk (it uses its feet for perching), so it has to fly to get about.
The smallest bird in the world is the Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae) found in Cuba. It measures only 2.24 inches (5.7 centimeters) from the tip of its bill to the tip of its tail, and weighs but a fraction of an ounce (0.056 oz. or 1.6 gram).
Most birds are, aerodynamically, the most perfect flying machines on Earth. The hummingbird, in addition, is the only perfect HELICOPTER.
His wings are attached to his shoulders in such a way that he can poise motionless in the air, and he can fly in any direction, forward, sidewise, up, sown—and even backward, a feat no other bird can do. —Coronet Magazine
“While hovering, a ruby-throated hummingbird beats its wings up to 75 times PER SECOND.”
“In addition to backward flight, the hummingbird has achieved the aerodynamic miracle of sideways flight… which it does with no appearance of difficulty” —“Nature Parade,” p. 206
The hummingbird has many other unique features that set it apart as a special witness for God and Creation.
We mention its wise way of building its nest. By using a spider web as the framework of her nest, the mother hummingbird has a home that is strong and can be expanded easily.
When she builds it, the nest is little more than half an inch across on the inside. As the babies grow, they push against the sides, stretching the flexible spider web, and the nest becomes larger with them!
Let us ask: Who gave the tiny hummingbird the ability to hover in the air without moving in any direction, and to fly in any direction, including the ability to fly sidewise and even backwards—feats no other bird can accomplish?
And Who gave both the wisdom and ability to the little hummingbird to make an expanding nest for its growing babies, so that they always have a nest that is the right size, no matter how old or young they are?
And Who made each species of hummingbird static in its abilities, instincts and peculiar characteristics, so that generation after generation (instead of exhibiting a gradual change) they stay virtually the same?
GOD is the only reasonable answer. He designed and created the first hummingbirds.
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