Are Owls Wise? Exploring Bird Brains - Episode 25

Nat Theo Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible

Have you ever heard that owls are wise? On this episode, we are meeting some very smart birds and learning how their brains are designed. But is being smart the same thing as being wise?

Here’s our trail map:

• How does an owl’s brain work?
• Meet three other very smart birds
• What is the difference between being smart and being wise?
• How can we be wise?

Resources Mentioned and used for Research:

Get Eryn's book, Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615

Free Smart Birds Coloring Sheet: https://erynlynum.com/nattheo25

Access full Episode Activity Guides by joining the Nat Theo Club: https://www.patreon.com/NatTheoClub

Smart Bird Research from What It’s Like To Be A Bird by Sibley.: https://www.amazon.com/What-Its-Like-Bird-Singing-What/dp/0307957896 (Like many science and nature books, I don’t agree with everything this book says about how birds came to be, but it does share fascinating information about the design and behavior of these wonderful creatures God made)

Clark’s Nutcracker information: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/overview

Owl whistle story from What an Owl Knows: The New Science of the World's Most Enigmatic Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 (NLT)

“There are four things on earth that are small, but they are very wise: Ants are not very strong, but they store up food in the summer. Rock badgers are not very powerful, but they can live among the rocks. Locusts have no king, but they all go forward in formation. Lizards can be caught in the hand, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.” Proverbs 30:24-28 (NCV)

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” James 1:5 (NLT)

“It is better to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding rather than silver!” Proverbs 16:16 (NCV)

Prayer from Ephesians 1:16-17 (NCV): “I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better.”

Terms Learned in This Episode:

Nocturnal: An animal that is active mostly at night

Neocortex: The area of a human brain where thoughts, ideas, emotions, senses, and self-awareness are processed.

Pallium: An area of a bird’s brain that acts similar to a neocortex. This is where birds process information in their brains.

Neuron: Nerve cells that send information all over our bodies and back to our brains. A master communication system in our bodies.

Hippocampus: An area in the pallium where a bird thinks about location, direction, where they are, and where other things are.

Scatter hoarding: When a bird finds food, such as seeds, and stashes it away, or hides it, in many different places.

Knowledge: Gathering facts. It is learning by gaining new understanding and through experiences.

Wisdom: How we use our knowledge. What we do with all of those facts we are gathering. Involves our soul and eternal perspective.

Personification: When we write or talk about something that is not a human and give it human qualities.

Find more Bible & Nature resources at Erynlynum.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Enjoy our weekly Nat Theo Field Notes publication as a member of the Nat Theo Club! join at https://erynlynum.com/nattheo