Step into the marsh with one of the strangest (and coolest) birds on Earth: the shoebill—often called a “shoebill stork,” even though it’s not actually a stork! Discover how God designed these unique birds with their razor-sharp bills, massive feet, and piercing eyes, and what they teach us about being adopted into God’s family.

Here’s our trail map:

• Is a Shoebill a Stork?
• Can a Shoebill Eat a Crocodile?
• How Are People Saving Shoebills from Extinction?
• How Has God Adopted Us?

Download this lesson’s free coloring sheet: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/is-a-shoebill-a-stork/

Related Lessons to listen to next:

• Do Ostriches Bury Their Heads in the Sand? Lesson 115: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5eaf8961-e99d-4591-a73e-dd7729bc2e90/
• What Is a Killdeer and Why Does It Fake a Broken Wing? Lesson 85: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/85fab65e-9733-4294-ac85-4bd1976e2305/

Eryn's Books:

• The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living: https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Rest-Creation-Sabbath-Living/dp/0825448891
• Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family's Faith Through God's Creation: https://www.amazon.com/Rooted-Wonder-Nurturing-Familys-Creation/dp/0825447615
• 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting: https://www.amazon.com/936-Pennies-Discovering-Intentional-Parenting/dp/0764219782

Episode Links:

• Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day Course: https://www.apologia.com/shop/zoology-1-course-set/
• Explore Apologia’s award-winning science curriculum: https://www.apologia.com/subject/science/
• Nat Theo Club Bonus Video: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/member
• Get full lesson guides in the Nat Theo Club: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/club
• Free Shoebill Coloring Sheet: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/is-a-shoebill-a-stork/
• Ask your nature question: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/ask

Scriptures Referenced in This Episode:

“Everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glorious standard, and all need to be made right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:23-24 (NCV)

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!...” 1 John 3:1a (NLT)

Terms Learned in This Episode:

• Taxonomy: The sorting and naming of living things in nature.
• Pelecaniformes: An order of waterbirds including pelicans, shoebill, and hamerkop.
• Monotypic: When a creature is the only kind in its taxonomy group.
• Balaenicipitidae: A Family of animals including only the shoebill.
• Bill-clattering: A unique sound made by a shoebill when it rapidly claps together its bill to communicate.
• Ambush Predator: An animal that hunts by staying very still (often camouflage) and then striking.
• Vulnerable Species: A type of animal or plant that is at a high risk of going extinct in the wild.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Join Magnify: A Wild & Wonderful Summer Adventure by Nat Theo

Explore God's creation right where you live and learn from Eryn in live video classes: https://thenaturaltheologyproject.com/magnify