Ornitheology
@ornitheology.bsky.social
Author, pastor, birder in Charlotte, NC. Writes at ornitheology.com. “Let no one think it absurd to learn virtue from birds.” (Venerable Bede, c. 721 A.D.)
Wanna read the first pages of Considering Sparrows? PRH is granting a sneak peek that includes Joni Eareckson Tada's foreward, the prologue, chapter one, and some other introductory tidbits. The link is here: ornitheology.com/book.
New blog post too, with some of the story behind the book. #birds
New blog post too, with some of the story behind the book. #birds
Considering Sparrows | Ornitheology
Pastor and birder Kevin Burrell takes readers on a one-of-a-kind journey of theology, nature, and wonder that reveals God’s truth through the lives of birds.
ornitheology.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Wanna read the first pages of Considering Sparrows? PRH is granting a sneak peek that includes Joni Eareckson Tada's foreward, the prologue, chapter one, and some other introductory tidbits. The link is here: ornitheology.com/book.
New blog post too, with some of the story behind the book. #birds
New blog post too, with some of the story behind the book. #birds
This post is more than 1.5 years old, but today it blew up on my blog—heaviest 1-day traffic I've ever experienced. I guess an article referencing "murder of crows" trends well on Halloween? But it's about your worship mindset too. Really. www.ornitheology.com/post/murder-... #birds #HappyHalloween
Murder of Crows? The Oddities of Collective Names
A gaggle of geese. A murder of crows. A parliament of owls. Where did these strange collective bird names come from?
www.ornitheology.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This post is more than 1.5 years old, but today it blew up on my blog—heaviest 1-day traffic I've ever experienced. I guess an article referencing "murder of crows" trends well on Halloween? But it's about your worship mindset too. Really. www.ornitheology.com/post/murder-... #birds #HappyHalloween
Book launch today. Also, something broke the internet. Coincidence? I think not. #AWS #BreakTheInternet #ConsideringSparrows
October 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Book launch today. Also, something broke the internet. Coincidence? I think not. #AWS #BreakTheInternet #ConsideringSparrows
Excited to officially announce my new book Considering Sparrows today! This book has been blessed by the amazing team at Waterbrook and Multnomah (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social). Learn more, download a free preview, or preorder at ornitheology.com. Spread the word! #birds #consideringsparrows
October 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Excited to officially announce my new book Considering Sparrows today! This book has been blessed by the amazing team at Waterbrook and Multnomah (@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social). Learn more, download a free preview, or preorder at ornitheology.com. Spread the word! #birds #consideringsparrows
Have you ever wondered why Christians often pray for a “hedge of protection”? Or what it means to put on the "armor of God?" To better understand, consider the Gila Woodpecker. #birds #ArmorOfGod #HedgeOfProtection
Hedges, Helmets, and the Gila Woodpecker
Have you ever wondered why Christians often pray for a “hedge of protection”? Or why we're told to "put on the armor of God"? Yes, God is a fortress, a shield, a covering, a strong tower. But are we r...
www.ornitheology.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Have you ever wondered why Christians often pray for a “hedge of protection”? Or what it means to put on the "armor of God?" To better understand, consider the Gila Woodpecker. #birds #ArmorOfGod #HedgeOfProtection
Two very photogenic puffins. Story at ornitheology.com #birds
September 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Two very photogenic puffins. Story at ornitheology.com #birds
Puffins are not adorable.
Or at least I try to make a bid for better adjectives.
Read the latest post. #birds #puffins
www.ornitheology.com/post/perspec...
Or at least I try to make a bid for better adjectives.
Read the latest post. #birds #puffins
www.ornitheology.com/post/perspec...
Perspectives from (Not Adorable) Puffins
It is impossible to write a post on puffins without using the word “adorable.” But I will try. Also, let's talk about the callouses of community.
www.ornitheology.com
September 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Puffins are not adorable.
Or at least I try to make a bid for better adjectives.
Read the latest post. #birds #puffins
www.ornitheology.com/post/perspec...
Or at least I try to make a bid for better adjectives.
Read the latest post. #birds #puffins
www.ornitheology.com/post/perspec...
Pondering migration and college back-to-school emotions. This quote seemed appropriate to the occasion. www.ornitheology.com/post/zugunru... #birds #college #migration #lettinggo
August 20, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Pondering migration and college back-to-school emotions. This quote seemed appropriate to the occasion. www.ornitheology.com/post/zugunru... #birds #college #migration #lettinggo
NEW POST: What does migration have in common with a college freshman move-in day? The word of the day is: ZUGUNRUHE. www.ornitheology.com/post/zugunru... #birds #parenting #college
Zugunruhe, and the Rite of Sending Your Kid Off to College
Birds know when it's time for the journey, exhibiting a restless anxiety to fly. Maybe they know the seasons better than your average college dad.
www.ornitheology.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
NEW POST: What does migration have in common with a college freshman move-in day? The word of the day is: ZUGUNRUHE. www.ornitheology.com/post/zugunru... #birds #parenting #college
If you prefer your reading time on Substack, here ya go... Celtic Adventures with Ornitheologists substack.com/@ornitheolog... #birds
Celtic Adventures with Ornitheologists
A Retreat with Even Sparrows
substack.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
If you prefer your reading time on Substack, here ya go... Celtic Adventures with Ornitheologists substack.com/@ornitheolog... #birds
July 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
July 13, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Just got back from Lindisfarne and vicinity, home of Aiden, Cuthbert, and the Venerable Bede. Those Celtic saints didn't take birds for granted! #birds
July 3, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Just got back from Lindisfarne and vicinity, home of Aiden, Cuthbert, and the Venerable Bede. Those Celtic saints didn't take birds for granted! #birds
July 1, 2025 at 10:38 PM
NEW POST: Thoughts on the necessity of rest from a very hyperactive bird. www.ornitheology.com/post/skylark... #birds
A Skylark Sabbatical
The skylark’s song keeps going as it hoists itself skyward, until the bird is just a distant speck in the sky. Sometimes ministry feels like that.
www.ornitheology.com
June 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
NEW POST: Thoughts on the necessity of rest from a very hyperactive bird. www.ornitheology.com/post/skylark... #birds
Thanks to The Rabbit Room for featuring my "Warbler" article today; may today encourage you with wonders of God's gratuitous beauty! #birds open.substack.com/pub/rabbitro...
Warblers and the Question of Gratuitous Beauty—Kevin Burrell
Pastor Kevin Burrell questions the prodigal beauty of the warbler as evidence of our Creator and his extravagance. For more articles, videos, books, and resources about faith and art, visit RabbitRoom...
open.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Thanks to The Rabbit Room for featuring my "Warbler" article today; may today encourage you with wonders of God's gratuitous beauty! #birds open.substack.com/pub/rabbitro...
A flock of flamingos financed my first youth ministry missions trip. That's not really the main point of my latest post, but it seemed like a good place to start. Celebrate the flamingos in your life, everyone! www.ornitheology.com/post/a-day-w... #birds
A Day Without Flamingos
Change is inevitable, and sometimes the things we seek after have these pesky things called wings. How do we savor the wonder and pursue the permanent?
www.ornitheology.com
May 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
A flock of flamingos financed my first youth ministry missions trip. That's not really the main point of my latest post, but it seemed like a good place to start. Celebrate the flamingos in your life, everyone! www.ornitheology.com/post/a-day-w... #birds
As you anticipate this year's Academy Awards, here are some of my nominees for "Worst Bird Atrocity in a Motion Picture." www.ornitheology.com/post/birdwat... #birds #movies @academyawards.bsky.social
Counterfeit Birds: Mishaps of Birding at the Movies
The geese in Dances with Wolves are cranes. The ducks in D2: Mighty Ducks are geese. How do the directors sleep at night?
www.ornitheology.com
February 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
As you anticipate this year's Academy Awards, here are some of my nominees for "Worst Bird Atrocity in a Motion Picture." www.ornitheology.com/post/birdwat... #birds #movies @academyawards.bsky.social
A Great Gray Owl knows there's life under the barren surface. It can see without seeing. How do we "fix our eyes on what is unseen?" www.ornitheology.com/post/seeing-... #birds #SuperbOwl
Seeing the World Like a Great Gray Owl
A Great Gray Owl knows there's life under the barren surface. It can see without seeing. How do we "fix our eyes on what is unseen?"
www.ornitheology.com
February 12, 2025 at 11:20 PM
A Great Gray Owl knows there's life under the barren surface. It can see without seeing. How do we "fix our eyes on what is unseen?" www.ornitheology.com/post/seeing-... #birds #SuperbOwl
Merry Christmas, ornitheologists! Here's a compilation of my "Posts of Christmas Past." #birds #Christmas mailchi.mp/5a83d70d162f...
December 18, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Merry Christmas, ornitheologists! Here's a compilation of my "Posts of Christmas Past." #birds #Christmas mailchi.mp/5a83d70d162f...
Ever notice how at least half of the gifts in that "Twelve Days of Christmas" song are birds? Here's an old post of mine that walks thru the song in bird-ese, with this important lesson: Birds make great gifts, but you gotta know when to quit. www.ornitheology.com/post/12days #Birds #ChristmasSongs
An Ornitheologist Looks at the 12 Days of Christmas
Birds make great gifts, but you have to know when to quit.
www.ornitheology.com
December 13, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Ever notice how at least half of the gifts in that "Twelve Days of Christmas" song are birds? Here's an old post of mine that walks thru the song in bird-ese, with this important lesson: Birds make great gifts, but you gotta know when to quit. www.ornitheology.com/post/12days #Birds #ChristmasSongs
Went to an aircraft museum yesterday. I discovered this term: "bird ingestion." I will be using it at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow. #Birds #HappyThanksgiving2024
November 28, 2024 at 4:52 AM
Went to an aircraft museum yesterday. I discovered this term: "bird ingestion." I will be using it at the Thanksgiving table tomorrow. #Birds #HappyThanksgiving2024