Fetch the ball, birdie!

Xie Yufeng throws a bird into the air. He shoots a bead through a tube for the bird to catch. (AP/Ng Han Guan)
A man prepares to throw a bird into the air. The bird is trained to play catch. (AP/Ng Han Guan)
A wutong bird catches beads in its beak. (AP/Ng Han Guan)
Xie Yufeng opens his hand for a bird to return. It caught a bead! (AP/Ng Han Guan)
Do you have any pets trained to do tricks? (AP/Ng Han Guan)

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Grab a tube and plastic beads. Join friends at the park. Make sure some of those friends have wings.

Toss beads into the air. Trained birds catch them. Feed birds treats. Then play again!

Pray: Thank God for birds. They give us joy with their songs and playful ways.

Read More:
Only about 50 to 60 people in Beijing, China, still play fetch with birds. The game goes back to the 1600s. It takes four to five months to train birds to catch beads. Most of the feathery players are wutong birds. Trainers throw seeds into the air. Birds learn to catch them. Yummy! Trainers later throw tiny plastic balls. The birds catch the balls. Then they return to trainers for a tasty reward.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.” (Luke 12:6)