May 2, 2024

We known as Burrowing Owls

We stash food in our burrows during mating season -

Anything from insects to weasels and squirrels

Baby birds get hungry - we don't need more reasons.

Thanks to special guest photographer, David Simpson, for the photo from Brian Piccolo Park.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Brian Piccolo State Park, Ft. Lauderdale

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Burrowing_Owl/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

May 1, 2024

I am known as a Barred Owl

Just sittin' in a tree with my sibling and mom

I can climb trees

By grabbing bark with my beak

While my mom just looks on with aplomb.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson. 

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 30, 2024

I am a Brown-belted Bumble Bee

I'm black on my butt and my face

The rest of my body is yellow

Except for the brown belt round my waist.

Location: WW Ranch Road, SSRPSP

Sources: https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/field-guide/20/

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 29, 2024

I am an Anelosimus studiosus

My species can be docile or aggressive

If I'm aggressive I'm more likely to survive a hurricane

If I'm docile, my survival rate's less impressive.

Note: Make sure that you read the article below, it's a super interesting study about spider personality types and how they handle hurricanes. 

Location: Oyster Bay Marsh, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/hurricane-spider-anelosimus-studiosus/

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 28, 2024

This is a Florida Greeneyes

It attracts butterflies, wasps and bees

It cannot tolerate flooding or salt

And is a member of the Aster family.

Location: Merritt Island

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=BESU

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 27, 2024

We are Phaon Crescent butterflies

Fogfruit is our caterpillar host

Our wings are just pretty when they're opened

But gorgeous and look like stained glass when they're closed.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive (photo 1), Titusville and Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park (photos 2-4)

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/phaon_crescent.htm

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

April 26, 2024

I am known as a Paper Wasp

I've got two large compound eyes

I have 3 eyes that are Ocelli

I don't see through them directly

But I can use them to control my flight.

(Click to enlarge the photo, their eyes are pretty cool, and you can see all 5 in the photo.)

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Titusville

Sources: https://engines.egr.uh.edu/episode/2877

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.