April 4, 2025

I am a Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth

Though it's easy to confuse me with Dee -

But she has 5 toes on each hand and foot,

I have 2 on my hand, but on my feet I've got 3.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.podvolunteer.org/blog/the-difference-between-two-and-three-toed-sloth

Photo and text © 2025 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 3, 2025

I am a male Green Honeycreeper

I'm mostly bright aqua with a black head

I like to eat fruits and nectar

From southern Mexico to Brazil, I'm widespread.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica; La Fortuna's Ecocenter, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/grehon1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 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 2, 2025

I am known as a Green Basilisk

I have fringed skin on my long rear toes

This helps me to run short distances on water

I can also swim so I don't sink like a stone.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-basilisk-lizard

Very informative video with additional details about how the Basilisk is able to walk on water: https://youtu.be/UdUcRoQkiJ4?si=Vk8Tx6j2yeiVXLKD

Photo and text © 2025 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 1, 2025

We are known as White-collared Swifts

As Swifts go, we are one of the largest

If you look close you can see the white band round our necks

We're related to Taylor, the recording artist.

(Haha! April Fools! We aren't really related to Taylor, but we both have bands!)

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/whcswi/cur/identification

Photo and text © 2025 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.

March 31, 2025

I am a Chestnut-headed Oropendola

I have blue on my wings, body and eyes

My mate looks like me

We both have an ivory beak

But her colors are duller and she's about 3/4 my size.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/chhoro1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 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.

March 30, 2025

I am a male Snowy Cotinga

I'm white with a light blueish-gray crown

My mate is light gray with white wing bars

Mid-springtime is when we get down.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/snocot1/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2025 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.

March 29, 2025

I am known as a Great Kiskadee

I can be found in South America and Texas

My population is large and healthy, 

So right now, no one needs to protect us.

Location: Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

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

Photo and text © 2025 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.