April 25, 2025

I am known as a Broad-winged Hawk

Like vultures, to relax we sometimes fly in kettles

That means we glide in circles in warm air currents

Because flying there does not test our mettle.

Location: Chilamate, Heredia, Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/overview

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 24, 2025

I am a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

You can see part of my rufous tail from this angle

My tail color's distinct

My bill is bright pink

And I practice Polygyny, my love life's a tangle!

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rtlhum/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 23, 2025

I am a Southern Rough-winged Swallow

I live near water where I nest and forage

I very much love

Eating beetles and bugs

Of which, near water, there's never a shortage.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/srwswa1/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 22, 2025

I am known as a Laughing Falcon

I really enjoy eating snakes

At every dawn and dusk

I raise a loud fuss

Emitting laughing-like yelps, hence my name.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/laufal1/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 21, 2025

I am known as a Crested Guan

I'm a large bird in the genus Penelope

I honk and cry loud

And make crashing sounds

As I make my way through the subcanopy.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/cregua1/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 20, 2025

We are known as Black River Turtles

We are cream-yellow with spots underneath

But we mostly are black

On our head and our back

And like all turtles, we do not have teeth.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=3878

https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/animals/turtle-facts-for-kids

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 19, 2025

I am a Banded Peacock butterfly

I'm mostly brown with white marginal bands

I have a broken median band that is orange-red

And I prefer herbaceous host plants.

Location: La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anartia_fatima

https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anartia-fatima

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.