November 18, 2019

Location: Location

I am a Squirrel Tree Frog
My color can be anywhere from brown to green
My call sounds a little bit like a duck
And I'm usually easier heard than seen.

Sources: Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation UF Wildlife Johnson Lab - Florida's Frogs & Toads

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 17, 2019

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee

This might be a Perforated Ruffle Lichen
It's hard to tell without a microscope
As well as some chemicals and a key
And someone to show you the ropes.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service - Lichen Collection and Identification

Photo and text © 2019 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 16, 2019

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee

I am a Two-lined Spittlebug
I really like to eat grass
I inject the grass with toxic saliva
Which can kill the grass in a very large patch.

Sources: University of Florida IFAS Extension - Management of Spittlebugs in Pasture

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 15, 2019

Location: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee

I believe this is an Arabesque Orbweaver
Based on the bright white dots on it's belly
Another clue is by the shape of the web
Which can also help with spider ID.

Sources: North American Insects & Spiders - Orb Weaver Spider – Neoscona arabesca

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 14, 2019

Location: Stone Street, Cocoa Village

I am a Cuban Brown Snail
In Florida in 1920 I was first released
I'm not well liked cause I eat ornamental plants
And my population has spread and increased.

Sources: UF | IFAS Featured Creatures - Zachrysia provisoria

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 13, 2019

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

I am an Eastern Meadowlark
I look a lot like my Western counterpart
My malar stripe's white, their color's less bright
That's what the main differences are.

(Note: We are talking visible differences here. Another very big differences is in their songs.)

Sources: Differences between Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, and Western Meadowlark, S. neglecta.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 12, 2019

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

I known as a Gopher Tortoise
You've caught me at a moment quite inopportune
I'm heading into my burrow, out of the sun
So please excuse my tortoise-shell moon.

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Gopher Tortoise

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson