October 20, 2020

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike,

I impale my prey but for different reasons:

If prey is toxic, I impale it to bake poison out,

I also impale to impress girls if it is breeding season.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 19, 2020

I am a Spotted Sandpiper

When I was a chick I was precocial

I was able to walk when I was 4 hours old

By 18 days, I could fly and was fully mobile.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Actitis_macularius/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precociality

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 18, 2020

I am a Great Blue Heron

My legs are long and my body's big and round

You might think that I'm big and fat, 

But I only weight 5 to 6 pounds.

Like all birds, Great Blue Herons keep their weight down by having hollow bones.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 17, 2020

I am a female Boat-tailed Grackle

I like to eat stuff that I find in the water

Such as tadpoles, frogs, mussels and shrimp

But sometimes I also eat other birds sons and daughters

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/boat-tailed-grackle

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 16, 2020

I am a Red-bellied Woodpecker

I was altricial when I was born

My mom and dad took care of me for about 10 weeks

Then made me leave the nest - that's just the norm. 

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altriciality
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Melanerpes_carolinus/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 15, 2020

I'm known as a Limpkin, 

I can be found from Florida to Argentina

My body is large and brown with white spots

But my legs are long and lithe like a ballerina.

Location: Fellsmere, Stick Marsh

Sources: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Aramus_guarauna/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 14, 2020

I am a male Carolina Wren, 

I am small and can be hard to see

Allegedly I sing a tea-kettle-tea-kettle song

But I sing a lot and my song varies frequently.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park,

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Wren/sounds

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson