Dee At 8 A.M.

Friday, August 21, 2026

August 21, 2026

I am a female Yellow Garden Spider

Males don't get anywhere close to this big

I'm large and bulky like a might old oak

My mate's just a skinny little twig.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

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Thursday, August 20, 2026

August 20, 2026

I am a female Clark's Spiny Lizard

If I was male, I'd have blue on my belly and chin

I live in elevations from 3000-6000 feet

And I lay up to 20 eggs in the spring.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Arivaca Cienega Nature Trail, Arivaca, AZ

Sources: https://reptilesofaz.org/lizards-subpages/h-s-clarkii/

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

August 19, 2026

I am a Desert Blonde Tarantula

My mating process is a little strange.

The male weaves and then fills a purse with sperm

Then the female carries it till she's ready to lay eggs

She then fertilizes the eggs herself

Using the sperm purse in which the eggs bathe.

(I guess that's cheaper than buying her a Louis Vuitton bag, but considering that she will lay up to 1000 eggs, spiderling support must be outrageously expensive!)

Thanks to special guest photographer and my sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Arivaca Cienega Nature Trail, Arivaca, AZ

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

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

August 18, 2026

I am an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake

David took this photo, but I'm not on his arm

My stinky musk is the worse thing about me, but

Some people mistake me for a Coral snake and do me harm.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

Sources: https://www.zooamerica.com/animals/arizona-mountain-kingsnake/

Monday, August 17, 2026

August 17, 2026

I am known as a Red Crossbill

So named for my misaligned beak

I use it to gather seeds from

Cones of conifer trees.

As described in the article, sometimes they also gather grit from the ground. If you click on David's video below, they appear to be gathering grit from the side of a stone building.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Check out this super cool video, also taken by David. https://youtu.be/in0VW_Dsp20

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Restroom wall, Rustler Park in Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red_Crossbill/id
Check out this super cool video, also taken by David. https://youtu.be/in0VW_Dsp20

Sunday, August 16, 2026

August 16, 2026

I am a Pygmy Nuthatch

Climbing pine trees is something I enjoy

I'm highly social

And when I get vocal

I make a squeaky-toy noise.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Barfoot Park in Chiricahua Mountains

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pygmy_Nuthatch/id

Saturday, August 15, 2026

August 15, 2026

I am a Western Bluebird

I'm mostly an insectivore but I'll also eat mealworms

My songs tend to have a few "kew' notes

But are not known to have meaningful words.

Thanks to special guest photographer and sweetheart, David Simpson.

Location: Rustler Park in Chiricahua Mountains, AZ

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