June 22, 2021

These shells all used to contain critters

In the Ambleminae Subfamily

Until some Limpkins ate their dinner

In a method most clammily.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3701492 (To read this article, you have to sign up for a free JSTOR account. This lets you read 100 free articles every month. I haven't read this entire article, but JSTOR is a very cool reference tool, and you never know what you find there. Highly recommend.

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 21, 2021

This plant is Oleander

It's commonly eaten by the Polka-dot Wasp Moth

It is toxic to many other species

And is mentioned in a Steely Dan song.

Location: Veteran's Memorial Park, Vero Beach

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/oleander.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvzVW6c7ZbU

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 20, 2021

I am a mom Wild Turkey

These babies might not be all mine

Another mom might have dumped their eggs on my nest

Twas not by mistake, it was by design.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Important Message for Dee at 8:00 a.m. Email Subscribers

As mentioned a few weeks ago, my blog host has ended email subscriptions. Thus, for those of you who subscribe via email, as of July 1, you will no longer receive my blog in your email.

  

The good news is that I do plan to move my blog over the summer, but I will not be able to complete that task before July1. Therefore, I encourage you to please use an alternate method of reading my blog till then. You can:

Read on Facebook (requires that you have a Facebook account):

Click here, then click the Follow button.

Read on Instagram (requires that you have an Instagram account):

Click here, then click the Follow button.

Read on my blog (doesn't require any special account, but you have to remember to check it every day):

Click here, the bookmark the page, and set a reminder on your calendar to check it every day! 

If none of these methods work for you, please email me and let me know that you would like to start receiving the blog again once I set it up on the new site. My apologies for the inconvenience, and thanks so much to those of you who have been following me. 

June 19, 2021

I am a Nanday Parakeet

I'm a small, neotropical parrot

I'm mostly green, with a black hood and blue neck

And my legs look a little embarrassed.

Location: Fort De Soto State Park

Sources: https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=8B85CB2CE26DDCE4

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 18, 2021

I am a Snowy Egret

As always, I'm ever so chic

I even have black-painted toenails

On my otherwise bright yellow feet.

(Zoom in on the feet - I've taken hundreds of photos of these guys and never noticed the black toenail polish before!)

Location: Fort De Soto State Park

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

June 17, 2021

I am known as a Laughing Gull

I'm mostly found on the coast

I wear a black hood when I'm breeding

The girls all think I am the most!

Location: Fort De Soto State Park

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson