March 3, 2026

We are known as Eastern oysters

We live on this oyster farm

We are raised for food in a sustainable way

And our ability to clean water's just one of our charms.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2024/01/05/a-brief-explanation-about-triploid-oysters/

https://www.treasurecoastshellfish.com/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 2, 2026

I am a Northern Gannet

I rarely come close to shore, I live at sea

I have special eyes that let me see underwater

And I can plunge dive deeper than 70 feet.

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 1, 2026

We are Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins

We'd be Tursiops truncatus if we lived off shore

We tend to stay close

To the us east coast

The Indo-pacific is where Tursiops aduncus explore.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1562178-Tursiops-erebennus

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 28, 2026

I am an American Oyster catcher

You can only find me in intertidal places

Such as beaches or on barrier islands

Hunting for mollusks and sometimes crustaceans.

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 27, 2026

I am a Monarch Butterfly

If I migrate, it's a very long journey
I will never return

But don't be concerned

My grandkids will complete my trip for me.

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

Sources: https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/monarch.htm

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 26, 2026

I am known as a Common Myna

I'm not feeling photogenic today

But you can still ID me by my white tail patches

And orange-yellow legs as I walk away

Location: Belle Glade, Fl

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

February 25, 2026

I am a male Red-winged Blackbird (top)

And below is my beautiful mate

She might not be as bright colored as me

But she doesn't mind being one of fifteen.

(As described in the linked article, "The Red-winged Blackbird is a highly polygynous species, meaning males have many female mates – up to 15 in some cases.")

Location: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West, Belle Glade

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/overview

Photo and text © 2026 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.