March 5, 2026

We are mostly American White Pelicans

Well,  there are a few intruders in our midst

But we are fine with the Brown Pelicans up in the tree

And the gull? Sure, we can all co-exist.

(Look close, there is a gull in there too!)

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/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 4, 2026

I am an American Herring Gull

Top row, fourth from the left

I have light grey wings and pinkish legs

And I'm a big boy with a bit of heft!

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Herring_Gull/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.

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.