November 10, 2026

Without bands, to you, I'm just a Florida Scrub Jay

But potential mates see me this way:

I am not related

My lil' bro's not predated

And we're only separated by a few years in age.

Research done at the Archbold Biological Station shows that that some of the methods Scrub Jays use to choose a mate include proximity to their own territory, how long they have they have served as a helper bird to their own family, the age of the other bird, and they do not choose mates at family reunions.

Location: Photo taken earlier this year at the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. 

Sources: Lecture by Sahas Barve regarding how Florida Scrub Jays choose their mates. If you want to learn very cool stuff like this, come see Sahas at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival  in January! 

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.

November 9, 2026

This sand live oak shows evidence

That a scrub jay has had a snack

He took the bottom of the acorn

And left its little acorny hat.

Location: Archbold Biological Research Station, Lake Placid, FL

Sources: Observation by Sahas Barve on a tour of the Archbold property. If you want to learn more very cool stuff like this, come see Sahas at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in January! 

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.

November 8, 2026

I am known as a Volcano Junco

Unlike other Juncos, my tail flight feather aren’t white

I’m darkly streaked

With a conical pink beak

And a black mask surrounding bright orange eyes.

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/voljun1/cur/identification

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.

November 7, 2026

I am a male Acorn Woodpecker

You know I’m male cause my red touch my white feathers

I am known as a cooperative breeder

I live with extended family and we store acorns together.

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/acowoo/cur/introduction

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.

November 6, 2026

I am a male Slaty Flowerpiercer

I grasp a flower corolla with my curved upper beak, 

Then with my lower beak, I puncture the corolla

And use my tongue to extract nectar, not speak.

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/slaflo1/cur/introduction#food

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.

November 5, 2026

I am a female Volcano Hummingbird

I’m one of the smallest birds in the world

Páramo in Costa Rica and Panama

Are the only places I can be observed.

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/volhum1/cur/introduction

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.

November 4, 2026

I am a Lesser Violetear

I’m mostly green with purple ear tufts

They aren’t really ears,

They don’t help me hear,

But they make the girls think I got the right stuff!

Location: Costa Rica

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/lesvio1/cur/introduction

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.