Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundThis is Florida Privet
Bees love it's tiny flower
Birds love to eat it's berries
It also makes a great hedge or bower.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Thursday, May 30, 2019
May 31, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundThis is Florida Privet
Bees love it's tiny flower
Birds love to eat it's berries
It also makes a great hedge or bower.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
May 30, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI am known as a Mangrove Skipper
I'm iridescent black and blue
When I'm a caterpillar I eat Rhizophora mangle1
When I'm an adult I eat Mangrove nectar too.
1.Rhizophora mangle is the scientific name for American Mangrove.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
May 29, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI am a Gulf Fritillary butterfly
I can produce multiple generations each year.
I lay my tiny yellow eggs on a host plant
Such as the Purple Passionflower shown here.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
May 28, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI'm a female Cape May warbler
I winter in the West Indies
I summer in boreal forests
Where I raise about six babies.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Monday, May 27, 2019
May 27, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI am a male Northern Cardinal
Me and my mate both sing.
This is fairly unusual in songbirds.
And we both beat up cars in the spring.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Sunday, May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI am a male American Redstart
I look a bit different when I moon.
I am included in a large Harlem art project
That includes Balloons for the Common Loon.
Note: I never know what I am going to find when researching my blog. This is one of my favorite articles that I've ever stumbled across. It is a great project, and I hope it gains traction in other places as well.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Saturday, May 25, 2019
May 25, 2019
Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park, CampgroundI am a male American Redstart
I'm not good at monogamy
I sometimes have one wife that is on a nest
And 1/4 mile away - another family!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Friday, May 24, 2019
May 24, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, BroadwayThis is Resurrection Fern
Today it looks pretty and alive
But it will temporarily look dead
If the weather gets too dry.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Thursday, May 23, 2019
May 23, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, BroadwayThis is a Golden Polypody
It is a fern that is epiphytic.
It can grow on a palm, or upon a rock,
Or in soil that is neutral to acidic.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
May 22, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, New York AveWe are known as Red Imported Fire Ants
We cause damage both painful and ecological
We are known to ruin soybean crops and attack
Ground dwelling birds with a vengeance pathological.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
May 21, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am a male Sachem butterfly
If I were female I'd have a white spot on my wing.
I spend my day perched down low on the ground
Looking for a female who's up for a fling.
Monday, May 20, 2019
May 20, 2019
Location: Viera, Viera WetlandsWe are about a dozen baby Alligators
Well disguised by our baby stripes
You have to look really hard to see us
Don't take a swim or you'll be very surprised!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Sunday, May 19, 2019
May 19, 2019
Location: Viera, Viera WetlandsI am an adult Great Horned Owl
I'm an aggressive hunter and I'll persist.
My eyes don't move but I can swivel my head
Almost like the girl in The Exorcist.
Note: My mom loved owls, so this post is to honor her on what would have been her 87th birthday. This is a captive owl that is used for education, which we saw at the Viera Wetlands festival.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Saturday, May 18, 2019
May 18, 2019
Location: Viera, Viera WetlandsWe are baby Anhingas
Right now we are pink, white and tan
When we grow up, we will be black and sleek
For right now, at least, that's our plan.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Friday, May 17, 2019
May 17, 2019
Location: Viera, Viera WetlandsWe are baby Great Blue Herons
We still live with mom in the nest.
Although our feathers help us blend in well,
Right now, they still look like a mess!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Thursday, May 16, 2019
May 16, 2019
Location: Viera, Viera WetlandsI am known as a Harris's Hawk
I like high perches, like a balcony.
I am social and don't mind humans,
So I'm often used for falconry.
Note: This was a captive bird that was used in a falconry demonstration at the Viera Wetlands Festival.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
May 15, 2019
Location: Fellmere, Rails to TrailsI am an Eastern Coachwhip
My head's black but my body is tan
If you look close you can see I'm eating a big rat
I bet you are wondering how I can!
There's a myth that says I dislocate my jaw
But that is not actually true -
I have ligaments and tendons to help me
Open wide when I need to chew.
And one last thing - though I'm non-venomous
If you try to catch me, I will bite you.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
May 14, 2019
Location: Little League Park, FellsmereI am a baby Pilleated Woodpecker
I don't have a big crest yet like my mom and dad.
But you can already see my red mustache,
So you know I'm not a lass, I'm a lad.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Monday, May 13, 2019
May 13, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am another Asian Lady Beetle
Don't confuse me with a 7 Spotted Ladybug.
I usually have more white on my face,
As well as a much larger radius.
Note: I updated this post because I had originally linked to an article that had incorrect information as described in this article below.
Sources: https://askentomologists.com/2018/03/12/ladybug-meme/?fbclid=IwAR3zYNY9pg4QFQUgHhZm2bHvSvcUE_fqyUiFxX58hMpT_nnxqlFg6IT2WyoPhoto and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Sunday, May 12, 2019
May 12, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am a Florida Ivory Millipede
I don't really have 1000 feet.
But I do have 4 feet on each body segment,
And detritus is what I like to eat.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Saturday, May 11, 2019
May 11, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsThis is Canna flaccida
The yellow's not petals, they are stamens
This plant is also called Golden Canna
In terms of the laymen.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Friday, May 10, 2019
May 10, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am a Twin-spot Skipper
I have two pairs of white spots on my wings
I am the only butterfly in the Oligoria genus
I like nectar from thistle, among other things.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Thursday, May 9, 2019
May 9, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am an adult Asian Lady Beetle
Although I am great at my job
My drawback is in the winter
I show up at houses in a huge mob.
Note: If you are brave, read the linked article to see a few hundred thousand of these beetles hanging around together. I'm just glad it's not my house!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
May 8, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsI am the larvae of an Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis, scientifcally.
I was introduced to the US to control arthropod pests
I do my job quite effectively.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
May 7, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsThis is a species of sweat bee
In the Halictidae family.
I posted this picture for my honeybee
Today is our 14th anniversary
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Monday, May 6, 2019
May 6, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, Rails to TrailsThis is Dee beside Cirsium nuttallii
It's a very large type of Thistle.
Although it is loved by pollinators
Touching its thorns will make humans bristle.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Sunday, May 5, 2019
May 5, 2019
Location: Sebastian, Friendship ParkI am a Florida Scrub Jay
You can see on my ankles that I am banded.
That doesn't mean that I committed a crime
Scientists just want to know where I've landed.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Saturday, May 4, 2019
May 4, 2019
Location: Sebastian, Rails to TrailsI am a Great-crested Flycatcher
I have a yellow tummy and thick, dark beak.
I don't just eat flies, I also like fruit
And my call is a loud, abrupt "weeeeep"
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Friday, May 3, 2019
May 3, 2019
Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State ParkWe are known as Dung Beetles
We are in the Scarabaeinae family
We speed the decomposition of manure
And reduce pests like flies, all naturally.
Note: Make it a point to read the linked article below, it is super interesting!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Thursday, May 2, 2019
May 2, 2019
Location: Vero Beach, Riverside ParkI'm known as a Green Heron
I'm one of the few birds known to use tools
I use fishing lures to attract dumb fish
Who didn't spend enough time in schools!
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
May 1, 2019
Location: Jensen Beach, Hawk's Bluff TrailI am a Gulf Fritillary butterfly
I live in the southern US to south of the West Indies.
I was an egg, then a larva, then in a pupa,
Which I escaped by doing a strip-tease.
Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
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