October 31, 2020

I'm known as a Whirlabout, 

My flight is quick and darting.

I like to drink nectar from flowers

So it smells like Lantana when I'm farting.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Polites-vibex

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 30, 2020

I am a Red-bellied Woodpecker, 

I'm scratching my head on this tree

I might be trying to get rid of molting feathers

Or maybe ectoparasites are bothering me.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/ectoparasite#

https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Head_Scratching.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 29. 2020

I am known as a House Wren,

Sometimes mites attack my babies in my nest

So I invite some spiders to live with me

And they eat those nasty mite pests. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 28, 2020

I am a Red-cockaded Woodpecker

My plumage cannot be ignored

My little white cheeks, always look sweet,

And under my wing I carry a checker board.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-cockaded_Woodpecker/id

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 27, 2020

I am a Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 

It's thought that I am a descendent of

Hairy Woodpeckers that were isolated in Florida

During an inter-glacial period. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103433/Dryobates_borealis

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/are-woodpeckers-evolving-to-look-like-each-other-a-new-study-says-yes/#

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 26, 2020

I am a Brown-headed Nuthatch

I like to climb around the trunks of pine trees

I eat bark-dwelling bugs in the summer

And in wintertime I eat pine seeds. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Nuthatch/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 25, 2020

I'm known as a Pine Warbler

I mostly eat bugs, but sometimes I eat seeds

To eat seeds I have to go through a physiological change

Which seems like an awful lot of work to me!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 24, 2020

I am known as a Southern Toad

My skin is warty but my color and spots vary

I was conceived from a jelly coil of 4000 eggs

Which dad fertilized but he and mom never uh, "married".

(Females lay the jelly coil in the water, which the male toad fertilizes externally. Where is the fun in that??)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/574455b9f8baf3fd9156d863/t/5be1d8f88985833206fafcba/1541527814117/Southern+Toad_Observation+Guide.pdf

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 23, 2020

I am an Ornate Bella Moth,

I rely on immature seeds of Crotalaria plants

They make me repulsive to other critters

Such as Scrub Jays and some species of ants. 

Location: Fellsmere Headwaters

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/leps/bella_moth.htm

http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/files/2012/10/rattlebox.pdf

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 22, 2020

I am known as Scarlet Skimmer

I'm one of many edible dragonflies

I am consumed in Indonesia and China

Once I've been boiled or fried.

As described in the Science Direct article linked below, there can be some risks consuming insects, but many insects including Scarlet Skimmers are edible and nutritious.  The second link below is the Worldwide list of recorded edible insects (Jongema, 2017). 

Location: Fellsmere Headwaters

Sources: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352364616300013

https://www.wur.nl/upload_mm/8/a/6/0fdfc700-3929-4a74-8b69-f02fd35a1696_Worldwide%20list%20of%20edible%20insects%202017.pdf

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 21, 2020

This is a Fragrant White Waterlily

It can be found from Alaska to Puerto Rico

It is large and showy, and yellow and white, 

And can cause one to exclaim, "È magnifico"

Location: Fellsmere Headwaters

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp434

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 20, 2020

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike,

I impale my prey but for different reasons:

If prey is toxic, I impale it to bake poison out,

I also impale to impress girls if it is breeding season.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 19, 2020

I am a Spotted Sandpiper

When I was a chick I was precocial

I was able to walk when I was 4 hours old

By 18 days, I could fly and was fully mobile.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precociality

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 18, 2020

I am a Great Blue Heron

My legs are long and my body's big and round

You might think that I'm big and fat, 

But I only weight 5 to 6 pounds.

Like all birds, Great Blue Herons keep their weight down by having hollow bones.

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 17, 2020

I am a female Boat-tailed Grackle

I like to eat stuff that I find in the water

Such as tadpoles, frogs, mussels and shrimp

But sometimes I also eat other birds sons and daughters

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/boat-tailed-grackle

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 16, 2020

I am a Red-bellied Woodpecker

I was altricial when I was born

My mom and dad took care of me for about 10 weeks

Then made me leave the nest - that's just the norm. 

Location: Fellsmere Stick Marsh

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altriciality
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Melanerpes_carolinus/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 15, 2020

I'm known as a Limpkin, 

I can be found from Florida to Argentina

My body is large and brown with white spots

But my legs are long and lithe like a ballerina.

Location: Fellsmere, Stick Marsh

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 14, 2020

I am a male Carolina Wren, 

I am small and can be hard to see

Allegedly I sing a tea-kettle-tea-kettle song

But I sing a lot and my song varies frequently.

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park,

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Carolina_Wren/sounds

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 13, 2020

I am a Southern Two-striped Walkingstick, 

Sometimes I'm called "the devil's darning needle"

I discharge a secretion to defend myself

Against birds, mice, and beetles and people.

Caution: These bugs can and will aim for eyes, which although won't kill you, can hurt very badly.

Location: Fellsmere, my house

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/walkingstick.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 12, 2020

I am a Black-velvet Leatherleaf slug, 

I am the color of soot

I am native to the Caribbean and south Florida

And my genitals are next to my foot.*

* Apologies to sensitive readers, but I had to include this fact - it just seems like such a wildly inconvenient place to keep ones genitals. And to be honest, I had no ideas slugs have feet. I still learn something new every day I write this blog. 

Location: Fellsmere, my house

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/gastro/slugs_of_florida.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 11, 2020

This is Common Jewelweed

It's an annual that attracts pollinators like bees

The stem juice can be used to treat Athelete's Foot

But for humans, there is poison in the berries.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=IMCA

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 10, 2020

This is Clematis virginiana

Also known as Virgin's-Bower

It is toxic to cats, dogs and humans

There's poison in its leaves, sap and flowers.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/clematis-virginiana/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 9, 2020

I am an Eastern Harvestman, 

Like a spider, I have 8 legs. 

Notice that I am missing a few of them - 

If I'm caught, I'll self- amputate to get away.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.asp?identification=Eastern-Harvestman

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 8, 2020

I am known as an American Toad

Snakes will try to eat me if they get the chance.

But my warty skin secretes poison, 

And if that fails, I pee my pants!*

To quote the article referenced below: "When these toads are faced with a predator that is immune to their poison they will sometimes urinate on themselves to become a less attractive meal."

Location: Hiawassee, GA

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 7, 2020

This is Sweet Everlasting, 

Also called Rabbit Tobacco

It blooms in the early autumn

And it flowers are white to pale yellow.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=PSOBO

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 6, 2020

I am a baby White-tailed Deer, 

I'll lose my spots when I'm around 5 months old

The rest of my fur will turn more uniform brown

Except under my tail which will stay white and bold.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/deer/

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 5, 2020

These are Carolina Horsenettles,

They have a prickly stem

These plants are pretty but be careful

Or you will get stuck when you handle them.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=soca3

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 4, 2020

I am known as an Eastern Newt,

In the front I have 4, in back I have 5 toes

I'm found in ponds or shallow fresh water

Where I help to control mosquitos.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 3, 2020

I am known as a Little Yellow butterfly

When I was a caterpillar I ate partridge pea

As an adult I prefer to drink nectar

From plants in the Aster family.

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pyrisitia-lisa

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 2, 2020

I am called a Common Buckeye,

Because my eyespots resemble the eye

Of a deer or a buck, and they bring me good luck

And can scare predators away when I fly. 

Location: Hiawassee, GA

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/common_buckeye.htm

https://pixels.com/featured/big-eye-deer-brian-wallace.html

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

October 1, 2020

I am a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 

My legs are short and my wings beat fast

But not fast enough to avoid predators - 

Including Loggerhead Shrikes and cats. 

Location: Hiawassee, GA

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

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson