January 31, 2021

These are non-breeding American Avocets, 

If they were breeding they'd have rust on their heads and necks

Females have a shorter and more upturned bill -

That's one way to determine their sex.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 30, 2021

We are a group of American White Pelicans

It might look like we are just feeling snuggly

But in fact we are cooperatively foraging - 

We corral the fish then dine together, how lovely!

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, Titusville

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_White_Pelican/lifehistory#food

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 29, 2021

I am a Greater Yellowlegs

The North American Boreal forest is where I breed

This is the largest boreal forest on earth

And it is known as a bird nursery

And it's not just a great place for breeding,

It helps the planet to breathe.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.borealbirds.org/boreal-forest

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 28, 2021

I am a male Northern Shoveler

Shown here with some of my friends

I look a little silly when I'm feeding

But I get food - it's a means to an end.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Shoveler/media-browser/474021

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 27, 2021

I am a female Northern Shoveler

I am a very good mom

If I ever get flushed off my nest, 

Before I leave, I drop a poop bomb.

This covers my eggs and deters predators

I'm totally a mom with aplomb.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 26, 2021

I am a Common Gallinule

When I was a chick, I looked like I do now

But when I was a juvenile I looked quite different

My shield was dull green and my feathers were brown.

(Note: This is one of the birds I don't understand the evolution of. Pretty much every other bird has chicks that are muted colors to keep them camouflaged. But Common Gallinules, the babies look very similar to the adults, but when they grow older, they turn brown. Then when the reach maturity, they appear as shown here.)

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-11-2019.html

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Gallinule/id

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 25, 2021

Shown here is a Common Gallinule

And his friends the Blue-winged Teal

The Teal are known as dabblers

The Gallinule uses his feet to hunt insects and snails.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Dabblers_vs._Divers.html

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Gallinule/lifehistory#food

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 24, 2021

We are a pair of Blue-winged Teal,

But you have to look hard to see the blue

It's a small patch that you only see when we fly

Not when we are swimming away from you.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-winged_Teal/id

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-winged_Teal/media-browser/60292811

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 23, 2021

I am a female Blue-winged Teal, 

I am a small, fast flying duck

I'm common in Florida in the winter

I don't stay where it's cold like some other schmucks!

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-winged-teal

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 22, 2021

I am a female Green-winged Teal, 

You can see just a touch of green on my wing

I have lamellae on the inside of my bill 

To filter invertebrates and other small things.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-winged_Teal/overview

http://projectbeak.org/adaptations/beaks_straining.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 21, 2021

We are two Glossy Ibis

We're probing the water for insects and crabs

We'll also eat small snakes and crawfish

And whatever else we can grab. 

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 20, 2021

I am a Tricolored Heron

Looking somewhat pensive

I'm contemplating a nose job

But I couldn't catch fish and it would be too expensive.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 19, 2021

I am an immature male Common Yellowthroat, 

You can see the start of my black mask

You can find me in low vegetation

Where eating bugs is my main task.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 18, 2021

I am a Belted Kingfisher

My mate and I are cavity nesters

We each have 2 fused toes that we use to dig

A burrow where us and our eggs, then babies, sequester.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 17, 2021

I am a Reddish Egret

I'm cinnamon and grey with a two-toned bill

You can find me dancing crazy in the water

Performing a solo, frenetic quadrille.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 16, 2021

I am an Eastern Phoebe, 

Taking a nap on this twig

I prefer to be alone even during mating season

Other birds company's not something I dig.

Location: Titusville, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 15, 2021

We are Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks

You might find us in fields eating harvested grain waste.

We also gather in large groups in ponds surrounded by trees

Where we party loudly without social restraints.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-bellied-whistling-duck

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 14, 2021

I am a Greater Yellowlegs, 

I'm tall, have spots and am somewhat lanky

The spots are light colored but get darker

When I'm in the mood for some hanky-panky.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 13, 2021

I am known as a Killdeer

I have a large range but I don't like cold weather

When the temperature falls under 50 degrees

I'll migrate south to warm up my feathers.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 12, 2021

I am known as a Limpkin,

Snails' what I love to be eatin'

I'm not a social bird and hang out alone

Except during breading season.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 11, 2021

I am known as a Wood Stork, 

From afar, you might mistake me for a large heron

But in flight I'm known to extend my neck - 

Herons don't, which make our differences apparent.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 10, 2021

I am known as a European Starling

My color, shape and beak make me unique visually

I am known to mimic the sound of other birds calls, 

If you ID me by sound, you might be wrong initially.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/smsfp/IRLspec/sturnus_vulgaris.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 9, 2021

I am a Northern Mockingbird

In the spring and summer I eat insects like ants

In the fall and winter I eat more berries

And other tasty fruits from plants.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Birds/Northern-Mockingbird

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 8, 2021

I am a Crested Caracara,

To find me, look for some Vultures

I sometimes like to have dinner with them

Where we chat about carrion culture.

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 7, 2021

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk, 

Compare me to to yesterday's Coopers. 

My tail is nowhere as long as his, 

And he is better at fancy flight maneuvers.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/species-compare/60324921

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 6, 2021

I am known as a Cooper's Hawk

My favorite food is birds

I sometimes hang around bird feeders

Where sweet, tasty birds are served.

(True story: A few years ago, I was watching a large group of birds at my feeders and a bunch of doves on the ground below. I looked away for a moment, and when I looked back, there was just one bird out in my yard. I was wondering where my birds had gone, till I realized that the one bird remaining was a Cooper's Hawk!)

Location: West Cocoa

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 5, 2021

I am a Little Blue Heron

I was not effected by the plume trade.

Other herons have fancier feathers

Luckily hats with feathers are now old and cliched.

Location: West Cocoa

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/little-blue-heron

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 4, 2021

I am known as a White Peacock

I stay low to the ground cause that's where my food is

Sometimes I pollinate Biden's Alba (shown here)

Depending on what my mood is. 

Location: Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere

Sources: https://flawildflowers.org/know-your-native-pollinators-white-peacock/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2021

I am a Great Blue Heron

I'm coming into my breeding look

Soon I'll stretch my neck and fluff up my feathers

And the girl herons will be totally hooked. 

Location: Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 2, 2021

I am an Ocola Skipper

My forewings are much longer than my hind

In Florida you can find me all year long

If you look hard and are so inclined.

Location: Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Panoquina-ocola

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2021

I am a Dorantes Longtail

I like to live in areas that are disturbed. 

Although the Biden's Alba shown here is native

In disturbed areas, exotic plants are often observed.

Location: Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/Andes%20-%20Urbanus%20dorantes.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson