November 30, 2021

I am a Belted Kingfisher

I need water near a vertical dirt patch

To build a burrow where I can nest

And protect my babies after they hatch.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 29, 2021

(Left) I am known as an Anhinga

(Right) And I am a Boat-tailed Grackle

We get along fine in the wild as friends

But you won't find us in a wedding chapel. 

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2019.00113

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

David Simpson and I are pleased to present to you episode 6 of Dee at 8 a.m. Ask David a Birding Question. Today's question comes from Joy Handley who wants to know: How can you tell terns apart? Thanks for the question!

If you have a question you want David to answer, please leave a comment here. And if you want to support my dream of giving up my day job and doing this full time, be sure to click the YouTube Like and Subscribe buttons!

https://youtu.be/xOgcxZsAyug

November 28, 2021

This is Macroptilium lathyroides

Also known as Phasey Bean

It's flowers are purple-ish red,

And it has compound leaves. 

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

Sources: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/macroptilium-lathyroides/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound%20leaf

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 27, 2021

I am known as a Cucumber Moth

In Africa and Asia, I'm considered a pest

I tend to eat fruit

There lies the dispute

I don't only eat, I infest!

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Palm Bay, FL

Sources  https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/factsheets/diaphania-indica-nitidalis-hyalinata.pdf

Photo © 2021 David Simpson and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 26, 2021

I am a male breeding House Sparrow

I like to live where I have human neighbors

Because I'm so common, I'm easily studied

As evidenced by nearly 5000 published scientific papers.

Location: Cape Cod, MA

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

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 25, 2021

I am known as a Tree Swallow

I live up north when I'm breeding

But when the weather gets cold

I'm just not that bold

Come July or August - I'm leaving!

Location: Cape Cod, MA

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/maps-range

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 24, 2021

I am a Black-capped Chickadee

I have a black hat and bib

My mate and I excavate a tree cavity

Each year to make our little nesting crib.

Location: Cape Cod, MA

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

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 23, 2021

I am an Anaxyrus fowleri

Commonly known as a Fowler's Toad

Don't look at this picture too closely

You will notice I just dropped a load.

(I swear I did not see the poop until I downloaded the picture, and it was in EVERY picture I took of him.)

Location: Cape Cod, MA

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

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 22, 2021

I am an Eastern Towhee

I'm black, white and reddish brown

I can be found in Florida throughout the year

And further north when I want to get down.

Location: Cape Cod, MA

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Towhee/maps-range

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 21, 2021

I am known as a Horned Lark

You know I'm male cause of my bold black mustache

I have tiny black feathers that stick up like horns

They make me look sexy and brash. 

Location: Cape Cod, MA

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

(Note: I'm feeling a little homesick, so I thought I'd dedicate this week to the last time I had a real vacation with my sibs when we went to Cape Cod in July of 2016. Enjoy the trip up north!)

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 20, 2021

I am an Eastern Amberwing dragonfly

I have red eyes and my wings are covered with veins

My stripes mimic wasps

To scare predators off

And I prefer sunny days to those when it rains.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Eastern-Amberwing

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 19, 2021

I am a Southern Green-striped Grasshopper

You can find me where soil is bare or disturbed

I can actually be either green or brown

Misnamed species like me leave Dee feeling perturbed.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN010

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 18, 2021

I am a Red-banded Hairstreak

I have two tails that hang off my hindwings

I mostly have the lighter color shown here,

But might be darker if you see me in the spring.

(This photo was taken in the autumn. See the link below for a photo of the darker version.)

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/redbanded_hairstreak.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 17, 2021

I am a Black Swallowtail butterfly

I am indirectly associated with Socrates

We both consumed poison hemlock

I'm alive due to my different biology.

(To quote the UFL article below, "Black swallowtail caterpillars are able to detoxify the furanocoumarin chemicals (particularly the linear forms) in these and other toxic Apiaceae (Berenbaum 1981)." Read also the other linked articles for information on furanocoumarin and how it can affect humans.)

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN906

https://www.life.illinois.edu/berenbaum/newpage1.htm

https://www.chemistryworld.com/podcasts/furanocoumarin/3009708.article

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 16, 2021

I am a male Citrine Forktail damselfly

ID'd by the 3 yellow segments at the end of my tail

Contrary to what Dee believed up until last year

Damselflies are not Dragonflies that are female.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: http://www.americaninsects.net/d/ischnura-hastata.html

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 15, 2021

I am an Atlantic Grasshopper

You can tell cause my antennae are shorter

Than other grasshopper species

And my body is about the length of a quarter.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/5004

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 14, 2021

This is Coastalplain Chaffhead

It attracts many butterflies and some bees

It's a short-lived perennial and prefers drier ground

And when in full bloom its flowers are showy.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/carphephorus-corymbosus

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 13, 2021

I am an adult male Fiery Skipper

I am orange where my mate is brown

If I was female, I'd be slightly larger

And the orange and brown would be the other way round.

(See photos in the link below for nice comparison pictures of male vs. female.)

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/BFLY/fiery_skipper.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 12, 2021

I am an Ocola Skipper

My fore wings are much longer than my hind

Sometimes I feed hanging upside down

When pollen is on my mind!

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 11, 2021

I am a Dark Ricefield Mosquito

I started mating soon after I hatched.

Females of my species will bite all they mammals they can

Making them scratch scratch scratch, scratch. scratch.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://wrbu.si.edu/vectorspecies/mosquitoes/columbiae

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 10, 2021

I am an Eastern Meadowlark

I look like Meadowlarks found in western states

Our geographies overlap, but we don't get along

And though possible, we very rarely mate.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 9, 2021

This is Pineland Rayless Goldenrod

A.K.A. Bigelowia nudata - a name quite distinct

The name "Bigelowia" is for botanist Jacob Bigelow

And nudata means "naked" just like you'd think!

(To quote "The Complete Guide to Wildflowers", "The name nudata means "naked," alluding to the rayless flowers.")

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Complete_Guide_to_Florida_Wildflowers/J-xEDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

http://coastalplainplants.org/wiki/index.php/Bigelowia_nudata

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 8, 2021

I am known as Lilium catesbaei

My stage name when I sing is Pine Lily

My backup singers are the Purplettes

(Not their actual names, Dee is just silly.)

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-lilium-catesbaei/

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 7, 2021

I am a female Wild Turkey

I exercise and I'm on a very strict diet

I only have 3 weeks to get unappetizingly thin

Thanksgiving leaves me with a sense of disquiet

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 6, 2021

I am a Linear-winged Grasshopper

I have big eyes and my face is slanted

I'm wingless and you can find me in the south-east US

In flatwoods where pines are planted.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/38513

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 5, 2021

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk,

If I breed in Florida, I stay there. 

If I breed in Canada or the northeast US

I vacation in Mexico every year.   

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 4, 2021

This is a Shortleaf Rose Gentian

In Florida, they can grow almost anywhere

They like moisture, but don't tolerate salt

So at the beach, you won't find many there.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/sabatia-brevifolia

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 3, 2021

I am a Starbellied Orbweaver

I build my vertical web in bright, sunny areas

I have eight legs like all spiders

If I wore shoes I would need two tiny farriers.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2037

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 2, 2021

I am known as a Green Lynx Spider

I have quite a passion for bugs

I am beneficial because I eat many crop pests,

But pollinators also tease my taste buds.

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/green_lynx_spider.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 1, 2021

I am known as a Merlin

I'm famous for my hunting skills

Whether shore birds or a flock of song birds -

When I'm hungry, I'll go out and kill.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson