Monday, February 28, 2022

February 28, 2022

I am a Purple Sandpiper,
I winter in Newfoundland and Quebec
My mate and I are monogamous and 
He teaches the kids to hunt and peck.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Ponce Inlet

Sources: Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, February 27, 2022

February 27, 2022

I am an Eastern Gray Squirrel
Hand to my heart, I'm ever so earnest
My home's a hollow tree or nest of leaves and twigs, 
And it's simple and not fancily furnished.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Saturday, February 26, 2022

February 26, 2022

I am known as a Loggerhead Shrike
I have a grey head and wear a black mask
I like to catch bugs, but I'm not a thug
I'm just performing my daily grocery task. 

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022

We are European Starlings
The Neotropics are the only place that we aren't found
We nest in holes and crevices
And make a whole orchestra of sounds. 

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/sounds
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sturnus_vulgaris/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, February 24, 2022

February 24, 2022

I am a White Ibis
I have reddish skin around my eyes
My eyes are bright blue, I use them to woo
The girls who they hypnotize.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

February 23, 2022

I am a Snowy Egret
The front of my legs are black but the back is green
My feet are a bright yellow and when I moon, 
I look more fluffy than obscene.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

February 22, 2022

I am a Little Blue Heron
I prefer fresh water to salt
When I'm young, you might mistake me for a snowy egret
If you don't have a bird book that isn't my fault.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, February 21, 2022

February 21, 2022

I am a Eurasian Collared-Dove
I was introduced to Florida around 1980
We don't migrate, but we're found out of the state
Our kids wander long distance, it's nothing shady.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/eurasian-collared-dove

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, February 20, 2022

February 20, 2022

I am a Common Grackle
In the US I am quite wide spread
If someone tells you there's a Boat-tailed Grackle in Wyoming
It's probably me, and you are being misled.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, February 19, 2022

February 19, 2022

I am a Cyanocitta cristata
Cyanocitta is Greek for "blue chattering bird"
Cristata is Latin for "crested"
But Blue Jay's the name you've probably heard.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/birds/blue-jay.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, February 18, 2022

February 18, 2022

I am a Yellow-crowned Night-heron
I like to eat aquatic prey
I live in freshwater wetlands and areas that flood
So I don't only eat on rainy days.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Orlando Wetlands Park

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, February 17, 2022

February 17, 2022

I am a male Blue-winged Teal
Showing off my powder-blue patch
The crescent on my face is white, but I 
Was yellow and brown when I hatched.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Orlando Wetlands Park

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

February 16, 2022

I am known as a Wood Stork
I start to breed when I'm four years old
Then I find a wife, and we mate for life
And have babies as the future unfolds.

Location: Orlando Wetlands Park

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

February 15, 2022

I am a Florida Green Watersnake
I can be 4 feet long, give or take
I'm greenish-brown, with a white belly
And I can be found in swaps, ditches and lakes.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Orlando Wetlands Park

Sources: https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/nerflo.htm

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, February 14, 2022

February 14, 2022


Nature is full of love and desire
Remember this on Valentines Day
But just like Robins love bugs and worms
Predators love Robins too, in the same way.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, February 13, 2022

February 13, 2022

I'm an adult Southern Two-striped Walkingstick
Circled in this photo is the place from where
I shoot spray which for you, is not any fun.

Location: Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park

Sources: https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/01/january-25-2022.html
https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/walkingstick.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, February 12, 2022

February 12, 2022

I am known as a Broad-winged Hawk
I'm a medium sized Buteo
I like to eat small mammals and insects
And for dessert I'll eat rodents and toads.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manors

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-winged_Hawk/lifehistory

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, February 11, 2022

February 11, 2022

I'm a male Vermilion Flycatcher
In Florida, I'm rarely found
I am easier to spot in South America
But in some places I'm not red, I'm grey-brown.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manors

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, February 10, 2022

February 10, 2022

I am a Gray-headed Swamphen
In the US, I'm usually found in zoos
But in Florida, I escaped captivity 
Aided by Hurricane Andrew.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Chapel Trail in Pembroke Pines

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/gray-headed-swamphen

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

February 9, 2022

I am known as a White-winged Dove
Though my wing's not entirely white
Other defining marks include
My blue eye-rings and bright orange eyes.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manors

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Dove/overview

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

February 8, 2022

I am known as a Dickcissel
My taxonomy's hard to define, see the Cornell article
My plumage and shape are similar to sparrows
But my beak looks more like a Cardinal.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Belle Glade Marina

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, February 7, 2022

February 7, 2022

I am a Northern Flicker,
I have yellow under my wings and tail
In the west I've red there, and just to compare - 
If I'm a hybrid, either trait might prevail.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, February 6, 2022

February 6, 2022

We are Blue-crowned Parakeets
We usually live in south American forests
We have 3 subspecies, 2 are Blue-crowned, 
The Blue-headeds are non-conformists.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Hollywood

Sources: https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.bucpar.01

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, February 5, 2022

February 5, 2022

I am known as a Ringed Teal duck
I'm one of the smallest ducks in the world
I'm native to South America and
When I swim my tail isn't submerged. 

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Hollywood

Sources: https://www.centralfloridazoo.org/animals/ringed-teal/

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, February 4, 2022

February 4, 2022

I am a proud Muscovy Duck
Showing off my adorable babies
I'm a feral bird in North America
And a least favorite bird of Davie's.

Special thanks to guest photographer and disliker of Muscovy Ducks, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manor, Fort Lauderdale

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, February 3, 2022

February 3, 2022


I am an immature Red-tailed Hawk
My plumage is unusually dark
I have a red tail with a thin band of black
From this view, you don't see my identifying marks.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manor, Fort Lauderdale

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

Photo © 2022 David Simpson and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

We are Red-masked Parakeets
Most of our family lives in Ecuador and Peru
But we are feral birds in  Florida
And we have relatives in California too.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Wilton Manor, Fort Lauderdale

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rempar/cur/distribution (a BOTW subscription is required to access this site)

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

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

February 1, 2022

I am known as a Palm Warbler
I'm known for flicking my tail end
But sometimes I decide to flick my head instead
Which makes my ID more difficult to portend.

Location: Fort Pierce Inlet State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson