March 31, 2022

I am known as a Common Buckeye

I live in the US, Mexico, and even in Canada

I expand my range northward  every year

Then migrate back south, which takes stamina.

Location: Cruickshank Wildlife Sanctuary, Rockledge

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 30, 2022

These are the buds of the Saw Palmetto

A plant noted for how slow it's growth is

Although its berries have many uses, their taste -

Has been compared to a "a mouthful of cockroaches".

(To read the article below, sign up for a free JSTOR account. It's a fabulous resource of peer reviewed science journals.)

Location: Cruickshank Wildlife Sanctuary, Rockledge

Sources: Bennett, Bradley C., and Judith R. Hicklin. “Uses of Saw Palmetto (Serenoa Repens, Arecaceae) in Florida.” Economic Botany 52, no. 4 (1998): 381–93. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4256114

https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/115004760028-MyJSTOR-How-to-Register-Get-Free-Access-to-Content

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 29, 2022

This is known as Tailed Bracken Fern

It can grow to a height of three of four feet

It's a native fern that reproduces through spores

And tends to spread aggressively.

Location: Cruickshank Wildlife Sanctuary, Rockledge

Sources: https://arboretum.ucf.edu/virtual/bracken-fern

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 28, 2022

I am an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

I am an ovoviviparous species

That's a fancy way of saying I hatch eggs internally

To protect my babies from predatory beasties.

ovoviviparousovoviviparou

(This is a self-portrait with a rattler, taken in 2015 while I was doing a Manatee watch, before I started this blog. I came across it while I was looking for some other photos and thought you might enjoy it!)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 27, 2022

I am a young Little Blue Heron

I'm white cause I'm immature

I use my middle toe as a grooming tool

It ensures my birdy allure.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 26, 2022

This is the nest of the Organ-pipe Mud-dauber Wasp, They have 2 broods every year

They might build a nest, or they might be a pest

And lay eggs in the nest of a peer.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Sources: https://arthropod.uark.edu/organ-pipe-mud-daubers/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 25, 2022

I am a Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos is my scientific name

If you ever watched Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood,

King Friday's bird and I are one and the same.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

Sources: http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/mrn/characters/mimus_polyglottos/index.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 24, 2022

I am an Eastern Oyster

My health depends on the quality of water

My main source of food is Phytoplankton

And I eat more when the weather is hotter.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 23, 2022

I am known as a Marsh Rabbit

My relatives are Sylvilagus palustris hefneri

But they are endangered and more localized - 

They're only found in the lower Florida Keys.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 22, 2022

I am a Boat-tailed Grackle

I'm not endangered yet like some other birds

But I might be moving to Massachusetts

If a climate change of 3 degrees occurs

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 21, 2022

I am a breeding White Ibis

You can tell cause my beak's black and red

My legs are also a  sexier color

Haha! At least that's what she said.

Location: Riverview Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 20, 2022

I am a  Mushroom Jelly

Like all jellyfish, I don't have a heart

I don't even have brains or blood

I'm so simple, I can't even fart!

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: Marco Island

Sources: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/jellyfish.html

https://www.thestatesman.com/features/raising-a-stink-1502619070.html

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

March 19, 2022

I am known as a Cottonmouth snake

I have a dark stripe across my eye

I am venomous, but not generally aggressive

Just leave me alone and we'll get along fine

If you get bit trying to catch or pick me up -  

The fault is all yours, not mine.

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: Big Cypress Boardwalk

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/florida-cottonmouth/

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

March 18, 2022

I am a Great White Heron

Well, maybe I am, or maybe I'm not

Some scientists think I might be a Great Blue in disguise

But there are multiple schools of thought.

Based on genetics, behavior and looks...

An answer is still being sought.

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: Anhinga Trail,  Everglades NP

Sources: https://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/11/great-white-heron-not-just-a-color-morph/

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

March 17, 2022

I am known as a Tree Swallow

I like to eat insects that fly

I usually hang out with my Swallow friends

And I'm not fond of Hawks, Owls or Magpies.

Location: Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge

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

Also check out this adorable video of a mom Tree Swallow feeding her young:
 https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/photo-gallery/431905

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 16, 2022

We are known as Cedar Waxwings

Our eating habits can cause our demise

We always gorge when we eat, 

And though quite indiscrete,

We eat Nandina berries with a cyanide surprise.

Location: Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, Rockledge, FL

Sources: https://www.treehugger.com/nandina-berries-cedar-waxwing-4863712

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 15, 2022

I am known as a Burrowing Owl

It's not common to see me sit in a tree

I usually stay on the ground, or close to it

To be near the arthropods that I eat. 

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: Brian Piccolo Park, Fort Lauderdale

Sources: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arthropod

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Athene_cunicularia/

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

March 14, 2022

I am known as a Barred Owl

Like other "true" owls, I'm in the family Strigidae 

A difference between us is the shape of our face -

Barn owls are in the Tytonidae family.

Strigidaes have got a round facial disk

Tytonidaes' are shaped like a heart

One thing we have in common is:

You smell small critters whenever we fart.

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: Mahogany Hammock, Everglades NP

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

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

March 13, 2022

This was a Great Horned Owl

But it lost it's life to a car

When you throw "compostable" stuff out your car window

The repercussions go far:

 

A mouse or a rat will see a free meal

And eat it by the roadside

Then an owl* will swoop across the road for prey - 

Which is probably how this bird died.

* This happens to other birds as well.

(Special thanks to our guest photographer, Barb Venuto.)

Location: Merritt Island

Sources: https://www.teatown.org/dangers-wildlife-our-roadsides/

Photo © 2022 Barb Venuto and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 12, 2022

I am what's known as a hybrid - 

I'm the result of a White Ibis and Scarlet Ibis tryst

There's a few introduced Scarlet Ibises in Florida

South America's where they normally exist.

(Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.)

Location: T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Broadmore area

Sources: https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/birds/scarlet-ibis/

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

March 11, 2022

This plant is commonly known as Blackroot

It's an herbaceous wildflower

It is not salt tolerant, but it tolerates drought

Once established it doesn't need showers.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pterpycn

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 10, 2022

I am a Sleepy Duskywing

I have blunt antennal clubs

I like to drink nectar from the flowers of heaths

Which I find in oak-pine or oak scrub.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Erynnis-brizo

https://butterflycircle.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-butterfly-antennae.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 9, 2022

I am known as Walrus

I'm not a Manatee, but I understand your confusion

I'm not even related to Manatees at all - 

We're an example of convergent evolution.

(Thanks to very special guest photographer, Anne B. Paulsen.)

Location: Hvidesande, Denmark

Photo © 2022 Anne B. Paulsen and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sources: https://tinyurl.com/2p83ndab

https://www.nature.com/articles/ng.3198

https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/convergent_evolution.htm

March 8, 2022

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk

You caught me right in the middle of grooming

Right now I'm just feathers all twisted about

I'm really more handsome and much less confusing.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 7, 2022

We are two juvenile eagles

If all goes well, we'll live 30+ years

In 5 years we'll be adult and have our own kids

If we avoid predators and profiteers.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 6, 2022

I am a Zebra Swallowtail

If you see Dee's sister, Lynn, give her love and respect

Always, but especially today (her birthday)

And Butterflies are her favorite insect. 

(I almost said to give her hugs because Butterflies are her favorite bug, but that would be technically incorrect and you know how I strive for technical accuracy!)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 5, 2022

I am known as a Brown Pelican

You really shouldn't feed me at all

Although my beak can hold more than my belly can

The opening to my stomach is actually quite small.

Large fish can get stuck in my esophagus

And carcass bones tear my throat and pouch

And on top of that it's illegal to feed me

Both me and your wallet might yell "Ouch"!

(You cant see it in this picture, but this pelican has a small tear in the side of his pouch from a puncture. Stay tuned for a video...)

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fwc-dont-feed-pelicans-fish-carcasses-can-tear-pouches-resulting-in-death

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 4, 2022

I am known as a Great Egret

I prefer to live near water

My lores turn green and my feathers get fancy

When I'm ready to have a son or a daughter.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 3, 2022

I am a baby Great-horned Owl

My parents see and hear prey but don't smell it. 

They eat all the fur and bones of their prey

And hork up what they can't digest in a pellet.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Matheson Hammock Park, Pinecrest

Sources: https://centerofthewest.org/2013/10/15/my-favorite-facts-about-great-horned-owls/

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

March 2, 2022

I am a Lilac-crowned Parrot

I live on the Mexican coast with my monogamous mate

I'm mostly green, with a bit of red near my beak

And lilac on my neck and pate. 

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/licpar/cur/appearance

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

March 1, 2022

I am a Scaly-breasted Munia

Also known as a Nutmeg Manikin

My back's chestnut-brown, I've a black, chunky beak

And white spots are not something I'm lacking in.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Pinewoods Park, Miami

Sources: https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/scaly-breasted-munia

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