Thursday, June 30, 2022

June 30, 2022

I am known as a Green Heron
I need wetlands to live in
I blend in quite well with my surroundings
But if you don't see me, just stop and listen.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

June 29, 2022

I am an Orange-Winged Grasshopper
I like to hang out in areas that are sandy
I can both crepitate and stridulate*
But in general my noisemaking is somewhat scanty.

* To quote the article linked below, "Sound production may occur on the ground (stridulation) or in flight (crepitation), but this is not a particularly noisy species."

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/ghopper/band.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

June 28, 2022

I am a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
I eat crustaceans and can be found on the coast
I have a small white patch on the side of my face
And a harsh squawk's my idea of a witty riposte.

Thanks to today's special guest  photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Lantana Nature Preserve, Birds,

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-crowned_Night-Heron/sounds

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

Monday, June 27, 2022

June 27, 2022

This phenomenon known as a rainbow is caused by
Sun, rain, dispersion, refraction and reflection
The sun must be lower in the sky than 42 degrees
For you to make a rainbow connection.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.phenomena.org/weather/rainbow/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS5fTzMP_mg

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, June 26, 2022

June 26, 2022

These pictures show the development
Of the Coneflower Moonlight Cactus
It blooms at night only once every year
To get a great shot, there's not much time to practice.

But today's awesome guest photographer, Heather Stapleton didn't need practice to get these great shots of the flower!

Location: private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://cactiguide.com/cactus/?genus=selenicereus

Photo © 2022 Heather Stapleton and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson





Saturday, June 25, 2022

June 25, 2022

I am a male Regal Jumping Spider
My chelicerae are enlarged and iridescent green
I'm smaller than my female counterpart
I average 12mm, she averages 15.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/regal_jumping_spider.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson



Friday, June 24, 2022

June 24, 2022

We are Northern Mockingbirds
A baby (L) and its mom (R)
We are the state bird of Florida
Like the state tree is the Sabal Palm.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://dos.myflorida.com/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-bird/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, June 23, 2022

June 23, 2022

I am a fly in the Genus Tabanus
Possibly a Striped Horse Fly
To tell for sure, get a real close look
At my wings, antennae, and eyes.*

To view the article linked below, sign up for a free JSTOR account. It's a great resource, and you can download/view 100 scientific papers/articles per month. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 44, No. 2, Jun., 1961 - An Annotated List of the Horse Flies of Florida and an Illustrated Key to the Genera (Diptera: Tabanidae) 

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

June 22, 2022

I am known as a White Peacock butterfly
I pollinate and eat Wild Petunia
I also eat Sheppard's Needle and Hyssop
But not lobster - I don't have the pecunia.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

June 21, 2022

I'm known as a Peninsular Cooter
I can live up to 30 years
The ability to parent is not always inherent,
I build a nest, lay eggs then disappear.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, June 20, 2022

June 20, 2022

I am known as a Pied-billed Grebe
When I mate, there are five different stages:
I Advertise, Pirouette, Ripple Dive, Circle,  and Triumph
Then our love becomes one for the ages.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, June 19, 2022

June 19, 2022

I am known as an Anhinga
The stripe on my wing is not normally pink
It's usually silver-white, but mine's not quite right
I might be molting weird, or just very distinct.

Location: Goodwin Wildfowl Management Area

Sources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170805142503.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, June 18, 2022

June 18, 2022

I am known as a Black-necked Stilt
If I'm nesting, you best stay away
I'm territorial and if you get too close, 
You'll witness my Popcorn* Display!

* To quote the linked article: "Predators, and humans, that happen near nesting stilts soon learn that they are not welcome: any birds that are not incubating often fly around or even form a ring around the predator, calling loudly as they leap up and down, flapping their wings (called a “Popcorn Display” by researchers)."

Location: Lakeside STA

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-necked_Stilt/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, June 17, 2022

June 17, 2022

I am known as a Snail Kite
Large Apple Snails are my main dietary component
If I can't find them, such as in times of drought, 
I'll settle for crabs, turtles, or rodents.

Location: Lakeside STA, Martin County

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/snail-kite

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, June 16, 2022

June 16, 2022

I am a juvenile Eastern Bluebird
You can tell because my chest and back are speckled
Due to Sparrows and Starlings my population crashed
But thanks to nest-box campaigns, I'm no longer imperiled.

Location: Three Lakes WMA, Keenansville

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

June 15, 2022

This plant is known as Sweet Goldenrod
In Florida it's a native plant
It attracts pollinators and has showy flowers
And in wintertime it goes dormant.

Location: Forever Florida, Keenansville

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/solidago-odora

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

June 14, 2022

This is a birthday suit from a snake
But don't worry, it's not walking around naked -
A few times a year, a snake out grows it's skin,
But the new suit underneath is already created.

Location: Forever Florida, Kenansville

Sources: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-snakes-shed-their-skin

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, June 13, 2022

June 13, 2022

I am an American Alligator
You usually find me in the south eastern united states
But occasionally I've also been seen in 
Thirty other states rivers and lakes.*

*All other sightings are attributed to pet releases or captive escapes.

Location: Forever Florida, Kenansville

Sources: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=221

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, June 12, 2022

June 12, 2022

We are a male and female Ebony Jewelwing, 
The male with no white spots, the female with
We are damselflies in the family Calopterygidae
And we are prey for spiders, birds, and frogs, and fish.

Location: Forever Florida, Keenansville, Florida 

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/odonata/Calopteryx_maculata.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson




Saturday, June 11, 2022

June 11, 2022

I am known as a Bos taurus
But you know me better as a common cow
In Florida you'll find me with my Cattle Egret friends
On sunny days, standing by in my shadow.

Location: Forever Florida, Keenansville

Sources: https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/17161/file/P-00044.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, June 10, 2022

June 10, 2022

We are a group of Cattle Egrets
Living together in a rookery
We will build a nest, mate, and lay eggs
Then patiently guide our chicks to maturity.

Location: Forever Florida, Keenansville, Florida

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, June 9, 2022

June 9, 2022

I am known as a Cave Swallow
Because historically, I lived in caves
But now I'm you're just as likely to find me
Under bridges and culverts further north of my historical range.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Lake Harbor, south of Lake Okeechobee

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

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

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

June 8, 2022

We are known as Gray Foxes
But we have some red fur and are sometimes mistakenly called "red"
Our breath smells like mice and bunnies - 
And birds, fruits, and berries when we are well fed.

Special thanks to guest photographer, David Simpson.

Location: Lake Okeechobee

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/gray-fox/

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

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

This is a flower from an Oleander
You saw a pink one on this blog a few days ago
Oleanders come in many cultivars and varieties - 
From shrubs to trees, colored red to white to yellow. 

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/buffalo/Yard/Cultivar%20vs%20Variety%2001-30-2016.pdf

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/oleander.html

https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/06/june-4-2022.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Monday, June 6, 2022

June 6, 2022

I am an Ornate Bella Moth
Unlike most moths, I am diurnal
This means I'm active during the day
And I help suppress Crotalaria seed dispersal.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Sebastian 

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Sunday, June 5, 2022

June 5, 2022

I am a Halloween Pennant
But I only look like this for the last few weeks of my life
I started as an egg, then I hatched in the water
Where as a larvae (then naiad) I grew up and had a good time.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Saturday, June 4, 2022

June 4, 2022

This is the flower of the Oleander
The plant's beauty might leave you feeling rhapsodic
It grows quickly and easily in Florida 
But all parts of the of the plant, if ingested, are toxic.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/trees-and-shrubs/shrubs/oleander.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Friday, June 3, 2022

June 3, 2022

I am a Tropical Orbweaver
My size and color can vary by sex and age
Either way I'm completely harmless
But my late night guitar playing might keep you awake.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/tropical_orb_weaver.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Thursday, June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

I am a female American Bumble Bee
Notice my big orange pollen baskets
I'm carrying a full load of pollen right now
And there's a little spilled on my black jacket.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/bees/bumble_bees.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022

I'm a female Band-winged Crane Fly
I just now emerged from my pupa
A boyfriend I found, so we're getting down, 
You better believe I'm a fast moovah'!

(Very special thanks to today's guest photographer and my big sistah Shirley Blanchard.)

Location: private residence, Concord MA

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly

Photo © 2022 Shirley Blanchard and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson