September 30, 2022

I am an adult male Prairie Warbler

I like to pick insects from branches and leaves

If I am a migrant, I breed throughout the eastern US

If I'm resident, I breed in Florida Mangrove trees.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 29, 2022

I am a Cape May Warbler

My population goes up and down

It's down when insects in northern forests are scarce

When there's more food my population rebounds,

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/cape-may-warbler

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 28, 2022

We are known as a Blue Jays

We look like we've both been through a wringer

We might look revolting, but we are just molting

In a few months, we will both be humdingers!

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/news/understanding-basics-bird-molts

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 27. 2022

I am a Southern Yellow-winged Grasshopper

I've bright yellow hind wings, but you can't see them here

I look like a rock, and you might be in shock

When I jump and bright yellow appears!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 26, 2022

I am a Longhorn Band-wing Grasshopper

I like sandy places like river banks and dunes

In the south my wings are orange to red

My friends in New Englands wings have a yelllowish hue.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/9542

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 25, 2022

This is Asclepias pedicellata,

Also known as Savannah Milkweed

Butterflies and caterpillars like the plant

But there's not much to eat now that it's gone to seed.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-asclepias-pedicellata/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 24, 2022

I am a Four-spotted Velvet Ant

My butt kind of looks like it has windows

My colors and reputation both say "Stay away!

And don't walk barefoot unless you want sore toes."

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Four-Spotted-Velvet-Ant

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 23, 2022

I am a Zebra Swallowtail,

You can find me in woodlands, scrub, and waterways

My flight is low, fast and erratic

I'm not drunk, but sometimes it looks that way.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/zebra-swallowtail/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 22, 2022

I am a Little Yellow butterfly,

That's not just a description, it's also my name

Although technically my wings are outlined in black

I'm mostly yellow so my name will remain.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pyrisitia-lisa

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 21, 2022

This plant is known as Hexasepalum teres, 

Also called Poor Joe or Rough Buttonweed

Gopher Tortoises and butterflies like to eat it

Though the flower isn't much bigger than a seed!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/weedsbyflowercolor/pinkorblue/hexasepalumteres/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 20, 2022

I am a Red Saddlebags dragonfly

Me and the Carolina Saddlebag look alike

Except my saddlebag is a bit smaller

You can tell when we sit side-by-side*.

* Check out the linked article for a very clear view of this. I never understood the difference before I found this blog. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://waltersanford.wordpress.com/2016/07/08/carolina-saddlebags-dragonflies-males/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 19, 2022

I am an Argiope florida

I look similar to the Yellow Garden Spider

But I don't have much bright yellow on me

And my abdomen is bumpier and wider.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127353-Argiope-florida

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67707-Argiope-aurantia

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 18, 2022

I am either a Chinese or Narrow-winged Mantis

You can't tell exactly from this point of view

I'm Chinese if there's a yellow spot between my  raptorial legs

Narrow-winged if that spot has an orangish hue.

Special thanks to guest photographer, Tammie Nelson.

Location: Private residence, Cheverly, MD

Sources: https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/5087

https://thedragonflywoman.com/2010/12/10/insect-legs/

Photo © 2022 Tammie Nelson and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 17, 2022

This is Solanum seaforthianum

Commonly known as Brazilian Nightshade

Botanists are not entirely sure where it came from

But it's a popular ornamental in the tropics today.

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

Sources: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287171

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 16, 2022

This plant is known as Moonflower,

It is fragrant with big, showy flowers

It blooms from late summer into early fall

But only opens in late day and evening hours.

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/ipomoea-alba

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 15, 2022

This is a Carica papaya

Its sweet fruit is like a melon or mango

Papaya plants can be male, female or bi

It's hard to tell which is which, even though they go commando. 

(Read the articles below to find out how to determine if you have a male, female, or bisexual Papaya plant. Only the females and bisexual plants produce good fruit. The bisexual plants can self pollinate, but the female plants need a male plant close by to pollinate it.) 

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

Sources: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/papaya.html

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG054

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 14, 2022

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk

I live in deciduous forests and swamps

Habitat loss, pollution, and logging are

Causing the number of my species to drop.

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 13, 2022

I am a Gulf Fritillary butterfly

I lay my eggs on Passionflower

Once my eggs hatch, my larvae

Have just one thought: DEVOUR!

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 12, 2022

I am a female Orange-barred Sulphur

You can find me in gardens, parks, and roadsides

I consume nectar from a variety of flowers

And my mate is smaller and darker orange than I

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Phoebis-philea

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 11, 2022

This is Momordica charantia

Also called Bitter Melon or Balsam Pear

It can serve as a reservoir for plant viruses

That some insects are known to bear.

Location: Paleo Hammock Conservation Area, St. Lucie County

Sources: http://charlottecountyextension.blogspot.com/2015/10/what-is-it.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 10, 2022

I am a Tringa solitaria

But my common name is Solitary Sandpiper

I tremble my tail when I forage

And look like I'm trying to shake off a full diaper!

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

https://youtu.be/hAzUl568Nvk

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 9, 2022

I am an Aramus guarauna

But most people call me a Limpkin

That name comes from my awkward, limping like gait

But I'm not offended, I'm kind of thick-skinned.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 8, 2022

I am a Tricolored Heron

In the US I'm found in the south and the east

From Florida to Maine, and west to Texas

I'm an s-shaped necked, tricolored, sexy beast.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 7, 2022

I am known as a Mottled Duck

I have a shorter life span than you would think

I live for an average of about 2 years cause

I'm predated by everything from Falcons to Mink.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 6, 2022

I am a Gray-headed Swamphen

I like to eat stalks, roots and leaves

I'll also eat frogs, snails and insects

And even aquatic plant seeds.

Location: C 23/24 Reservoir, St. Lucie County

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 5, 2022

I am  a Metallic Sweat Bee

I  was born in a nest underground

If you want to attract me to your yard,

Leave some rotting wood out and I might come around.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/home-habitat/backyard-flora-and-fauna/bees-of-north-florida-and-south-georgia/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 4, 2022

We are known as Common Lovebugs

Sometimes you see us on the highway in a huge cloud

And sometimes you see just two of us entwined

We tried telling this other guy "three's a crowd".

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG068

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 3, 2022

This is Chapman's Goldenrod

You can grow it from cuttings or from seeds

Birds use it for food, I don't mean to be rude,

But it can grow in disturbed areas like many common weeds

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 2, 2022

We are juvenile Purple Martins

You can tell by our streaky grey breasts

The males amongst us will grow up to have iridescent feathers

And they will be less brightly colored if they live in the American southwest.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

September 1, 2022

This plant is known as Buttonbush

Insects like its nectar and birds like its fruit.

It has flowers that resemble pincushions

And with button-like fruit, it's incredibly cute. 

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ceoc2

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson