March 22, 2023

I am an Atlantic Sand Fiddler Crab

You know I'm male because I have one large claw

You know I'm an adult because of the color on my carapace

Which can change for thermoregulation or camouflage.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330801124_Color_changes_of_fiddler_crab_between_seasons_and_under_stressful_conditions_Patterns_of_changes_in_lightness_differ_between_carapace_and_claw

https://irlspecies.org/taxa/index.php?taxon=9820&cl=31

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 21, 2023

I am a Little Blue Heron

In Florida you can find me year round

In winter you might find me in SOCAL

If there's a Little Blue starlet who wants to get down.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://nhpbs.org/natureworks/littleblueheron.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 20, 2023

I am a Northern Mockingbird

I'm mostly white, black and grey

I don't have a yellow tummy

But sitting on this wire, it sure looks that way!

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 19, 2023

I am a juvenile Atlantic Blue Crab

Callinectes sapidus is my scientific name

That translates to "beautiful savory swimmer"

Unfortunately being tasty is my claim to fame.

Location: Riverside Park, Vero

Sources: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Blue-Crab

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 18, 2023

I am known as a Cobbler Moth

I'm in the Owlet moth super family

As a larvae I ate marigolds and ragweed

And damaged crops in Florida, specifically Celery.

Location: My yard, Fellsmere

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/108405

http://nearctica.com/moths/noctuid/condica/condica_sutor.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 17, 2023

This is Jamaican Feverplant, 

It is also called Puncture Vine

Due to the damage it causes bikes and critters - 

Its fruit has painfully pointy spines.

Location: Riverwalk, Sebastian

Sources: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/tribulus-cistoides/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 16, 2023

We are three Common Ground Doves

We're usually close to the ground, but today we're on a railing

You know we're ground doves by our pink legs and small stature

And our long cooing song that sounds a bit like wailing.

Location: Goodwin Wildlife Management Area, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 15, 2023

I am a Southern Sculptured Pine Borer,

I'm a type of wood-boring beetle

In real life I am shiny copperry-gold

Like an ancient Berlin cathedral.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/choate/chalcophora1.htm

https://www.visitberlin.de/en/berlin-cathedral

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 14, 2023

I am a female Spinybacked Orbweaver, 

My man's not around right now

But he will be here 

Mating time of year

Hanging from a strand of my web's where he'll be found.

Location: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area, Vero Beach

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 13, 2023

We are known as Sailfin Mollies

We are oblong and mostly gray

You can find us in shallow water

Eating plants and invertebrates.

Location: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/poecilia-latipinna/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 12, 2023

I am a great Great Southern White butterfly

My color can vary widely

From white to brown

Based on where I'm found

But I can never be called unsightly.

Location: Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area, Vero Beach

Sources: https://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/L/t/Ascia_monuste_a.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 11, 2023

I am an Atlantic Needlefish

I have a very long beak

I'm mostly blue-green with silver below

And I've got quite a few needle-like teeth.

Location: Round Island Riverside Park, Vero Beach

Sources: https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/caribbean/en/thefishes/species/3314

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 10, 2023

I am known as Mangrove Tree Crab

I am an omnivore

Although I really like to eat Mangroves

I'll also eat seagrasses, algae and more.

Location: Round Island Riverside Park, Vero Beach

Sources: http://www.wildsouthflorida.com/mangrove.tree.crab.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 9, 2023

These are three terrible quality photos

But proof of an awesome success

The Bald Eagles that Dee monitors

Have boinked and produced two baby eaglets.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/maps-sightings

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 8, 2023

We are known as Mourning Doves

We eat seeds and store them in our crop

The record stored is more than 17,000 seeds

That will be a hard number to top!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 7, 2023

I am a male American Kestrel

And I've caught what I think might be a cricket

Whatever it is, I think it'll taste good

I'll let you know in a minute..

*burp*

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 6, 2023

I am known as a Laughing Gull

But I'm missing a foot and not laughing about it

It's difficult to balance on a windy beach

But I'll have to learn to get along without it.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.thespruce.com/one-legged-birds-386471

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 5, 2023

We are a Willet and 2 Laughing Gulls - 

One adult and one immature

We might look like three seagulls

To an untrained observateur.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.audubon.org/news/this-new-guide-finally-simplifies-gull-ids

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 4, 2023

I am known as a Sandwich Tern

I appear more delicate than Royal Terns are

You'd never know that by the way 

The Royal Terns complain

When I let out the tiniest fart.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandwich_Tern/species-compare/71427371

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 3, 2023

I am a Ruddy Turnstone

I limp because I'm missing one foot

Likely from fishing line entanglement

At least I'm not totally kaput.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.savecoastalwildlife.org/managing-fishing-line-waste

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 2, 2023

I am Tringa semipalmata

But my friends all call me Willet

I use the sensitive tips of my bill 

To find food in a manner idyllic.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

March 1, 2023

I am known as a Ring-billed Gull

From behind, I can be hard to discern

But you can see the ring for which I am named

When my head is a little turned.

Location: Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/id

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson