April 30, 2023

I am a Florida Mud Turtle

I'm tiny, just 4 to 5 inches

I mostly live in freshwater rivers and swamps

But can tolerate brackish water in pinches.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Sources: https://www.herpedia.com/turtles/kinosternidae/florida-mud-turtle.html

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 29, 2023

I am a moth in the Genus Amolita

My taxonomy right now is unsure

I might be in the subfamily Erebidae

Entomologists will find an answer someday, rest assured.

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/17334

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 28, 2023

I am known as a Yellow Mocis Moth

In north America, there are 5 subspecies of us

We all can be found in Florida

And telling us apart can be tough. 

(But click the link below for a super helpful comparison of all 5 subspecies.)

Location: My house, Fellsmere

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1461339

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 27, 2023

I am a Florida Ivory Millipede

I have a noxious goo that I shed

From glands on most of my body

Except there are no glands right behind my head. 

Florida Scrub Jays know to decapitate my type

Carefully so they don't spoil their meal

They leave the rest of the body behind

It sounds like a very unpleasant ordeal!

(Note: Make sure you check out the article linked below, it's very interesting!)

Location: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Christmas

Sources: https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/FFN%2047.4%20pages%20144-146.pdf

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 26, 2023

This is a Savanna, aka  Prairie Iris

It's not tolerant of salt water, only fresh

It lives in wet prairie and marshes 

Where bees take its pollen with charm and finesse.

Location: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Christmas

Sources: https://www.fnps.org/plant/iris-savannarum

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 25, 2023

We are all members of the Lycosidae family

Wolf Spiders - as we're commonly known

We don't make webs

To catch prey on the threads

We hunt bugs at night on our own.

Location: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Christmas

Sources: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/wolf-spiders

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 24, 2023

I am known as a Southern Toad

I'd never front a band or sing harmony

My call is a shrill 1 note trill

Not much melody but enough to ID me. 

Location: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Christmas

Sources: https://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/bufter.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 23, 2023

We are Carolina Burying Beetles

Burying a Southern Toad at dusk

We do this to provide for our larvae  and to

Prevent maggots from eating the toad before us.

Location: Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area, Christmas

Sources: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284495468_The_carrion_beetles_Coleoptera_Silphidae_of_Nebraska

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 22, 2023

I am known as a Brown Basilisk

I'm native to Colombia and Mexico

I can run on water when I get scared

And my skin's generally the color of oregano.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 21, 2023

I am a Gray-headed Swamphen

I like to forage for vegetation

I'm an invasive, aggressive competitor

My presence could lead to rail population decimation.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray-headed_Swamphen/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 20, 2023

I am a male Boat-tailed Grackle

I look like I'm smiling but I'm just overheated

So I'm panting and fluffing my feathers

Hey my tail looks pretty and pleated!

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

Sources: https://travisaudubon.org/uncategorized/august-bird-forecast

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 19, 2023

This is a non-native Castor Bean

It is native to Africa and the middle east

In warm climates it can grow up to 40 feet tall

But only 15 feet after a freeze.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR306

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 18, 2023

I am a Tricolored Munia

I look like a Towhee and Grosbeak cross-breed

I am not native to florida, 

I'm probably a pet-trade release.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

Sources: https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=937B5409A423667F&sec=summary

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 17, 2023

I am a Northern Rough-winged Swallow

My latin name means "scraper wing saw feather"

My outer feathers have little hooks on them 

They feel more like sandpaper than leather.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Rough-winged_Swallow/overview

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 16, 2023

I am an immature male Blue Grosbeak

You know I'm male cause you see blue poking through

Right now I'm migrating to the breeding grounds

Where I'll be blue, not sad, a new hue.

Location: Torry Island Campground, Belle Glade

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 15, 2023

I am a male Mottled Duck

If I was a girl my beak would be black

I am a dabbler, I rarely dive

Unless a predator tries to attack.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 14, 2023

I am known as a Salt Marsh Skipper

You can tell by my yellow veins and white bar

As an adult I visit Thistle and Privet

And drink up their tasty nectar.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Panoquina-panoquin

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 13, 2023

We are two Brown Anoles

We are considered invasive exotics

But don't be worried, we are guys having a fight

No babies made here, this wrestling's platonic.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW486

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 12, 2023

I am known as a Gadwall

I'm known to steal food from other ducks, such as coots

I eat invertebrates such as midges and snails, 

And Water Milfoil leaves, seeds and roots.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 11, 2023

I am a female Blue-winged Teal

My whole wing's not blue, just a patch

I build a nest in vegetation near water

Which my babies leave soon after they hatch.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 10, 2023

I am a male Lesser Scaup

From a distance I look black and white

But I actually have an iridescent head

That looks purple when the light hits just right.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 9, 2023

I am a male Lesser Scaup

Shown here with my mate

In migration and winter we form very large groups

In reservoirs, estuaries and bays.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 8, 2023

I am a female Lesser Scaup

I don't really look like my mate

For one thing, I've got a white mustache

And a brown body that mostly matches my pate.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 7, 2023

I am a Reddish Egret

When I'm hungry I cause quite the scene

My wings, I will beat

I'll kick up mud with my feet

It's my way of finding some fishy cuisine.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 6, 2023

I am an American Avocet

I'm tall and thin with a black upturned beak

I'm mostly black and white but get pink in the head

When I'm ready to practice my romance techniques.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 5, 2023

I am a spider in the Selenops genus.

Due to the half-moon layout of our eyes

We're also known as Crescent-eyed Spiders.

I'm harmless to humans despite my large size.

Location: My bathroom ceiling, Fellsmere

Sources: http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2013/03/spider-sunday-flatties.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 4, 2023

I am known as a Gulf Fritillary

In Florida I can be found in every county

I prefer sunny open habitats

Where lots of flowers surround me. 

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

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

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 3, 2023

I am known as a Monk Skipper

Due to my resemblance to Capuchin monks

We both have similar coloring

Also similar to Cinnamon Teal ducks.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

Sources: https://www.carolinanature.com/butterflies/monkskipper.html

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 2, 2023

This plant is Cirsium horridulum

Also known as Bristle, Purple or Horrid Thistle

It is loved by bugs and birds and critters

It's usage to wildlife is almost abyssal!

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

Sources: https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-cirsium-horridulum/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

April 1, 2023

This plant is known as Ohio Spiderwort

The stem contains a sticky goo

When the stem is cut, the goo hardens

And becomes silky thread like spiders use.

Location: Blackpoint Wildlife Drive, MINWF

Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/tradescantia/

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson