Sunday, April 30, 2023

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

Saturday, April 29, 2023

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

Friday, April 28, 2023

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

Thursday, April 27, 2023

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

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

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

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

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




Monday, April 24, 2023

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

Sunday, April 23, 2023

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

Saturday, April 22, 2023

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




Friday, April 21, 2023

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

Thursday, April 20, 2023

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



Wednesday, April 19, 2023

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





Tuesday, April 18, 2023

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


Monday, April 17, 2023

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




Sunday, April 16, 2023

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



Saturday, April 15, 2023

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

Friday, April 14, 2023

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

Thursday, April 13, 2023

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

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

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

Monday, April 10, 2023

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

Sunday, April 9, 2023

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

Saturday, April 8, 2023

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

Friday, April 7, 2023

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




Thursday, April 6, 2023

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




Wednesday, April 5, 2023

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



Tuesday, April 4, 2023

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

Monday, April 3, 2023

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


Sunday, April 2, 2023

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





Saturday, April 1, 2023

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