January 31, 2024

I am known as a Pied-bill Grebe

I can trap water in my feathers

This allows me to control my buoyancy

I can sink and rise whenever, where ever.

Location: St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pied-billed_Grebe/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 30, 2024

This is a Dead-tree Dinosaur

A rare and elusive reptile

It's incredibly endangered, there's not another around

For miles and miles and miles.

Location: Sweetwater Wetlands, Gainesville

Sources: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pareidolia

https://www.boredpanda.com/pareidolia-trees-look-like-something-else/

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 29, 2024

I'm a Magnolia Green Jumping Spider

I like to hang out on Magnolias

I'm translucent green with a few black dots

And my face can be the color of Begonias.

Location: St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2040

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 28, 2024

I am a baby American Alligator

You best stay in my good graces

My mom is around, and wearing a frown,

The dentist told her I'm gonna need braces.

Location: St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/american-alligator

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson
If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 27, 2024

I am known as a Swamp Sparrow

I have rufous wings with black tear-drop shapes

In the winter I eat mostly plant matter

In the summer I eat invertebrates.

Location: St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 26, 2024

I am known as a Clapper Rail

I'm often heard but seldom seen

I live in salt water and marshes

And have glands so I can drink water that is saline.

Location: St. Marks Wildlife Refuge

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 25, 2024

I am a Ruby-crowned Kinglet

But it's rare to see my ruby crown

I only show it when I get agitated, such as - 

When I'm on territory and new guy comes around.

(Note: This was my first of 3 life birds last weekend!)

Location: St. Mark's NWR

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ruckin/cur/introduction

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 24, 2024

I am known as a Varied Thrush

In summer I eat insects, in winter, fruit and nuts

I grab dead leaves to search for hiding insects

Then I eat them up like a buggy-De-luxe.

Location: Mendenhall Glacier, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 23, 2024

I am a Willow Ptarmigan

Sometimes I cluck, sometimes I'm quiet

But you will never hear me when I urinate - 

Because my "P" is silent.

(Thanks to the tour guide who not only pointed out the bird for me after learning I an a birder, but I also stole this joke from him.)

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 22, 2024

I am a female Alaskan Moose

I'm the largest member of the deer family

I can weigh as much as 1,300 pounds

In winter I eat the cambium layer of trees.

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

Sources: https://www.nps.gov/kefj/learn/nature/moose.htm

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 21, 2024

I am known as a Caribou

I'm the non-domesticated form of Reindeer

I'm an herbivore and it can be hard to find plants

In the winter I eat lichens so I can remain here.

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 20, 2024

I am a Pacific Banana Slug

Is this a case of Dee ja vu? 

I thought I saw a Pacific Banana Slug on Wednesday

But was a totally different hue. 

(Pacific Banana Slug colors vary widely.)

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47776-Ariolimax-columbianus/browse_photos

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 19, 2024

I am an Arctic Ground Squirrel

I store food in my little chubby cheeks

I need to put on weight

So I can hibernate

While it's cold, snowy and dark for weeks.

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 18, 2024

I am a Townsend's Warbler

My song is soft and buzzy

I like to eat honeydew from Scale insects

Which are insects used in candy for those who are't fussy.

Location: Juneau, AK

Date photo taken: Early August, 2012

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

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Townsends_Warbler/overview

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 17, 2024

I am am a Pacific Banana Slug

I am large and shaped like a banana

My color varies widely, I can be anything

From yellow to black and white like the keys on a piana'.

Location: Ketchikan, AK

Date photo taken: March 19, 2012

Sources: https://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/banana-slug-bull-ariolimax-columbianus.html

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson. If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 16, 2024

I am a Golden-crowned Sparrow

Yukon miners called my ancestors "Weary Willie"

They thought my song sounds like "I'm so tired..."

Which I think is rather silly!

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 19, 2012

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 15, 2024

We are a couple of Black Oystercatchers

Our heads are black and our bodies are brown

We have bright orange beaks and eyerings

And can be hard to find on dark, rocky backgrounds.

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 18, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 14, 2024

We are Tricolored Blackbirds

Unlike Red-winged blackbirds, we are a bit duller

Our shoulders stripes

Are red and white

But black's still our prevalent color.

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 18, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 13, 2024

We are a group of California Sea Lions

We can be seen in rivers but usually stay on the coastline

We like to hang out on man-made structures

For us, jetties, bouys, or piers are all fine.

Now, we have moved on to CA. Special thanks to Cindy - all was forgiven the moment I got my life California Condor:-)

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 18, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 12, 2024

We are a bevy of California Quail

We can eat vegetation thanks to protozoans in our intestines

We were not born with these one-celled organisms,

As chicks, we ate the poop of adults to aid our digestion.

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 18, 2012

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

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/#:~:text=Protozoa

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 11, 2024

I am a female Anna's Hummingbird

If a guy likes me, he flys straight up, as if possessed

Then he dives straight back down, 

And squeaks really loud

Then we mate - yes, I'm easily impressed.

Location: Pacific Coast Highway, CA

Date photo taken: March 18, 2012

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 10, 2024

I am a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

I am known for being asocial

At breeding time, I'll hook up with a mate

Then scurry off to someplace less local.

Location: Colorado Springs

Date photo taken: August 26, 2010

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 9, 2024

I am known as a Canada Jay

I have sticky saliva that I put to good use 

I glue small edible things to higher tree branches

So when there's deep snow, I can still find food.

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Date photo taken: August 26, 2010

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Jay/overview#

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

January 8, 2024

I am known as a Steller's Jay

I look like a Blue Jay except more fancy

I'm loud and bold, with a large black crest

And I'm incredibly handsome, you must agree.

(This was David's and my first joint life bird. I was coming up a hill, and David was walking down it, and this guy landed between us.

Location: Somewhere in Colorado 

Date photo taken: August 26, 2010

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 7, 2024

I am a Gray-headed Junco

I have black lores and a little rust on my back

I am important to ecological research

Because I tolerate being manipulated and am easy to catch.

Location: Colorado Springs

Date photo originally taken: August 26, 2010

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/daejun/cur/introduction (this is a paid site, but is a great resource and worth the subscription.)

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 6, 2024

I am a male Broad-tailed Hummingbird

In wintertime when the days get shorter 

If I can't find enough food to keep my temperature up

To conserve energy, I'll go into a hypothermic torpor.

Location: Colorado Springs 

Date originally taken: August 23, 2010

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Broad-tailed_Hummingbird/lifehistory

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 5, 2024

I am a Prairie Falcon

I like to eat birds and squirrels

I like to dive down from bluffs and cliffs

A scare little photographer girls!

Note from Dee: I recently started cleaning up my old Mac to get it ready to trade in. I came across some old photos of my travels before I started the blog. I thought it might be fun to take my readers on a journey outside of Florida for a few weeks. Let me know if you are enjoying them, or if you would rather I just stick to Florida in the future.

Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Date photo originally taken: August 22, 2010

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

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 4, 2024

I am a bird known as a Killdeer

Naturalists used to call me "Noisy Plover"

My call sounds like "kill-deer" but I'm in no way responsible

For yesterday's post, a car ran the deer over.

Location: Goodwin WMA, Fellsmere

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

If you would like to get this blog in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2024

I am a Western Cattle Egret

Sometimes, I eat small birds

But mostly I eat insects, fish and frogs

But a dead deer? That would be quite absurd! 

I was shocked when I saw this until David pointed out that no, the Cattle Egrets had not gone into beast mode, they were actually eating the bugs that were accumulating on the dead deer!

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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

If you would like to get Dee at 8 A.M in your email every morning, go to https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2022/11/get-dee-at-8-am-by-e-mail.html for instructions. Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

Get Dee at 8 a.m. by E-mail!

I posted quite a while back that my email feed was being discontinued because the app I was using to manage it was obsoleted. So, I had to find a way to enable people to still follow me via email. 

Last year, when I made the decision to retire, I set up my blog on Patreon in case I needed money. (For those of you not familiar with it, Patreon is a site you can use to monetarily support writers and artists. There are different tiers that you can choose to support with different benefits at each tier level.)

When I was set up Patreon, I realized that there was also a free level - if you choose to just "Follow" a creator (such as me), anything the creator posts for Public use is delivered to followers as email. 

To get my blog delivered to your email every day, here's what to do. (Note: If you already have a Patreon account, login to patreon and start at step 9): 

1. Go to http://Patreon.com.
2. Click the Get Started button.
3. When prompted, click the Not a Creator? Click here instead link, shown here highlighted in red:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. When prompted, enter the required information (name, email, and create a password). 
5. Click the Sign up button.
6. When Patreon opens, at the top of the screen, click the Verify Email button.
7. Go to your email, and open the email from Patreon. If you don't see the email, check your junk mail folder.
8. Click the link in the email, which will take you back to Patreon.
9. Back in Patreon, click the Find Creator button on the left hand side of the screen.
10. Enter Deeat8am where it says to enter the creator, then click on my blog.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. When my blog comes up, scroll down a little till you see the Follow button, then click it.
12. You will be presented with options to pay by tier. You do NOT have to pay. (But since I'm retired now and on a limited income, it would be cool if you choose to!)  The benefit to paying is that depending on the tier you choose, you will have access to other projects of mine including exclusive videos, other non-blog writing and art, sneak peaks at upcoming projects (the Ecuador book, the children's book I am working on),  and more!

Note that even though Patreon is mostly intended to make money, Dee at 8 a.m. (my basic daily blog) will always be free, no matter where you access it from. 

As always, thanks so much for supporting Dee at 8 a.m.

January 2, 2024

I am known as a Black Crappie

I commonly feed at night

I have scotopic vision

Which allows me to see well in low light.

Special thanks to the kind fisherman who let me get a photo of his fish before he released it!

Location: Stormwater Park, Fellsmere

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

https://www.allaboutvision.com/over40/night-vision/

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2024

I am a Yellow-crowned Night Heron

I'm gonna give the photographer a peek

At the inside of my wing

It's amazing the things

I get away with when mom is asleep!

Special thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson.

Message from Dee: Today marks the 2,556th consecutive day (and the beginning of my 8th year) posting a blog entry. A lot has changed since January 2017, but the biggest change for me personally is that I retired from my day job and now am working with David and writing full time. 

My first big project for 2024 is writing the third book in my "Rhyming Guide to..." series, which will cover some of the flora and fauna that we experienced in Ecuador in November. You will be seeing previews of this book on the blog in the coming weeks.

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

Location: Green Cay Nature Center & Wetlands, Palm Beach County

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-crowned_Night_Heron/overview

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson