Dee At 8 A.M.: February 2025

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

We are a pair of European Starlings

Getting down though it's early in the season

We're cavity nesters and we've got our own place

And love doesn't need a reason.

Location: Vero Beach Country Club

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

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Monday, February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

I am a female Red-bellied Woodpecker

The top of my head is not red like my mates

My belly is pink,

Not as red as you'd think

Bird names don't always match the bird's traits.

Location: Vero Beach Country Club

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id

Sunday, February 9, 2025

February 9, 2025

I am a male Muscovy Duck

My caruncles help me attract a mate

They drive the girl Muscovies wild

(Caruncles are the red warty things on my face.)

Location: Vero Beach Country Club

Sources: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/musduc/cur/identification

Saturday, February 8, 2025

February 8, 2025

I am known as a Mourning Dove

There is something quite wrong with my foot -

It could be the result of a predator

Or illness, fishing line, or hooks.

Location: Vero Beach Country Club

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

Friday, February 7, 2025

February 7, 2025

I am known as a Forster's Tern

I have long wings and short legs

I dive when I want to catch some prey and

Perform spiral courtship flights when I want eggs.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

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

Thursday, February 6, 2025

February 6, 2025

We are American Avocets

If we were breeding, we'd be partly pink

We are hunting for aquatic invertebrates

Such as beetles, and brine flies and shrimp.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

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

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

February 5, 2025

I am known as a Great Egret

In general, I'm calm and attractive

Except when I'm looking straight into a lens -

Then I look mean and combative.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

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

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

February 4, 2025

I am a Long-billed Dowitcher

Hanging out with my friend the Killdeer

I have Herbst corpuscles on the tip of my bill

Which help me to find prey hidden here.

Very special thanks to today's guest photographer, Jessica Sodano.

Location: Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-billed_Dowitcher/overview

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/02/990211072751.htm (although this article talks about a Sandpiper, the principles are the same)

Monday, February 3, 2025

February 3, 2025

This was once a Mournful Sphinx Moth

But alas, it got trapped in my car

Although I am sad it expired

The photography was easier, by far.

(I was walking out to the mailbox, and when I passed my car, I saw what appeared to be a weird leaf hanging out of my hatch. Just in case, I went inside and grabbed my camera. It was in fact this crazy-large moth, but alas, he was expired. But I didn't want it to die in vain so I photographed him to include here on the blog.)

Location: Fellsmere, my car

Sources: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Enyo-lugubris