March 8, 2026

I am known as an Osprey

Sitting here looking dramatic
You probably think that I'm posing

But I'm practicing my moves acrobatic.

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 7, 2026

I am a Black-bellied Plover

I'm the only American plover that has a hind toe

My hind toe quite tiny, you have to look hard

It's vestigial and superfluous as toes go.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/black_bellied_plover

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 6, 2026

We are a group of Double-crested Cormorants

Hanging out with our White Pelican buddies

We live near water so you'd think we'd be clean

But our poop is known to kill our own nest trees!

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/overview

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 5, 2026

We are mostly American White Pelicans

Well,  there are a few intruders in our midst

But we are fine with the Brown Pelicans up in the tree

And the gull? Sure, we can all co-exist.

(Look close, there is a gull in there too!)

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 4, 2026

I am an American Herring Gull

Top row, fourth from the left

I have light grey wings and pinkish legs

And I'm a big boy with a bit of heft!

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 3, 2026

We are known as Eastern oysters

We live on this oyster farm

We are raised for food in a sustainable way

And our ability to clean water's just one of our charms.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2024/01/05/a-brief-explanation-about-triploid-oysters/

https://www.treasurecoastshellfish.com/

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 2, 2026

I am a Northern Gannet

I rarely come close to shore, I live at sea

I have special eyes that let me see underwater

And I can plunge dive deeper than 70 feet.

Location: Pelican Island

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

Photo and text © 2026 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.

March 1, 2026

We are Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphins

We'd be Tursiops truncatus if we lived off shore

We tend to stay close

To the us east coast

The Indo-pacific is where Tursiops aduncus explore.

Location: Pelican Island

Sources: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1562178-Tursiops-erebennus

Photo and text © 2026 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.