June 1, 2025

In the back, I am a female Wood Duck 

As common with birds, the prettier one is the male

I like nest boxes, but if placed too close together

I'll leave my eggs with another female.

Thanks to today's special guest photographer, David Simpson!

Location: Indian River Club, Vero Beach

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

Photo © 2025 David Simpson and text © 2025 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

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December 24, 2023

I am a Red-nosed Black-bellied Whistling Duck

I'm leading my flock to the north pole

We hear there's an old fat guy who needs a hand with a sleigh

And I think I can fill the role.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: Probably too much egg nog.

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 20, 2023

We are a family of Muscovy Ducks

A youngun, a dad and a mom

In Florida, it is illegal to release us

But not in South America, where we are from.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/waterfowl/muscovy-ducks

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 19, 2023

I am an immature Black-bellied Whistling duck

My beak isn't orange like mom and dads

And my belly isn't black yet, but as my name implies

Soon I'll grow and will be black-bellied clad.

Location: Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

Sources: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-bellied_Whistling-Duck/id

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 13, 2023

We are Northern Pintail ducks in silhouette 

You can tell by our slim bodies and pointed tail

It's easier to ID us when we are sitting in water

But a predator put us up in the air!

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

December 12, 2023

We are a group of Lesser Scaup

In North America, we're the most abundant diving duck

But in some regions our population is declining

Due to polluted water and habitat that's shrunk.

Location: Black Point Wildlife Drive, MINWR

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

Photo and text © 2023 Dee Fairbanks Simpson