January 7, 2018

Location: Sebastian, St. Sebastion River Preserve State Park

On the left, here is a Dandelion,
So yellow and so bright.
Up higher in the picture you see,
When it goes to seed it's fluffy and white.

Although some people consider Dandelions,
A blight upon their green grass
It is fact a very useful plant
For medicine, wine and salads.

Source: Wild South Florida - Dandelion

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 6, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I'm known as a Blue Jay,
I've a white tummy with blue and black up above.
My hobbies include imitating red-shouldered hawks,
And eating acorns, which I love.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Blue Jay

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 5, 2018

Location: Sebastian, North County Regional Park

I am a male Osprey
If I was female, I'd wear a brown necklace.
We both have scary yellow eyes,
And a black stripe across our face.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Osprey

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 4, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I am known as a Red-shouldered Hawk,
I eat snakes and frogs and mice.
If I'm a northern bird, I migrate south in the fall,
And go back when the weather is nice.

If I'm a bird of the Florida race,
I'm smaller and my color's less bold.
You also can tell me a apart from a northern hawk,
Cause I'm too smart to fly north where it's cold!

Sources: Cornell Lab - Red-shouldered Hawk

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 3, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I'm known as a Common Ground Dove
Because on the ground is where I nest and feed.
I have a two-lobed pocket in my esophogus,
In which I can store hundreds of seeds.

Sources: Cornell Lab - Ground Dove

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 2, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

I'm a Northern Mockingbird
Sitting in a Brazilian Pepper tree.
Although it's an invasive exotic,
The berries are yummy to me.

Sources: UF|IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants - Schinus terebinthifolia

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

January 1, 2018

Location: Cocoa, City dump, Cocoa Christmas Bird Count

I am a Great Egret,
I used to be killed for my plumes, which are long and distinct.
Fortunately the Audubon Society
Fought to save me from going extinct.

Sources: Audubon Guide to North American Birds - Great Egret

Photo and text © 2017 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

A note from Dee: Welcome to the new year! I have a few changes to the blog going forward. First, you probably have figured out that the pictures are not always posted on the day that I take them. I realized about halfway into 2017 that I would not be able to keep up the blog if I walk, photograph, edit, research and write every day as I still have a day job. It's easier (and I think the quality is a better) if I photograph, edit and get ahead of the blog rather than try to do it all every day. I still try to walk every day, but you won't necessarily see photos on the day that I take them.

Second, to keep the blog fresh, I will occasionally have guest photographers contribute photos since there are people like David who travel and see different species than I do. If you have a photo you would like to contribute, drop me an email.

And finally, also new for 2018 - my goal is to make at least one video entry every month. These will be production videos, continuing my Birding With Dee series. I would love your input here. If you have a topic you would like to see covered, or if you have a birding question you would like to see addressed, or if you just have a favorite bird that you would like to see covered more in depth, please post a comment here or on Facebook or drop me an email, I really would love to hear your input!

Thanks so much for reading and your continued support of my blog. I look forward to writing and producing videos for you in 2018!