May 7, 2018

Location: Cocoa Beach, Lori Wilson Park

This is a Mimosa strigillosa
Also known as a Powderpuff,
If you touch its leaves they will curl,
It's a sensitive plant, but fairly tough.

Sources: UF|IFAS Gardening Solutions - Powderpuff Mimosa

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 6, 2018

Location: Sebastian Riverwalk

I'm a female Red-breasted Merganser
I come to Florida in the winter time.
But over the years, my numbers here
Have been on the decline.

Dee and David count birds every winter
You might think that's kind of strange
But the data collected is vitally important
And clearly shows the impact of climate change.

Today is my birthday. As your gift to me, please:

• Click the link below to see the animated map that is created using the reams of data we (and thousands of other citizen scientists) have collected over decades. 
• Sign up for an annual Christmas Bird Count to help us keep this vital data collection going. You don't have to be a bird expert, we always need drivers, spotters, note takers, photographers, and post-count dinner help. Contact me or David for details on Brevard and Indian River county counts, or contact your local Audubon Society for this year's count dates. 
• Share a link to my blog with a friend who might not be familiar with the flora and fauna of Florida - knowledge is power!

Sources: Climate Endangered Red-breasted Merganser

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 5, 2018

Location: Sebastian, Publix parking lot

I am a Crested Caracara,
I wear an ill-fitting black toupee.
I have a bi-colored beak, and big talon feet.
And I am a listed as threatened bird of prey.

Sources: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Audubons crested caracara

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 4, 2018

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

This is Virginia Creeper
It looks a little like Poison Ivy.
But it's a great plant for birds, but not humans,
And it's leaves are in groups of fivey.

Ok, I know that's a terrible rhyme,
This is a great plant on cold winter days,
It's fruit's known to attract many species of birds,
Such as Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Jays.

Sources: 10 Plants for a Bird-Friendly Yard

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 3, 2018

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

This is known as Poison Ivy
It has groups of three leaves and the stem is red.
Once touched you can spread this plant's oil,
But it's a myth that the rash itself can be spread.

If you come in contact, wash immediately,
Both your clothes and skin to avoid spreading the rash.
Then do not scratch the angry red blisters,
Instead take a colloidal oatmeal bath.

Sources: Treating poison ivy: Ease the itch with tips from dermatologists

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson  

May 2, 2018

Location: Sebastain, Riverview Park parking lot

I am now an adult Killdeer
But I was precocial when I was born¹.
That means I had feathers and I could see
Unlike altricial chicks who are not fully formed.

¹ Like all birds, Killdeer are hatched from eggs. They stay in the eggs about 2 weeks longer than altricial birds which gives the  feathers and eyes more time to fully develop. But "hatched" and "developed" don't rhyme, so I used artistic license and said "born". But you know what I meant.

Sources:

• Birdwatching.com: The Precocious Killdeer
• Precocoal and Atricial Young

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 1, 2018

Location: Turkey Creek Sanctuary, Palm Bay

This is known as Love Vine.
It’s a parasite that grows on a host
Although it produces its own chlorophyll,
It steals other nutrients it can’t produce on it’s own.

Although it can be invasive,
In a strange twist of irony,
When combined with a moth, it can be used
To control Brazilian Pepper trees.

(Special thanks to Carol Hebert for her help identifying this plant.)

Sources: Wild South Florida - Naturally Wild - Love Vine

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson