Tag Archive | Nature
Thanksgiving is for the Birds!
Temperatures here in Florida took a dive last night into the mid 30s. This Thanksgiving morning gave rise to many birds visiting our backyard feeders. Chickadees, titmice and cardinals feasted on sunflower seeds. Mourning doves and chipping sparrows devoured the smaller seeds. Even a Carolina wren decided to grab a few seeds. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Gold Buttons in November
The phone rings and I answer it. It is my daughter from Maryland telling me it is freezing and that there are winter weather advisories for her area. She tells me they may be getting a bit of snow followed by ice and then rain threatening to make her morning compute to the D.C. area […]
Southern Pine Snake Stands Its Ground!
When Anne and I walked on the sidewalk near Lake Tsala Apopka here in Florida, a woman cautioned us about a snake on the walkway ahead. When we were on Long Island in New York, we would never be concerned about snakes because there were no poisonous snake even in the wildest of areas. Rattlesnakes were […]
The Life Around Water Lilies
Water lilies are in ponds around the world. There are many different species, but they all perform the same functions. Fish will often hide under the canopy of the lily when sensing osprey and other raptors seeking fish to eat. Turtles and frogs find shelter and food among the lily pads. Alligators float in the midst of the lily pads to blend in with the […]
The Monarch Mimic? Or is it the Other Way Around?
At one time this butterfly was thought to mimic the poisonous monarch butterfly to protect itself from being eaten. Monarch caterpillars eating milkweed absorbed substances called glycosides that are not only distasteful, but harmful to the heart of predators eating them. The non-poisonous viceroy butterfly gained protection from predators by mimicking the monarch. But in […]
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