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As a naturalist interested in learning about the incredible diversity of life, I constantly have to deal with the difficulties of identifying animals and plants of different but related species that closely resemble one another. With the common rat snake […]

The two words “beauty” and “snake” may seem incompatible or an oxymoron since many people automatically dislike and/or fear snakes. However once you realize that most aspects of the fear of snakes are learned from tales told by parents and […]

Whereas bright colors in flowers and fruits are generally designed to attract pollinators or potential seed dispersers, bright insects or amphibians often signal toxicity or venom. Isn’t it interesting that birds that are not renowned for their intellect are able […]

  In early March, 2013, I sent out a nature note describing the efforts of a large number of volunteers at Wildflower Preserve (owned by the Lemon Bay Conservancy; http://lemonbayconservancy.org/wildflower.htm) to create a naturalized meadow of flowers to attract pollinating […]

Now that we are packing up to join the throng of snowbirds surging north it is time to think of the wonderful natural events that we have witnessed during this season and consider the bittersweet aspect of migrating north with […]

  Everyone remembers the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the ugly “duckling” which grew up as the object of ridicule for its ungainly appearance, yet it eventually metamorphosed into a beautiful swan. I think about this story whenever […]

One of the many wonders of nature that we hardly ever think about is the amazing variation in the size and shape of the beaks of birds. Even though some birds are famous for their use of primitive tools made […]

Well it is Spring again, that most wonderful time of year when life renews itself, and we have to figure out the names of all those confusing Spring flowers and butterflies that we have not generally seen for many months. […]

  The house wren is a tiny (0.4 oz) bird with a big personality. It nests in cavities around houses and can be in competition with other hole-nesting species. In annual surveys of two dozen nest boxes I have found […]

  Although you might think that southern Florida is in a state of perpetual spring-time, such is not the case. There are very distinct summer wet and winter dry seasons with associated changes in the prevailing temperatures. The onset of […]

When I go walking on our beautiful local beaches I am on a mission- sort of an Easter egg hunt for bling- but in this case to find shorebirds that are banded. Only a small fraction of birds we will […]

  Although we all enjoy visiting nature preserves, sometimes it is possible to see very exciting animals right in our own backyards. The chances of this can be improved considerably if you manage your yard plantings and ground litter specifically […]

  It is well known that animals may often reveal things that are wrong with the environment as bioindicators; thus recent observations of bird behavior are some cause for alarm. While it is of course normal for birds to migrate […]

  There have been amazing numbers of butterflies in our yard lately. Yet winter in Florida can be highly variable weather wise. There can be stretches of very warm temperatures and blue skies interrupted by periodic cold fronts that punish […]

  One of the major natural wonders of summer-time is the profusion of butterflies. Some call them flying flowers which is very appropriate given both their beauty and their association with flowers as a source of nectar. Although their variation […]

  While the northern states are beginning to enjoy their spring flowers, those of us in Florida can also appreciate the special beauty of flowers and the insects that feed on them and pollinate them. It is indeed intriguing that […]

There is nothing more therapeutic to the mind and body than a walk among nature’s glories. Since my jogging days are in the past due to unforgiving knees, I find that a quiet walk in a natural setting to contemplate […]

  A central tenet of the Christian faith is that Jesus was born of a virgin mother and at Christmas many celebrate this event. You may think that this would have to be considered miraculous, and it is true that […]

  Although beaches are generally thought of as a place for summer recreational swimming and general relaxation for humans, they are also a remarkable place to observe the special adaptations of the creatures that are able to live in this […]

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to tell the head from the tail of many caterpillars? Anatomically it is often difficult to see the actual head and the differences in the fore and hind legs are similarly often […]