The Florida Softshell Turtle is one of three softshell species common to Florida – but it is found over most of the state and is especially common in south Florida. The other two species are found in parts of north Florida and northward. It’s easy to identify the Florida Softshell because it has a noticeable ridge of scales across the front part of its otherwise leathery “shell” – which is properly known as its “carapace”. All of these softshell turtles are flattened – aiding in their rapid movements to capture small fish, crayfish and other small animals. Plants do appear in their diet, but at a low level – and perhaps they just came along with an animal they were eating.

Molt is a routine loss and replacement of feathers that can occur at any time of year, but in most birds a complete molt occurs in late summer and fall. For some species a partial molt often occurs in early spring. Timing of molt is important. In late summer and fall, weather is warm and there is generally an abundance of insects, seeds, and fruit that provides energy for molt.

The Great Egret is the largest of North American egrets and although it can be found in most of North America, it is nowhere more common than in Florida. More northern populations must migrate south in winter to survive, thus Florida and other southern populations swell. Great Egrets are second in size only to our Great Blue Heron. Its size, striking white plumage, yellow to orange bill, and black legs make it readily identifiable.

Spanish Needles, Devil’s Pitchfork, and Bidens alba are one and the same – and humans have bestowed this plant with several other common names. This plant is scientifically known as Bidens alba. “Bidens” refers to the two sharp “teeth” usually found at the tip of each spine associated with a seed. The teeth are sharp and point backward such that an animal that passes by will get “hooked” and carry the seed away until it is pulled off or brushed off – and there a new Bidens plant may grow. The species name “alba” means “white” and refers to its white petals.

Killdeer numbers and distribution have grown greatly in the past 200 years to include most of mainland North America – including most of Florida. The bad news is that their success has been due to our clearing of the land and “salting it” with patches of gravel in parking lots, yards, and rooftops – and many other species have declined as their preferred habitat disappeared.

The Cabbage Palm – Florida’s State Tree is found throughout Florida – in the wild, in our yards, along city streets, and from coast to coast. It’s tolerant of the coastal influence of salt spray and the seasonal wet and dry times of inland areas. It was these characteristics and its long history with Floridian culture that finally won over the legislators who chose it over other trees that may be more impressive, but limited in their state-wide distribution.

Downy Woodpeckers are resident birds that are about the size of a House Sparrow – and the smallest of woodpeckers found in the United States and Canada. They occur in most forests, forest edges, and in cities and towns of the continental U.S. and southern Canada.

The most intimate life of Ospreys is often on full display for bird-watchers. They hunt for fish over open water and their large nest is usually in the open near water and may be used in multiple years. It dominates their social life. Males bring most of the nest material and females do most of the “furniture” arrangement. Osprey plumage and eye color differ with sex and age of birds so that it is easy to recognize Ospreys in their daily saga. Males have a white breast often with only a single line or spot of black dead center. Females have several lines of black – often arranged much like a necklace on their chest. Both adults have crisp brown plumage covering their back; juveniles also have brown plumage, but their body feathers are each neatly edged with light tan – giving them a scale-like appearance. The female is larger than the male – allowing her to defend her chicks against a hungry male. After all, he is a predator!

Brown Pelicans are a common sight along Florida coasts and are often seen perched on stubs of trees, dock supports, and utility poles near water. They are large birds -- each with a beak that can be more than a foot long, the lower jaw of which is supported by flexible bones with a very thin, but tough and flexible skin that stretches between them. When a Brown Pelican dives into the water, water pressure on the opened lower bill stretches the skin essentially into a scoop net. Water and creatures in it are sucked in by the pressure of the pelican’s dive – and -- as the bill closes -- the water escapes and whatever creatures are left are swallowed.

Raccoons are mammals – warm-blooded, hairy creatures (like us!) that are easily recognized by the mask of black hair on their face and a variable number of black rings that circle their densely haired long tail. Males and females are similar in appearance. Both sexes can vary in the number of rings on the tail, although most have about six rings. Raccoons are basically nocturnal animals. They are out and about at dawn and dusk as well as in the darkness of night, but by day they are usually sleeping comfortably in a hollow log, hole in the ground, or in some other cavity – sometimes even in an abandoned building. Males move about by night over much greater distances than females – they are not only searching for food, but also for additional mates.