Good afternoon! It’s been awhile since I’ve added new content (wildlife and nature) here. Birds, Butterflies, Florida everglades and more… Continue reading New Content: Stunning… or more like, FUNNY [Wildlife and Nature]
Backyard birding is a rewarding hobby. There are many beautiful and bright-colored birds that come around my feeder every day. The Northern Cardinal is a true favorite for all those who enjoy backyard birding everywhere! With its striking ruby-red feathers … Continue reading Backyard Birding – Candid Cardinal
This gallery is devoted to the burrowing owls I have come to know and love in and around my neighborhood. Each has his or her own personality and is so unique. Continue reading Burrowing Owl Gallery
Birds of South Florida series On any given Sunday, or any other day for that matter, all you have to do is visit your local park in South Florida to discover one of the most unique and interesting creatures around. … Continue reading Burrowing Owls – Birds of South Florida
One ecological paradox that really inspires passion and fervor on both sides of the debate is on discussing the benefits and disadvantages of fish hatcheries.
What is your view? Continue reading A Visit To The Elk River Salmon Hatchery – Port Orford, Oregon
Sea lions have a reputation for being comical, whimsical and downright entertaining, with their playful antics while in the water.
But in reality, are they naughty or nice? Continue reading California Sea Lions – Naughty Or Nice?
Dragonflies are fascinating insects that have captured our attention down through the ages. They have been the subject of countless stories, poetry and lore.
Strangely beautiful with their large eyes, long bodies, and four large wings, hovering effortlessly in the air, they are the original drone. Dragonflies are superior in agility and deadly to a fault.
With their bright, bold colors, they capture imagination. Iridescent rainbows of color can often be observed refracting off their transparent wings in direct sunlight. Dragonfly wings may just be the most beautiful sun catchers of all!
There are over 5,000 species of dragonflies in the world, ranging in a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. The largest dragonfly, seen here in a photograph by Andres Hernandez, is called Megaloprepus caerulatus, [click on link to see picture] and has a long, slender body that is nearly five inches long with a wingspan of 7.5 inches, and can be found in Central and South America.
The Swamp Darner (seen below) of the Southeastern United States is slightly smaller in length, but with a heavier body.
Dragonflies may be beautiful, but they certainly aren’t docile. They are fierce predators, able to pursue their prey at high speeds (up to 35mph), intercept them in mid-flight, and devour them mercilessly with their huge mandibles. (And you thought honeybees were fierce!)
Since they prey mostly on other small insects including mosquitoes, they are actually beneficial for the environment.
Create a dragonfly garden, and your yard will certainly have less of those pesky, biting bugs like mosquitoes. But beware! Butterflies are on the menu of this ferocious little creature, so you may have to make a choice.
The dragonfly begins life in the water. Most dragonflies will lay their eggs near freshwater. A few species lay their eggs in saltwater. As the larva grows, it will eat almost anything including fish, tadpoles and other insect larva.
Once it emerges from the water, it begins to forage on the wing. The dragonfly has muscles in its thorax that control each wing separately. They are able to change the individual angle of each wing, allowing them to hover, fly sideways or even backwards with ease.
Dragonflies have extraordinary sight due to their large compound eyes, giving them nearly 360° vision. Think about that the next time you watch a 360° video… what if you could see like that?
This superior vision helps them in targeting and singling out their prey during flight. They are able to determine a trajectory path to intercept prey at an astoundingly accurate rate with a high rate of speed.
Dragonflies are amazing little creatures. They are a sight to behold and a force to be reckoned with.
The next time you cross paths with one of these fierce creatures, stop and take a closer look. You’ll be glad you did. [If you can manage to sneak up on one with that 360° vision!]
You’ll also be glad you are not the one on the menu!
Squirrels can be wildly entertaining and entirely frustrating at times. However, we can learn a lot from a squirrel! Continue reading Squirrels – Nuts For Squirrels
What thoughts are conjured up in your mind when you think of the Florida Everglades? Can you feel the sweltering humidity, the thickness in the air? Do you think of alligators slicing stealthily through the water next to the tangled roots of the intertwining mangrove forest? Do you hear the high-pitched buzzing of mosquitoes swarming in the air?
These are all things you will find here. However, the Everglades is so much more than just another swamp. It is a unique ecosystem that supports diverse plant and animal life found nowhere else. Continue reading The Florida Everglades – Not Just Another Swamp
