Cuban Tree Frog

Cuban Tree Frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis).

Cuban Tree Frog Link

Long-tailed Skipper

Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus).

Butterflies and Moths Link

Black & Yellow Argiope Spider

Black & Yellow Writing Spider (Argiope aurantia).

Looks dangerous, but harmless to humans.

Osprey: Recovered Raptor

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large raptor that almost became extinct due to the use of DDT in the 1950's and 60's. 

Osprey link 

Rachael Carson's seminal book, "Silent Spring," brought the public's attention to the horrid side effects of DDT and other pesticides.

"Silent Spring"

Now, 50 years later, the Ospreys have recovered and are thriving and quite common here in SW Florida.

Osprey Colony Project

They are great fishermen...much better than Bald Eagles.

Osprey conservation

Much effort has been done by many volunteer groups to provide nesting platforms for Ospreys.  That, and the banning of DDT have made the species recovery possible.

Any kind of pollution or contamination eventually effects the top predators of a food chain or food web.  It's called bioaccumulation, whereby the offending substance is multiplied all the way up the food chain.

Effects of DDT

Bioaccumulation

Here is a happy Osprey family on a nesting platform on Pine Island.

Wild Parakeets of Florida

Nanday Parakeet (Nandayus nenday) a native of South America.  Photographed here in Sarasota, Florida.

Nanday Parakeet link

Monk Parakeet (Myiospitta monarchus) is also a native of South America.  There is thriving flock here in Punta Gorda.

Monk Parakeet link

Learn more about our new avain neighbors.

Feral Parrot link

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

The Shrike has adapted well to our suburban neighborhood.  We've enough open areas for instect and lizard hunting, and enough woodland for cover.

Loggerhead Shrike link