I was having dinner with my family on a cool March evening when one said “I have not seen any Swallow-tailed Kites yet. We usually see them this time of year”. To which I replied, “I saw one today!” – and I had. It was March ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Wildlife
The Plume Trade: When Killing was Fashionable The origins of the Plume Trade can be traced back to the 19th century and Victorian fashion, a style that included elaborate assortments of silk, ribbons, and exotic bird feathers on large, ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a... Is it an egret or a heron? Well, biologically there isn't much of a difference. Taxonomically, egrets and herons are classified in the same Order and Family, meaning they are very similar. In fact, the ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Extension, Wildlife
Herons The likely mascot of your neighborhood pond, herons belong to the Family Ardeidae, of which there are around 70 different species of herons, egrets, and bitterns worldwide. Dive in to learn more about the herons of Florida, or navigate ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
Found worldwide, in all countries aside from Antarctica, the term "hawk" is used to describe over 250 species of diurnal raptors under Order Accipitriformes, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, and ospreys. Raptors, or birds of prey, share ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
My husband was born and raised in Pensacola, spending many of his childhood weekends fishing, swimming, or camping along local waterways. So, it was a bit of a surprise when he told me he didn’t see his first pelican until he was 12 or ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Birds of prey The term "raptors" refers to predatory birds that hunt other animals for food, also known as birds of prey. In previous Wild Sarasota blogs and webinars we have covered eagles, hawks, falcons, and our nocturnal raptors- the ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Wildlife
As we celebrate the fall and winter holidays, you may spend more time at home wandering around your yard. Notice any new sounds? Or flicks of color fly by? Florida is home to over 500 species of birds (credit: Florida Ornithological Society), ... READ MORE
Category: , Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Wildlife
Human activities cause changes to wildlife biodiversity co-existing on urban and agricultural lands. For birds, little is known about the factors or extent these human activities impose on their biodiversity as they co-exist in ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, SFYL Hot Topic, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
Written by 2023 UF/IFAS NCBS Undergraduate Intern Tristen Ladika, hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CRNWR) Bird is the Word NCBS Internship in a nutshell This summer I had the amazing opportunity to work with the U.S. ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research, , Wildlife