15.00

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

Each of Florida’s seasons is characterized by a variety of amazing wildlife activities. Below is a list of some notable native wildlife behaviors occurring in November and December around Florida. This information and more can be found at the following University of Florida website: Wildlife Happenings

NOVEMBER

Birds

• Put out your winter seed and suet feeders
• Look for downy, hairy, red-bellied, and redheaded woodpeckers on suet feeders.
• Cedar waxwings come south for the winter. Their flocks can be seen on cedars, hollies, cherry laurels, privet, and other fruit plants.
• Bald eagles begin their nesting season. Look for spectacular aerial courtship displays.
• Sandhill cranes return in full force from their breeding grounds up north. (Only a small number live here all year round).
• Many yellow-rumped warblers and palm warblers will be in neighborhoods, natural areas, and yards, and gray catbirds have already arrived, and will be skulking (and cat-calling!) in thickets.
• Kinglets, phoebes, robins, and other northern songbirds have arrived for the winter
  

Mammals

• Deer rutting intensifies in central and northern Florida.
• Bears are on the move and crossing roads, especially in Central Florida
• As water temperatures lower, manatees begin to move to relatively warm waters at springs. Boaters beware of idle speed zones.
• Look for migrating Hoary and Red Bats in North Florida. Hoary is a large bat with frosted fur.
  

Amphibians

• Ornate chorus frogs begin calling.
  

Fish

• Spotted sea trout should enter tidal creeks around Thanksgiving.
• Bass congregate around jetties in south end of Lake George.
  

DECEMBER:

Birds

• The annual Christmas bird count begins mid-December. Visit these websites for more information.

National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count — A Long Tradition

• This is the best time for watching waterfowl on wetlands, lakes, and prairies.
• Great horned owls and barred owls courting. Listen for them.
• Look for Goldfinches at north Florida feeders.
• Yellow-rumped warblers will show-up at feeders if it is cold enough.
• In north Florida, bald eagles start hatching about Christmas day.
  

Mammals

• Right whales appear off east coast north of Sebastian Inlet
  

More of these “happenings” for the calendar year can be found at the UF’s Florida Wildlife Extension Website: Wildlife Happenings. Also at the Wildlife Extension website are a number of interesting resources to learn not only about our native wildlife, but our non-native/invasive wildlife as well. Up to date facts about non-native animals in Florida can be found in the UF/IFAS Invader Updater newsletter.

0