For many years, I have loved the beautiful Roseate Spoonbill, which is actually a water bird. Since I never found one anywhere nearby, I sometimes traveled to Sanibel Island to watch them hunt the mudflats there. Since then, the spoonbills ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
Snowbirds of all kinds flock to Florida during the cooler months – both people and birds travel south to escape the harsh northern winter. Florida has many birds that spend the entire year here, but additional birds can be spotted in the fall ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Florida is home to over 50 native snakes, and as the temperatures warm up these snakes are more active. Four species of snakes found in Central Florida are venomous, meaning their bites inject life-threatening venom into the body. By learning ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
Have you seen white, long-beaked birds in your neighborhood? Maybe a pair of tall birds out for a stroll, or a massive grey bird flying overhead? All these birds are considered wading birds. They love shallow water and frequent lakes, ponds, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife
National Endangered Species Day is May 20, 2022, created by the U.S. Senate in 2006, this day of appreciation also coincides with World Endangered Species Day. Florida Endangered list Our state animal, the Florida Panther, is ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, WildlifeMigratory Birds in Florida Saturday, May 14, 2022, is the World Migratory Bird Day. Created by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in 1993, it is a day to celebrate and learn about migratory birds. For more information you can visit ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, WildlifeThis Friday, April 29, 2022, will be National Arbor Day, a holiday invented to recognize the importance of trees. It is most often observed by the planting of trees, either as a part of a group or as an individual homeowner. Here in Florida, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Forests, HOME LANDSCAPES, Natural Resources, WildlifeYou can add some plants to make it look natural and attract wildlife Having a lawn around the pond is not the best answer for attracting wildlife. According to the Florida Friendly principles, a lawn should not be any closer than 10 feet ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Water, WildlifeCan we help the birds and wildlife at the lakefront parks by bringing them a loaf of bread when we visit? While intentions are good, we should eat the bread ourselves instead. It can actually lead to malnutrition in wild birds, since it ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, HOME LANDSCAPES, Horticulture, Natural Resources, Recreation, Wildlife
Many of us love watching the critters in our backyards. Birds, butterflies, squirrels, frogs, and lizards all depend on certain plants for survival. When selecting plants for our landscape, we can choose plants that are not only beautiful but ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Wildlife