With appreciation to Joshua S. Rose, Duke University Department of Biology... a kindred spirit (and smart cookie), I honor the beautiful and diverse dragonfly.

Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the insect order known as Odonata, meaning "toothed jaw" - their mouthparts are serrated. They are often referred to collectively as "dragonflies", however there are two different sub-orders. Damselflies are insect in the sub-order Zygoptera (meaning "yoke-winged"). All four wings are near enough equal in size and shape. They are usually small, weakly flying insects that stay close to the water margins or water surface. When at rest, most species hold their wings along the length of their abdomen. The eyes are always separated, never touching. The larvae have external plates (lamellae) at the end of the abdomen, which act as accessory gills.

Dragonflies are insects in the sub-order Anisoptera (meaning"unequal-winged"). Hind wings are usually shorter and broader than Fore wings. They are usually larger, strongly flying insects that can often be found flying well away from water. When at rest, they hold their wings out from the body, often at right angles to it. The eyes are very large and usually touch, at least at a point. The larvae have no external lamellae.

"I see no seat for the eagles. We forget and we consider ourselves superior, but we are after all a mere part of the creation"
- Oren Lions, Iroquio

FLORIDA REDTAIL HAWK
RANGE: Permanent resident throughout the U.S. and northern Mexico; summer resident in Alaska and southern Canada

HABITAT: Open woodlands, farmland, pastures

STATUS: Not endangered, but protected by law. Many hawks are shot illegally.

DIET: Rodents, snakes, rabbits, frogs

Approximate adult dimensions:
Length: 19-25 in. (48-63cm)
Wingspan: 48 inches
Clutch size: 2-4 eggs laid early spring; one clutch per year
Lifespan: 15 - 20 years

The red-tailed hawk is common in open habitats across Florida. Birds do not have completely red tails until they are fully mature. Red-tailed hawks probably remain paired together throughout the year. Each pair defends a territory of approximately two to five square miles, depending on the habitat. In Florida, red-tailed hawks begin nesting in February. The adult pair builds a large stick nest in a high tree where they lay 1-4 eggs. The eggs hatch after roughly five weeks and the young are considered altricial. The young remain in the nest for two months and stay in their parents territory several months longer while learning to hunt.

Hawks are primarily sit-and-wait predators. The bird sits on a high perch such as a tree or utility wire pole and scans the surrounding area for prey. The eyesight of hawks is very keen and has been estimated to be nearly ten times that of humans. This is a result of two adaptations. The structure of the hawk's eye magnifies slightly the images they see, and the hawk's eyes have a large number of light sensitive cells that increase depth perception and enable the hawk to discern the shapes of prey at great distances.

The feet of hawks and their relatives are modified into talons. The toes are muscular and the nails are elongated and curved to help them better grasp prey. Red-tailed hawks can catch agile prey such as snakes and mice on the ground but have a difficult time capturing birds which can take to the air.

Flamingos do exist in the Tampa Bay region, they can just be a bit harder to find. Wheedon Island Park is a great place to start the search. You will also find pink Ibis there foraging the marshes.

BUILD A NESTBOX FOR SMALL BIRDS
Bird nestboxes can be expensive and elaborate so here is an economical alternative. The best time to make and place a nestbox is in the autumn. However as nests sometimes get destroyed or raided, birds can look for replacement sites in spring and early summer. In poor weather birds may roost in the box or just visit to collect flies.

Making your box - Any sort of wood will do. Exterior grade plywood is the best but plank wood makes cutting easier. Remember to adjust the dimensions of the floor to suit the thickness of the wood you use. The dimensions shown are for 15mm thickness. Galvanised nails will last longer than ordinary nails. Seal the sides with sealant as you build, to make the box both windproof and waterproof. A small drainage hole in the base is essential to let liquid waste drain away or in open front boxes to let any rainwater drain away.

Do not be tempted to add a perch as this allows predators to intimidate the nestlings and may force the adult birds to leave. The hole should be at the top of the box to keep the young out of the reach of cats or squirrels. Hole size is important as great tits will oust blue tits if they can get in the box. Blue tit and coal tit 25mm hole, great tit 28mm hole, house sparrow 32mm hole. The birds may be seen pecking at the hole. This does not mean that the hole is too small. If you increase the hole you may lose the birds.

Painting the box is not necessary. Indeed some colours have been proved to put birds off. A coat of linseed oil will keep the wood from drying out, though is not essential. Some wood preservatives can be poisonous to animals so they are best avoided.

Where to hang your nestbox - The nestbox should be shaded from the hot sun and sheltered from prevailing winds. In the United Kingdom this means facing north-east, east or south east. If necessary place the hole in the side of the box. A little early morning sun will do no harm. Between 2m and 3m above ground level is best. Most birds like a clear flight path into the nestbox so avoid any obvious obstructions.

Boxes too close together or near a bird table will invite competition, so allow birds a bit of their own territory. A little piece of dried moss placed in the bottom of your nestbox may be just enough to attract a family. Clean out the box every year. Rinse with boiling water to kill parasites or use a short lived insecticide such as pyrethrum powder.

Good luck! Let me know how you did!

Roseate Spoonbill - These birds spend much time feeding in the shallow waters of Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico on shrimp, small fish, snails, and water-dwelling insects. They find food by their sense of touch as they sweep their spoon-shaped bills from side to side. Early in the century they were hunted for their feathers, but with laws to protect them they are out of danger.	Barred Owl - This owl is most often seen by those who seek it out in its dark retreat, usually a thick grove of trees in lowland forest. There it rests quietly during the day. It sometimes calls in the daytime and if disturbed will fly easily from one grove of trees to another. It emerges at night to feed on rodents, birds, frogs, and crayfish. In recent years, this owl has been expanding its range in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Magnificent Frigatebird - Frigatebirds never land on the ground or water; their short legs and narrow wings make it difficult for them to take off except from a height, such as the limb of a tree or a rock. In the air, however, these are among the most graceful and agile of birds. Their most famous food-gathering method is to swoop in and steal fish from another seabird.	Broad-Tailed Hummingbird - This species, like most other North American hummingbirds, nests in the United States in summer but returns to Mexico and Central America each fall to spend the winter. Somehow, after migrating hundreds or thousands of miles, it manages to return to the same tree or bush to build its nest each year. It will return to the same branch and even build a new nest atop an old one.
Turkey Vulture - Soaring for hours over woodland and nearby open country, the Turkey Vulture searches for remains of dead animals, locating them at least partly by means of its sharp sense of smell. As they soar, these "buzzards" ride on rising columns of warm air, called thermals, that help them to save energy as they cover miles of territory. The birds count on these air currents, and that is why we seldom see a Turkey Vulture on a windless day, when thermals do not form.	American Kestrel - The smallest falcon, the American Kestrel often hovers in midair, looking for mice, sparrows, or large insects. It nests in holes in trees, on cliffs, or on buildings. Families stay together for months after babies learn to fly.

The Cape Sable seaside sparrow -- a songbird unique to the Everglades and widely considered to be an indicator of the overall health of its Everglades habitat -- is hovering on the brink of extinction. Since the 1980s its population has decreased by roughly half.