#LocalVertDiversity 34. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 34. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
I am very behind on my #LocalVertDiversity posting. Time to catch up!
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
November 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I am very behind on my #LocalVertDiversity posting. Time to catch up!
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
#LocalVertDiversity 35. Some kind of mouse (superfamily Muroidea)
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 35. Some kind of mouse (superfamily Muroidea)
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
#LocalVertDiversity 28. Tree Frog (subfamily Hylinae)
Probably a Squirrel Tree Frog (Hyla squirella), but the my windows are too dirty to tell for sure from this angle. Obviously not taken while walking my dog, but since I was already over the 25 spp requirement I counted it anyways. #herps #frog
Probably a Squirrel Tree Frog (Hyla squirella), but the my windows are too dirty to tell for sure from this angle. Obviously not taken while walking my dog, but since I was already over the 25 spp requirement I counted it anyways. #herps #frog
October 29, 2025 at 3:47 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 28. Tree Frog (subfamily Hylinae)
Probably a Squirrel Tree Frog (Hyla squirella), but the my windows are too dirty to tell for sure from this angle. Obviously not taken while walking my dog, but since I was already over the 25 spp requirement I counted it anyways. #herps #frog
Probably a Squirrel Tree Frog (Hyla squirella), but the my windows are too dirty to tell for sure from this angle. Obviously not taken while walking my dog, but since I was already over the 25 spp requirement I counted it anyways. #herps #frog
#LocalVertDiversity 27. White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Usually I see ibises in big flocks, or at least groups of 3-4, but this one was foraging in this little creek by itself, although there was a snowy egret nearby. 🪶 #birds #wildlife
Usually I see ibises in big flocks, or at least groups of 3-4, but this one was foraging in this little creek by itself, although there was a snowy egret nearby. 🪶 #birds #wildlife
October 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 27. White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Usually I see ibises in big flocks, or at least groups of 3-4, but this one was foraging in this little creek by itself, although there was a snowy egret nearby. 🪶 #birds #wildlife
Usually I see ibises in big flocks, or at least groups of 3-4, but this one was foraging in this little creek by itself, although there was a snowy egret nearby. 🪶 #birds #wildlife
#LocalVertDiversity 26. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
The best way to distinguish Snowys is their black legs with bright yellow feet. So of course they’re usually wading in vegetation and won’t let you get a good look at their feet. This one was being unusually cooperative, though! #birds #wildlife
The best way to distinguish Snowys is their black legs with bright yellow feet. So of course they’re usually wading in vegetation and won’t let you get a good look at their feet. This one was being unusually cooperative, though! #birds #wildlife
October 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 26. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
The best way to distinguish Snowys is their black legs with bright yellow feet. So of course they’re usually wading in vegetation and won’t let you get a good look at their feet. This one was being unusually cooperative, though! #birds #wildlife
The best way to distinguish Snowys is their black legs with bright yellow feet. So of course they’re usually wading in vegetation and won’t let you get a good look at their feet. This one was being unusually cooperative, though! #birds #wildlife
#LocalVertDiversity 25. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Unlike the alligator, which I legitimately didn’t see until species #20, I see squirrels every day but just kind of forgot that I should take a picture to include them in the project until species #25. Whoops. #wildlife #nature
Unlike the alligator, which I legitimately didn’t see until species #20, I see squirrels every day but just kind of forgot that I should take a picture to include them in the project until species #25. Whoops. #wildlife #nature
October 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 25. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Unlike the alligator, which I legitimately didn’t see until species #20, I see squirrels every day but just kind of forgot that I should take a picture to include them in the project until species #25. Whoops. #wildlife #nature
Unlike the alligator, which I legitimately didn’t see until species #20, I see squirrels every day but just kind of forgot that I should take a picture to include them in the project until species #25. Whoops. #wildlife #nature
#LocalVertDiversity 23. Crow (Genus Corvus)
Most likely American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos), but we also have the slightly smaller Fish Crows (C. ossifragus) here, and they’re hard to tell apart unless they’re standing next to each other or calling, and this one was alone and silent. #birds #wildlife
Most likely American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos), but we also have the slightly smaller Fish Crows (C. ossifragus) here, and they’re hard to tell apart unless they’re standing next to each other or calling, and this one was alone and silent. #birds #wildlife
October 15, 2025 at 9:58 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 23. Crow (Genus Corvus)
Most likely American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos), but we also have the slightly smaller Fish Crows (C. ossifragus) here, and they’re hard to tell apart unless they’re standing next to each other or calling, and this one was alone and silent. #birds #wildlife
Most likely American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos), but we also have the slightly smaller Fish Crows (C. ossifragus) here, and they’re hard to tell apart unless they’re standing next to each other or calling, and this one was alone and silent. #birds #wildlife
I do tell my students that the #LocalVertDiversity assignment is not about their photography skills, but I think that counting last night’s terrrrrrible picture of a Barred Owl (Strix varia) towards my total would be stretching things a bit too far… 😂
(It took off before I could get a real pic.)
(It took off before I could get a real pic.)
October 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
I do tell my students that the #LocalVertDiversity assignment is not about their photography skills, but I think that counting last night’s terrrrrrible picture of a Barred Owl (Strix varia) towards my total would be stretching things a bit too far… 😂
(It took off before I could get a real pic.)
(It took off before I could get a real pic.)
#LocalVertDiversity 15. Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
What a great descriptive species name! “Many-tongued mimic”: yup, that’s what it is. I heard one once unmistakably mimicking a Scarlet Tanager in a place where no tanagers lived, and always wondered where he learned it from.
#wildlife #bird 🪶
What a great descriptive species name! “Many-tongued mimic”: yup, that’s what it is. I heard one once unmistakably mimicking a Scarlet Tanager in a place where no tanagers lived, and always wondered where he learned it from.
#wildlife #bird 🪶
September 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 15. Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
What a great descriptive species name! “Many-tongued mimic”: yup, that’s what it is. I heard one once unmistakably mimicking a Scarlet Tanager in a place where no tanagers lived, and always wondered where he learned it from.
#wildlife #bird 🪶
What a great descriptive species name! “Many-tongued mimic”: yup, that’s what it is. I heard one once unmistakably mimicking a Scarlet Tanager in a place where no tanagers lived, and always wondered where he learned it from.
#wildlife #bird 🪶
#LocalVertDiversity 5. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). I often have to remind students that this is a biology assignment, not a photography assignment. This one is also a lesson in why you should take iNat’s computer vision IDs with a grain of salt and a hefty dose of common sense.
August 27, 2025 at 2:56 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 5. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus). I often have to remind students that this is a biology assignment, not a photography assignment. This one is also a lesson in why you should take iNat’s computer vision IDs with a grain of salt and a hefty dose of common sense.
#LocalVertDiversity 3. The first of what I’m sure will be many Great Egret (Ardea alba) observations this semester. They’re almost always in the top three most observed species for this project.
#bird #egret #wildlife #nature
#bird #egret #wildlife #nature
August 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 3. The first of what I’m sure will be many Great Egret (Ardea alba) observations this semester. They’re almost always in the top three most observed species for this project.
#bird #egret #wildlife #nature
#bird #egret #wildlife #nature
#LocalVertDiversity 10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
I remember feeling so betrayed as a young birder upon learning that these are not red-headed woodpeckers. Who’s looking at their bellies?
#wildlife #birds
I remember feeling so betrayed as a young birder upon learning that these are not red-headed woodpeckers. Who’s looking at their bellies?
#wildlife #birds
September 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 10. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
I remember feeling so betrayed as a young birder upon learning that these are not red-headed woodpeckers. Who’s looking at their bellies?
#wildlife #birds
I remember feeling so betrayed as a young birder upon learning that these are not red-headed woodpeckers. Who’s looking at their bellies?
#wildlife #birds
#LocalVertDiversity 30. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Like the squirrel, this is another species that I see pretty much every day, but didn't realize until a month into the semester that I should take a picture of it so it could count towards my list.
Like the squirrel, this is another species that I see pretty much every day, but didn't realize until a month into the semester that I should take a picture of it so it could count towards my list.
November 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 30. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Like the squirrel, this is another species that I see pretty much every day, but didn't realize until a month into the semester that I should take a picture of it so it could count towards my list.
Like the squirrel, this is another species that I see pretty much every day, but didn't realize until a month into the semester that I should take a picture of it so it could count towards my list.
#LocalVertDiversity 22. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Conveniently, Turkey Vultures spell out their initials for easy ID even when you can’t see their pink heads. T for the dark part of their bodies vs. wings, and V for how they hold their wings when soaring.
#bird #nature #wildlife
Conveniently, Turkey Vultures spell out their initials for easy ID even when you can’t see their pink heads. T for the dark part of their bodies vs. wings, and V for how they hold their wings when soaring.
#bird #nature #wildlife
October 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 22. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Conveniently, Turkey Vultures spell out their initials for easy ID even when you can’t see their pink heads. T for the dark part of their bodies vs. wings, and V for how they hold their wings when soaring.
#bird #nature #wildlife
Conveniently, Turkey Vultures spell out their initials for easy ID even when you can’t see their pink heads. T for the dark part of their bodies vs. wings, and V for how they hold their wings when soaring.
#bird #nature #wildlife
#LocalVertDiversity 18. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Adult tricoloreds look very different from the juveniles. Adults are mostly slaty blue, while the juveniles have a reddish head, neck, and wings. Both have a thin white stripe along the underside of their necks, though. #birds 🪶 #heron
Adult tricoloreds look very different from the juveniles. Adults are mostly slaty blue, while the juveniles have a reddish head, neck, and wings. Both have a thin white stripe along the underside of their necks, though. #birds 🪶 #heron
October 3, 2025 at 2:08 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 18. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Adult tricoloreds look very different from the juveniles. Adults are mostly slaty blue, while the juveniles have a reddish head, neck, and wings. Both have a thin white stripe along the underside of their necks, though. #birds 🪶 #heron
Adult tricoloreds look very different from the juveniles. Adults are mostly slaty blue, while the juveniles have a reddish head, neck, and wings. Both have a thin white stripe along the underside of their necks, though. #birds 🪶 #heron
#LocalVertDiversity 33. Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
November 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 33. Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
#LocalVertDiversity 14. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
Males are all black (although sometimes with white feathers on their wings or back); females and juveniles have the brown heads. Both have long necks and long stabby beaks for fishing. The female is sitting on a goose decoy (Branta plasticensis).
Males are all black (although sometimes with white feathers on their wings or back); females and juveniles have the brown heads. Both have long necks and long stabby beaks for fishing. The female is sitting on a goose decoy (Branta plasticensis).
September 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 14. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
Males are all black (although sometimes with white feathers on their wings or back); females and juveniles have the brown heads. Both have long necks and long stabby beaks for fishing. The female is sitting on a goose decoy (Branta plasticensis).
Males are all black (although sometimes with white feathers on their wings or back); females and juveniles have the brown heads. Both have long necks and long stabby beaks for fishing. The female is sitting on a goose decoy (Branta plasticensis).
#LocalVertDiversity 4. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
‘Tis the season for tiiiiiiny baby anoles. This is another species that every student will have on their list; they’re everywhere, and much easier to spot than the picture suggests.
#lizard #wildlife #nature
‘Tis the season for tiiiiiiny baby anoles. This is another species that every student will have on their list; they’re everywhere, and much easier to spot than the picture suggests.
#lizard #wildlife #nature
August 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 4. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
‘Tis the season for tiiiiiiny baby anoles. This is another species that every student will have on their list; they’re everywhere, and much easier to spot than the picture suggests.
#lizard #wildlife #nature
‘Tis the season for tiiiiiiny baby anoles. This is another species that every student will have on their list; they’re everywhere, and much easier to spot than the picture suggests.
#lizard #wildlife #nature
#LocalVertDiversity 19. Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)
I haven’t been able to get a decent photo of this species this semester, so instead you get this video of one of them providing the constant soundtrack to one of our local parks. #bird 🪶
I haven’t been able to get a decent photo of this species this semester, so instead you get this video of one of them providing the constant soundtrack to one of our local parks. #bird 🪶
October 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 19. Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)
I haven’t been able to get a decent photo of this species this semester, so instead you get this video of one of them providing the constant soundtrack to one of our local parks. #bird 🪶
I haven’t been able to get a decent photo of this species this semester, so instead you get this video of one of them providing the constant soundtrack to one of our local parks. #bird 🪶
I'll update this thread with my pictures as I go, both for fun and also to help me keep track of what my total species count is at. The past few years I've wound up between 36 and 40 total species per semester. (The class total is a lot higher; last year it was 150 species!) #LocalVertDiversity
August 21, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I'll update this thread with my pictures as I go, both for fun and also to help me keep track of what my total species count is at. The past few years I've wound up between 36 and 40 total species per semester. (The class total is a lot higher; last year it was 150 species!) #LocalVertDiversity
#LocalVertDiversity 11. Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
A tricksy green anole, what with its being brown and hanging out in brown anole places (on the sidewalk). But my subconscious caught the gestalt of the longer head and white jaw and said “wait, check again.”
#nature #wildlife #lizard
A tricksy green anole, what with its being brown and hanging out in brown anole places (on the sidewalk). But my subconscious caught the gestalt of the longer head and white jaw and said “wait, check again.”
#nature #wildlife #lizard
September 14, 2025 at 10:16 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 11. Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)
A tricksy green anole, what with its being brown and hanging out in brown anole places (on the sidewalk). But my subconscious caught the gestalt of the longer head and white jaw and said “wait, check again.”
#nature #wildlife #lizard
A tricksy green anole, what with its being brown and hanging out in brown anole places (on the sidewalk). But my subconscious caught the gestalt of the longer head and white jaw and said “wait, check again.”
#nature #wildlife #lizard
#LocalVertDiversity 2. Florida Box #Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp. bauri). The rounded back of the carapace means she’s likely a female.
Normally my dog finds box turtles for me, but this one crossing the road was pretty easy to spot, even with my dull human senses.
#wildlife #nature
Normally my dog finds box turtles for me, but this one crossing the road was pretty easy to spot, even with my dull human senses.
#wildlife #nature
August 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 2. Florida Box #Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp. bauri). The rounded back of the carapace means she’s likely a female.
Normally my dog finds box turtles for me, but this one crossing the road was pretty easy to spot, even with my dull human senses.
#wildlife #nature
Normally my dog finds box turtles for me, but this one crossing the road was pretty easy to spot, even with my dull human senses.
#wildlife #nature
#LocalVertDiversity 16. Cooter (Pseudemys sp., probably P. floridana or P. peninsularis)
I’m slowly getting better at IDing emydid pond turtles but when their carapaces are muddy or covered in algae, I’m out of my depth. At least this one was chill and didn’t immediately hit the water. 🐢
I’m slowly getting better at IDing emydid pond turtles but when their carapaces are muddy or covered in algae, I’m out of my depth. At least this one was chill and didn’t immediately hit the water. 🐢
September 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 16. Cooter (Pseudemys sp., probably P. floridana or P. peninsularis)
I’m slowly getting better at IDing emydid pond turtles but when their carapaces are muddy or covered in algae, I’m out of my depth. At least this one was chill and didn’t immediately hit the water. 🐢
I’m slowly getting better at IDing emydid pond turtles but when their carapaces are muddy or covered in algae, I’m out of my depth. At least this one was chill and didn’t immediately hit the water. 🐢
#LocalVertDiversity 6a: Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Tilapias are cichlids, native to Africa, but widely introduced across Florida, including most of the streams and ponds on campus. These take the place in my species count of the unidentified Teleosts from my original #6. #nature #wildlife #fish 🐟
September 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 6a: Tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) Tilapias are cichlids, native to Africa, but widely introduced across Florida, including most of the streams and ponds on campus. These take the place in my species count of the unidentified Teleosts from my original #6. #nature #wildlife #fish 🐟