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now this is true love!

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A mother deer waits for her baby stuck behind a fence before going on across the road.

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Common Name:

White-Tailed Deer

Scientific Name:

Odocoileus virginianus

Average Life Span In Captivity:

6 to 14 years

Weight:

110 to 300 pounds

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

What are white-tailed deer?

White-tailed deer, the smallest members of the North American deer family, are found from southern Canada to South America. In the heat of summer they typically inhabit fields and meadows using clumps of broad-leaved and coniferous forests for shade. During the winter they generally keep to forests, preferring coniferous stands that provide shelter from the harsh elements.

Breeding

Adult white-tails have reddish-brown coats in summer which fade to a duller grayish-brown in winter. Male deer, called bucks, are easily recognizable in the summer and fall by their prominent set of antlers, which are grown annually and fall off in the winter. Only the bucks grow antlers, which bear a number of tines, or sharp points. During the mating season, also called the rut, bucks fight over territory by using their antlers in sparring matches.

Female deer, called does, give birth to one to three young at a time, usually in May or June and after a gestation period of seven months. Young deer, called fawns, wear a reddish-brown coat with white spots that helps them blend in with the forest.

Diet and behavior

White-tailed deer are herbivores, leisurely grazing on most available plant foods. Their stomachs allow them to digest a varied diet, including leaves, twigs, fruits and nuts, grass, corn, alfalfa, and even lichens and other fungi. Occasionally venturing out in the daylight hours, white-tailed deer are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, browsing mainly at dawn and dusk.

In the wild, white-tails, particularly the young, are preyed upon by bobcats, mountain lions, and coyotes. They use speed and agility to outrun predators, sprinting up to 30 miles per hour and leaping as high as 10 feet and as far as 30 feet in a single bound.

Although previously depleted by unrestricted hunting in the United States, strict game-management measures have helped restore the white-tailed deer population.

Did you know?

White-tailed deer have been found with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, meaning they likely contracted COVID-19 and successfully fought the infection.
-National Geographic

The blood of white-tailed deer kills the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.
-Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Overhunting caused deer populations to drastically decline throughout the 19th century, but successful reintroduction, too few natural predators, and fast reproduction has caused an overabundance of deer in some locations.
-Texas Parks and Wildlife

Venison-deer meat-is popular in high-end restaurants and among hunters, but it is illegal to sell in many states.
-National Public Radio

Male white-tailed deer grow and shed their antlers every year. Scientists think the purpose of the antlers is to attract mates, fight other males and predators, and to show dominance.
-University of Missouri

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Common Name: White-Tailed Deer Scientific Name: Odocoileus virginianus Average Life Span In Captivity: 6 to 14 years Weight: 110 to 300 pounds Size relative to a 6-ft man: White-tailed deer, the smallest members of the North American deer family, are found from southern Canada to South America.

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Half of the year turkeys stay in winter grounds. they look for food and try to stay alive.They eat farmer crops and that  well heart them self. HOOW  wants dinner!!!

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Turkeys spend about one-half of the year (October to March) in winter habitat, which must provide adequate and reliable food, plus cover from bad weather. Prime winter habitat has at least 50 percent mature hardwood forest. Tree species important to turkeys include a variety of oaks. These trees, if mature, produce large quantities of acorns (or mast). Acorns and other mast are the staple of the turkey's winter diet. In agricultural areas, turkeys often depend on crop fields with waste grain for winter food. They also scratch through snow for other seeds. Therefore, supplemental feeding is not needed.

Nesting habitat is quite varied, but hens usually nest near the edges of old fields, along trails, in hay fields or in patches of briar or similar vegetation. Also, most turkey nests are located close to a source of permanent water. Turkeys are considered skittish nesters at best. During incubation, hens often abandon their nests if disturbed even once. However, adult hens (and sometimes juveniles) often attempt to establish another nest.

Summer and fall habitats consist of mowed hay fields, grazed pastures, glades or open woods. These areas are extremely important to hens and their poults. Low plant cover provides abundant insects and seeds.

In comparison to winter habitat, the size of summer and fall areas used by turkeys is relatively small, but vital. Acreage in openings may vary, but should make up more than 10 percent of the total annual range, with 30 percent approaching the optimum.

Wild turkeys require water and are not found in areas without permanent water. Construction of one small pond per square mile, or preferably one per quarter section, where no permanent water exists, improves turkey habitat and provides additional nesting sites. Wildlife ponds built in timbered areas need not be large, but should be deep to provide water during the driest part of the summer. A good size pond to construct is approximately 30 to 40 feet across and 8 feet in depth.

Acorns are the most important food for wild turkeys. In Missouri, acorns are eaten by turkeys every month of the year, but in the fall and winter more than a third of their diet consists of acorns. To provide a dependable source of natural foods for turkeys, landowners should strive for an equal distribution of age and size classes of trees on their timbered lands. Or, try to manage woodlands so approximately one-third of a timbered tract is in small trees, one-third in pole-sized trees and one-third in mature saw logs. This sort of balance ensures a dependable mast crop, plus the openings created when stands of saw logs are harvested are an added benefit.

Food plots for turkeys only supplement natural food supplies. They can, however, be helpful during extremely bad weather or during drastic shortages of natural food. Winter wheat is one of the best crops for both ease of establishment and use by turkeys. Forest clearings of 1 acre or larger, when planted to wheat in August or September, provide green wheat all winter. Most turkeys use winter wheat in early spring just before hens begin to lay. Hens and poults will use the grain all summer. In August, half of the field can be disced and the other half left standing. Volunteer wheat provides a source of green browse and some grain remains in the other portion. Wheat also provides the very important winter green portion of the turkey's diet; the stubble, if left, provides a good place for a hen and brood to catch insects.

Corn and beans also attract turkeys and are especially important during periods of severe weather in late winter and early spring when food supplies are low. Sometimes, cornstalks are left in fields after harvest, but leaving a few rows standing next to timber ensures a food supply in case of deep snow. A portion of the corn left standing should be knocked down for better use by turkeys.

To establish permanent food plots in forest clearings, apply recommended amounts of limestone, rock phosphate and fertilizer and seed in the fall (one-half bushel per acre of wheat and 2 pounds per acre of orchard grass). Then overseed one-half of the plot in the fall or winter (2 pounds per acre of Ladino clover and 2 pounds per acre of red clover and the other half with 10 pounds per acre of Korean or Summit lespedeza). These plantings should provide attractive, nutritious food for turkeys, deer and other wildlife for three to five years without further treatment. Apply no more than 20 pounds per acre of nitrogen plant food to avoid excessive vegetative growth. Turkeys prefer thin stands of vegetation and may not use dense, lush stands.

Abandoned fields surrounded by timber are an essential component of annual wild turkey range. The fields often include former house sites with bluegrass, an important food item during the spring and summer. Try to keep abandoned fields open and in a grass-legume mixture, if possible. Mowing or moderate grazing improves the quality of these fields for turkeys.

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Turkeys spend about one-half of the year (October to March) in winter habitat, which must provide adequate and reliable food, plus cover from bad weather. Prime winter habitat has at least 50 percent mature hardwood forest. Tree species important to turkeys include a variety of oaks.

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This is my friend platy!

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This placid-looking male platypus has a secret weapon: spurs on its hindfeet that are connected to a gland that produces toxic venom. Males use them against predators or in battles with other males during mating season. A strike from a toxic platypus spur can kill a dog. Native to the rivers of eastern Australia, platypus are monotremes-unlike most other mammals, monotremes never evolved live birth, but instead lay eggs like their amniote ancestors. Monotremes produce milk for their young but lack nipples; instead, their milk oozes out of ducts of their mammary glands onto specialized patches of skin.

Credit: © AMNH/ R. Mickens

The platypus is one of the most unusual creatures in the animal kingdom. Platypuses (which is the correct plural form, not "platypi") have a paddle-shaped tail like a beaver; a sleek, furry body like an otter; and a flat bill and webbed feet like a duck. In fact, the first time a platypus was brought from Australia to Britain, people couldn't believe that it was a real animal. They thought that a trickster had sewn two animals together, according to the BBC.

Platypuses are among the few venomous mammals. Males have a spur on the back of their hind feet that is connected to a venom-secreting gland. More venom is secreted during mating season, leading researchers to think that the spurs and venom help males compete for mates, according to the Australian Platypus Conservatory. The venom is not life threatening to humans, but it can cause severe swelling and "excruciating pain."

A typical platypus is 15 inches (38 centimeters) from its head to the end of its rump. Its tail adds an additional 5 inches (13 cm) to the animal's length. An individual weighs about 3 lbs. (1.4 kg), though platypuses that live in colder climates are bigger than those living in warmer areas, according to the Australian Platypus Conservatory.

Scientists have found fossils that suggest that ancient platypuses where twice as large as the modern variety, at 3.3 feet (1 meter) long.

Platypuses have dense, thick fur that helps them stay warm underwater. Most of the fur is dark brown, except for a patch of lighter fur near each eye, and lighter-colored fur on the underside.

Their front feet have extra skin that acts like a paddle when the animals are swimming. When platypuses are on land, their webbing retracts, making the claws more pronounced. The animals walk awkwardly on their knuckles to protect the webbing.

The bill of a platypus, sometimes called a duck-billed platypus, has a smooth texture that feels like suede. It is also flexible and rubbery. The skin of the bill holds thousands of receptors that help the platypus navigate underwater and detect movement of potential food, such as shrimp.

All of the monotremes, or egg-laying mammals such as the platypus and echidna, lost their stomachs during the course of evolution.

Credit: worldswildlifewonders Shutterstock

Platypuses live in only one, small area of the world. These creatures make their homes in the freshwater areas that flow throughout the island of Tasmania and the eastern and southeastern coast of Australia. While they are in the water a lot, they will also waddle onto the riverbanks to dig burrows with their claws. These burrows are tunnels that have rooms or chambers. Platypuses also live under rock ledges, roots or debris.

Though they exist on only one side of one continent, platypuses weather many climate extremes. They have been found in plateaus, lowlands, tropical rainforests, and the cold mountains of Tasmania and the Australian Alps. Their waterproof, thick fur keeps platypuses warm in chilly temperatures, and their big tails store extra fat for energy.

Platypuses usually spend their time hunting for food, and a hunt can last 10 to 12 hours. They are most active during nighttime and dusk, because they are nocturnal. This means they sleep during the day. When not hunting, they stay in their burrows.

Platypuses are carnivorous, which means they eat meat but not plants. They hunt for their food in the water where they live. As they swim, they try to detect food along the muddy bottom of the river, stream, pond or lake using their sensitive bills. When platypuses find something interesting, like shellfish, insects, larvae or worms, they scoop it up in their bills, store it in their cheek pouches and swim to the surface. Since they only have grinding plates and no teeth, platypuses use any gravel or dirt they scooped up while on the bottom of the waterbed to mash their food into digestible pieces.

Most mammals give birth to live young. Platypuses, however, lay eggs. They are a species of primitive mammals called monotremes. Echidnas, or spiny anteaters, are the only other mammals that lay eggs.

When the female platypus is ready to have her young, she will burrow down inside the ground on the riverbank and seal herself into one of her tunnel rooms. Then, she will lay one or two eggs and place them between her rump and her tail to keep them warm. After about 10 days, the eggs hatch and the little, bean-sized babies will nurse for three to four months. Around the time of weaning, baby platypuses can swim on their own.

The taxonomy of the platypus, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is:

Platypuses are not endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the animals as a " Least Concern," though the organization admits it has no idea how large or small the platypus population may be. This is due, primarily, to lack of worldwide research and data on the species.

Platypuses swim with their front feet and steer with their tails and back feet. They have waterproof fur, skin that covers their ears and eyes, and noses that seal shut to protect the animals while they are underwater. Though platypuses are made for the water, they can't stay completely submerged. They can only stay underwater for 30 to 140 seconds.

Platypus' skeletons resemble those of reptiles. They both have pectoral girdles and splayed legs.

These short creatures are much better at moving through water than across land. They use 30 percent more energy walking across land than swimming through the water, according to the Australian Museum of History.

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The platypus is one of the most unusual creatures in the animal kingdom. Platypuses (which is the correct plural form, not "platypi") have a paddle-shaped tail like a beaver; a sleek, furry body like an otter; and a flat bill and webbed feet like a duck.

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Animal Planet Shows - Watch Now for FREE!

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Watch full episodes of Animal Planet shows, FREE with your TV subscription. Available anytime on any device. Start watching now!

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Did you now there are 2 types  of vultures ?  There are  black vultures and a  Turkey  vulture.So vultures  got killed and eat dead meat  so how  likes them? I DO !!! People perfer   volters  thin  alge

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Vulture Myths Buster
Prepared by Alysoun Mahoney, Conservancy Advocacy
There's a vulture roost near my house! Should I scream and run, or jump for joy? Let's bust some myths! 1. Do people become sick as a result of proximity to vultures? Myth: Busted!
We have NOT found any evidence that people become sick as a result of proximity to vultures. Here's what we HAVE found:

- Two different vulture species are native to North America: Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures. Both vulture species eat and sterilize contaminated meat. In one study in which vultures were fed disease-causing organisms, including anthrax, it was found that most bacteria were killed in the vultures' highly acidic stomachs. In the absence of vultures, rotting meat would be consumed by other creatures that many humans find undesirable, such as maggots and bacteria. Most people would prefer one vulture over the different species of bacteria numbering in the millions, or the several pounds of maggots, that would be required to decompose a carcass.

- Vultures probably prevent the spread of disease. Without vultures to efficiently remove large amounts of decaying meat, both air and groundwater would show increased contamination.

- Vulture poop is actually a sanitizer. After stepping in a carcass, vultures will often expel their waste, which is white and fluid, onto their legs. The uric acid kills any bacteria that they may have picked up from the dead animal.
2. Are people injured by vultures? Myth: Busted!
We have NOT found any evidence that people are injured by vultures. Here's what we HAVE found:

- Black Vultures have been known to attack weak, sick, or unprotected young birds and mammals. Turkey Vultures are non-aggressive, and generally do not kill, though there are a small number of accounts of Turkey Vultures killing weak live prey such as baby rats or small fish.

- Vultures prefer the meat of herbivorous animals, avoiding that of carnivores.
3. Do people experience property damage as a result of living near a vulture roost? Myth: Partly true.
- Black Vultures have been known to cause some damage - mostly by picking at caulking, or at rubber and vinyl on buildings and vehicles.

- Black and Turkey Vultures may leave feces and regurgitations on roofs or decks - just as many other birds deposit their waste. Vulture waste washes away quickly and easily with a hose and scrub brush.
4. Vulture populations are not at risk, right? Myth: Partly true.
- Populations of Black and Turkey Vultures have on average been increasing, both across the United States, and across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

- Here in Loudoun County, the picture is mixed. According to annual Christmas Bird Count data, the Black Vulture population has trended upward, and the Turkey Vulture population has remained roughly stable since Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy began coordinating this data collection activity in 1997. It is important to note that the populations of both species have dropped abruptly in some years - most recently in 2007 - before rebounding the next.

- Around the world, vultures are particularly prone to endangerment because the carcasses they feed on may have pesticides, toxins, and drugs. Even if our North American Black and Turkey Vulture populations seem secure today, we cannot assume that they will remain secure in the future.
5. Is it necessary to drive vultures away with harassment techniques like killing one or more vultures and then hanging them for other vultures to see? Myth: Busted!
We have NOT found evidence that it is necessary or effective to kill one or more vultures and then hang them for other vultures to see. Further, hanging a dead vulture is a barbaric act which can traumatize humans. Here's what we HAVE found:

- Turkey and Black Vultures are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Killing any of these birds must be justified by strict standards including evidence of property damage or health risks, along with evidence that non-lethal means have been attempted.

- Any dead vulture will create an unsanitary environment, attracting ground-bound scavengers such as coyotes and foxes, which may pose more risk to humans.

- Any form of harassment is ineffective and unnecessary with migratory birds. While populations of Black and Turkey Vultures do reside in Loudoun County year-round, our winter vulture populations swell as a result of natural migratory bird activities, and then decline naturally as some birds fly north to reach their summer habitats.

- If vultures are scared away from one community, they simply move to another nearby community.

- According to the USDA, one of the most effective ways to discourage vultures is simply to remove or enclose obvious attractants like open garbage.

- If after considering all the alternatives you still feel the need to drive vultures away with harassment techniques, there are non-lethal methods that are both effective and safe for everyone in the community - for example, motion-activated sprinklers.

Content Resources:
www.vulturesociety.homestead.com www.hawkmountain.org www.birds.audubon.org/birds www.gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateSummary&state=US-VA&year=2012 www.loudounwildlife.org/PDF_Files/CBC_Summary_Years.pdf
Myth-Buster Format Model:
www.kids.discovery.com/tell-me/mythbusters/animal-myths
Turkey Vulture, Photo by Liam McGranaghan

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Vultures Myth Buster - Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

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Vulture Myths Buster Prepared by Alysoun Mahoney, Conservancy Advocacy There's a vulture roost near my house! Should I scream and run, or jump for joy? Let's bust some myths! 1. Do people become sick as a result of proximity to vultures? Myth: Busted! We have NOT found any evidence that people become sick ...

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Did you now frogs are fast swimmers?The mother frog lays thousand  of tad pole!! The egg sake taste awful.Frogs have gills wane they are young.

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Do you want to see wear a frog  begins?

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Fun facts for kids including photos and printable activity worksheets; suitable for Kindergarten through Grade 6.

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Did you now The red  ear slider was for pet trading ? It lived better in captivity.They are strong swimmers. Should  only be capt by careful people.ill  name a few habitats .1 new maxico 2 kentucky . Hope you like my summery!

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Red-eared sliders come by their common name for two reasons: the red ear patch on both sides of the head, and the fact that wild red-ears, when basking, are known to slide into the water at the slightest hint of danger.

Laurie L. Snidow/Shutterstock

Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The red-eared slider has a long history in the pet trade, and it has been kept for many years by a wide variety of hobbyists, both beginners and veterans. For years they were sold in dime stores, and unfortunately many died due to a lack of knowledge of the children who begged their parents to buy them for them. Luckily, now that reptile enthusiasts are better educated, the red-eared slider has a better chance of survival in captivity, but it is a large turtle and should be kept only by people who are prepared to provide the proper care for it.

Red-eared sliders are strong swimmers and will spend a majority of their time in the water. They bask a lot, too, and during warm, sunny days, wild red-ears love to stack on top of each other while doing so. The slightest movement or sound will send them sliding off their rocks or logs and back into the water-this, coupled with the red ear mark on both sides of their heads, gives them their common name. Pet red-eared sliders can be very personable and will often swim up to you, begging for food.

The native habitat of the red-eared slider is from New Mexico north to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia, then south through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, all the way to northern Mexico. They are often found in slow-moving streams, creeks, lakes, ponds and marshes with a fresh and warm water supply.

Red-Eared Slider Availability

The red-eared slider is one of the most common turtles found for sale in pet stores across the U.S. and overseas. In addition to finding them at local pet stores, you can purchase them at reptile shows or online. It is illegal for hatchlings with a carapace length of less than 4 inches to be sold for anything other than educational purposes.

Pan Xunbin/Shutterstock

The red-eared slider is a large turtle that should be kept only by hobbyists who will be able to provide a large enclosure or pond.

Red-Eared Slider Size

Full grown adults can reach 12 inches in length, with females usually being the largest in size. There are rare instances of adult red-eared sliders growing larger than 12 inches.

Red-Eared Slider Life Span

Red-eared sliders can live a long life in captivity. When cared for correctly, they can easily live longer than 20 years.

Red-Eared Slider Diet

Red-eared sliders are omnivores. In the wild, they feed on aquatic vegetation, small fish and decaying material such as dead fish and frogs, etc. Pet red-eared sliders will feed on just about anything you give them, but I recommend feeding them a commercial turtle food or pellet to benefit proper growth and health. On occasion, you can offer them leafy greens, freeze-dried shrimp or krill, crickets, superworms, rosy red minnows and even pinky mice.

Vin Ma

Various types of red-eared slider morphs are being bred in captivity. These are all albinos of various ages and sizes.

Red-Eared Slider Housing

Hatchling red-eared sliders are very cute, but don't let their small size fool you. Remember, adults can grow to 12 inches. The general rule of thumb for housing red-eared sliders is for every inch of shell length, you should provide 10 gallons of water. For example, a red-eared slider with a 5-inch shell length should be provided an enclosure containing 50 gallons of water to allow for adequate swimming space.
They can be kept in aquariums, turtle tubs, etc.

Primary accessories to properly house a red-eared slider are a water filtration system, a water heater, a basking dock and a basking lamp. Because red-eared sliders are messy feeders and produce a lot of waste, I recommend purchasing a water filter that is rated at least double the amount of water in your turtle's enclosure. This reduces the frequency of water changes that will be necessary (though don't neglect water changes; you should still perform them regularly) and maintains the cleanliness and health of your turtles.

Vin Ma

These are hatchling "snow" red-eared sliders.

Use a submersible water heater to maintain the ideal water temperature between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Turtles can be rough, so use a water heater guard to protect the heater from breaking; they are available in pet stores or online. Be sure to maintain the recommended temperatures, both in the water and the ambient temperatures mentioned below. If the temperatures are too cold, your turtle's metabolism will reduce, which can be a threat to its health. Keep tanks and tubs away from areas with cool breezes or drafts, too, as constant fluctuation of temperatures due to these can cause respiratory infections.

Vin Ma

Pastel red-eared slider hatchlings.

To ensure proper health and growth of red-eared sliders, a basking light that provides UVB and UVA rays, to mimic the sun, is required. Purchase either a commercial turtle basking dock or create your own basking platform onto which your turtle can emerge from the water to soak up the artificial sunlight and dry off. Temperatures in the basking area should remain between 85 and 90 degrees.

Red-Eared Slider Handling and Temperament

Captive-born-and-raised red-eared sliders are more personable compared to wild red-eared sliders, which tend to be more cautious and frightened when approached by humans. At the slightest sound or movement, they will quickly slide into the water for cover. Captive-bred red-eared sliders are the opposite; they will frequently swim up to you and beg for food.

Although every turtle is different, when handled, red-eared sliders could withdraw into their shells or possibly even nip at your fingers if they feel threatened. This is why it's not recommended that you frequently handle your red-eared sliders or remove them from their habitats.

Vin Ma has been working with various species of turtles since 2002, and since 2006 has been working on selective color breeding, focusing on color morphs such as albino and caramel red-eared sliders. Visit his website at www.turtlemorphs.com.

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Red-eared sliders come by their common name for two reasons: the red ear patch on both sides of the head, and the fact that wild red-ears, when basking, are known to slide into the water at the slightest hint of danger. Laurie L.

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the american coot migratory   bird north american and it lives in the pacific southwestern regions during summer  breeding season.Coots generally lay 8-12 eggs.The coot eat mostly algae.

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the American coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season. In the winter they can be found as far south as Panama.[2] Coots generally build floating nests and lay 8–12 eggs per clutch.[2] Females and males have similar appearances, but they can be distinguished during aggressive displays by the larger ruff (head plumage) on the male.[3] American coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.[4]The American coot is listed as “Least Concern” under the IUCN conservation ratings. Hunters generally avoid killing American coots because their meat is not as sought after as that of ducks.[2]Much research has been done on the breeding habits of American coots. Studies have found that mothers will preferentially feed offspring with the brightest plume feathers, a characteristic known as chick ornaments.[5] American coots are also susceptible to conspecific brood parasitism and have evolved mechanisms to identify which offspring are theirs and which are from parasitic females.[6]

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the American coot is a migratory bird that occupies most of North America. It lives in the Pacific and southwestern United States and Mexico year-round and occupies more northeastern regions during the summer breeding season. In the winter they can be found as far south as Panama.[2] Coots generally build floating nests and lay 8–12 eggs per clutch.[2] Females and males have similar appearances, but they can be distinguished during aggressive displays by the larger ruff (head plumage) on the male.[3] American coots eat primarily algae and other aquatic plants but also animals (both vertebrates and invertebrates) when available.[4]The American coot is listed as “Least Concern” under the IUCN conservation ratings. Hunters generally avoid killing American coots because their meat is not as sought after as that of ducks.[2]Much research has been done on the breeding habits of American coots. Studies have found that mothers will preferentially feed offspring with the brightest plume feathers, a characteristic known as chick ornaments.[5] American coots are also susceptible to conspecific brood parasitism and have evolved mechanisms to identify which offspring are theirs and which are from parasitic females.[6]

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coot

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The often overlooked American Coot is an abundant water bird found across the entire country. During the winter, the form large flocks in Florida and are a rowdy bunch with constant squabbles and entertainment. Filmed entirely on location at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Viera Wetlands, and Orlando Wetlands Park.

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American Coot Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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The waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot-that small head, those scrawny legs-reveals a different kind of bird entirely. Their dark bodies and white faces are common sights in nearly any open water across the continent, and they often mix with ducks.

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Frog

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Dragonfly

turtles
mayfl

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Turkey vultures
Northern saw-whet owl
Bald Eagle
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Turkey
American woodcocks
Eastern whip-poor-wills
Great Blue Herons
Mourning Doves
Greater yellowlegs
Mallard/duck
Green heron
Least sandpiper
American coot
Black-necked stilt
American avocet