Audubon House | Range Tracking

Lethargic Wasps

2018/06/16 by terranovabay

The Florida heat can make anyone lethargic and so it is at the big Paper Wasp nest at Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA). The wasps seem to spend the hottest part of the day, even though they are in the shade, which itself is pretty warm cut off mostly from the breeze given the nest’s location in a sort of inverted box attached to the wall, moving as little as possible. I can completely relate. Besides […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Paper Wasps, Wasps

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Wasp Social Call

2018/06/11 by terranovabay

Dropping in to see how the Wasp family is doing at Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA). Pretty well, it looks like. The family is definitely growing larger as new members hatch out.

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Paper Wasp, Wasp

Queuing at the Feeder

2018/06/05 by terranovabay

Birds are actually lining up to use the bird feeders at Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA). And it can get quite raucous at times with the Cardinals, one of which is seen here in the foreground, and the Blue Jays, one can be seen in the background on the feeder, and their young ones all vying for the feeders at the same time. When the squirrels arrive, watch out!

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, Blue Jay, Cardinalis cardinalis, Cyanocitta cristata, Northern Cardinal, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area

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Visiting the Wasp Family

2018/06/02 by terranovabay

One of the larger wasp nests, along with a few of the residents, situated in the Audubon House landscaping at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (ORCA).

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Paper Wasp, Wasp

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Metallic Bee Gathering Pollen

2018/06/01 by terranovabay

A Halictid Bee, commonly called a Sweat Bee, gathers pollen in the pollinator garden at Audubon House. These somewhat solitary bees often live in burrows they dig in the ground and are important pollinators for native plants.

Categories: Nature • Tags: Agapostemon splendens, Audubon House, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, pollinator garden, sweat bee

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Work Hawk

2018/04/06 by terranovabay

A Red-tailed Hawk atop the dead tree across the street from Audubon House at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area welcomed me as I made my way into the office. While I was happy to see the hawk, the local Blue Jays were harassing the hawk to no end to try and drive it out of the area. I was barely able to grab the camera and get off a few shots before the bird flew away. Four shots before Buteo […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, Buteo jamaicensis, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, Red-tailed Hawk

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Fritillary Friday Metamorphosis

2018/03/31 by terranovabay

The good luck tale of an urban Gulf Fritillary caterpillar. A couple of Gulf Fritillary caterpillars and a Cuban Treefrog in a mix of plants that include the Fritillary’s host plant, the passionflower vine, next to a well-travelled walkway at Audubon House. A close-up of one of the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars showing the defensive spines protruding from along its body. One of the caterpillars made its way to the railing along the paved walkway where it attached itself and made […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: Agraulis vanillae, Audubon House, butterfly, Chrysalis, Gulf Fritillary, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, passionflower vine, pupa, Pupal Case

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Brazen Feeder Raider

2018/03/29 by terranovabay

Kudos to this enterprising squirrel who has found a way to climb up the side of Audubon House, then dangle himself down to drop onto the bird feeder that had been placed in what had been hoped was a squirrel-proof location. His maneuverings can be watched closeup through the heavily-tinted windows, even allowing for closeups as he eats his sunflower reward. Note the large round Audubon House window reflected in the squirrel’s eye. Also note the sharp claws, which must […]

Categories: Nature • Tags: Audubon House, bird feeder, ORCA, Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area, squirrel

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