Birds + Words + Pictures

Orlando backyard birds: Colorful collection of visitors

Roger Simmons, February 4, 2025February 4, 2025

I’ve been getting backyard visits from different warblers as well our year-round residents, the Northern Cardinals.

Roger Simmons, January 28, 2025February 4, 2025

This endangered Whooping crane – one of about 400-600 that still exist in the wild – lives where a subdivision is gobbling up its habitat.

Roger Simmons, January 28, 2025January 28, 2025

On a recent sunset trip to the Orlando Wetlands, I saw many of the big pink birds gathering their nesting material.

Roger Simmons, January 24, 2025January 24, 2025

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says Southern Fox Squirrels can be up to 27.6 inches and weight between 1 to 3 pounds.

Roger Simmons, January 20, 2025January 20, 2025

Besides Ospreys diving into the ocean to try to catch fish, Sebastian Inlet State Park has many types of bird, marine and reptile life.

Roger Simmons, January 15, 2025January 15, 2025

A friend told me about this spectacle at the inlet, where Ospreys circle overhead hunting for fish then come crashing down to make a catch.

Roger Simmons, January 14, 2025January 14, 2025

The Orlando Wetlands is one of the best places to see Roseates since many of their nests are easily viewed from the Cypress Boardwalk.

Roger Simmons, January 13, 2025January 14, 2025

Along Black Point Wildlife Drive I caught sight of a young Ring-billed Gull fishing in a little pond next to the road. This bird dreams big.

Roger Simmons, January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful gift to birders and nature-lovers, so why not spend part of Christmas Day there?

Roger Simmons, January 1, 2025December 31, 2024

As I completed my second year of birding in 2024, I added 76 new species. Some even made it into my top 25 favorite photographs of the year.