The Trailblazer

As we launch our ninth annual Hillsborough County Hiking Spree, featuring the zebra longwing butterfly on this year's prizes, it seems fitting to explore the fascinating story of our state butterfly. Last month I wrote about the raptor songbird, the loggerhead shrike . While speaking to staff about the bird, I heard again and again, "That is my favorite bird!" Some of this is undoubtedly due to their charisma, or the lasting impression of finding a shrike "larder" (their public displays of victims). However, I like to think that much of the shrike's appeal lies in how their adaptations demonstrate the extreme pressures exerted on wild animals. A zebra longwing butterfly nectaring on a native blue porterweed plant. Note the pollen on their  proboscis.  Photo by iNaturalist contributor,  Scott .  BY-NC 4.0 How does this relate to the zebra longwing butterfly ( Heliconius charithonia )? No, I'm not about to tell you that our state butterfly is secretly...

Winter months are some of the best times to get outdoors here in Florida, but also some of the most stressful. Between various holidays, travel, social events, work, family, and a myriad of other things - finding the time and inspiration to get outside can be difficult.  But time spent outside is so good for us as it is mentally and physically stimulating and can benefit our well-being. We put together a list of exciting activities you can try this winter to get outside.  We hope they give you some inspiration to try something new this season! Christmas Bird Count “ The nation's longest-running community science bird project ” is in its 125th year this December and is a great way to get outside, learn, explore, and help one of the largest citizen science projects! From the Audubon Society,  “Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a "Chr...