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...

A dead crab impaled on barbed wire. Photo by Rodolfo Pineda Pérez CC BY-NC 4.0 Several Environmental Lands Management staff have stories of finding macabre little displays along sections of barbed wire security fencing. Daniel Ruben of Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management (CELM) describes finding scarab beetles and lizards impaled on barbed wire security fencing at Balm Boyette Scrub. Even songbirds and mice can be found stuck up in the thorns of specific trees. These grisly displays are not accidents or the work of disturbed individuals, but rather the victims of a most unassuming songbird: the butcherbird, aka, the loggerhead shrike ( Lanius ludovicianus ). Behold, the offending individual. Photo by Laura Wolf, CC BY 2.0 On the face of it, the loggerhead shrike looks much like any other songbird. A true passerine, they have small feet made for perching, measure only eight to nine inches in length, and possess the round and compact form we associate ...

How much do you love racoons? October first is “Raccoon Appreciate Day,” and we’re celebrating by featuring your raccoon photos and sharing some interested raccoon information! Raccoon in a palm, by Beth R.  Raccoon Fast Facts: Raccoons have highly sensitive front paws that they use to manipulate their environment. These paws are so dexterous, and raccoons so intelligent, that cities have spent millions of dollars trying to develop raccoon-proof garbage cans.  While raccoons are native here in Florida, they’re considered an invasive species in Japan. In the 1970’s they were imported there as pets after a TV show popularized them, but now they’re loose and causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in agricultural damage.  Raccoon in a pool, by Douglas G.  Raccoons hold a prominent place in various cultures and folklore, often symbolizing cleverness and resourcefulness due to their intelligent nature and adaptability. Toronto is believed to be the raccoon capital of the ...

The cooler weather is approaching – are you ready to Emerge and Explore ? The ninth annual Hillsborough County Hiking Spree features new trails, new prizes, and new opportunities to get out and explore all that Hillsborough County has to offer. What is the Hiking Spree? The Hiking Spree is a collaborative effort between Hillsborough County’s Conservation and Environmental Lands Management and Parks and Recreation departments. It is meant to highlight our unique outdoor spaces throughout the county. It is one of the largest and longest running events Hillsborough County does annually. This five-month event encourages people to discover new places to hike, learn more about conservation, and be active outside. The hikes chosen for the Hiking Spree are at Neighborhood Parks, Conservation Parks, Nature Preserves, and at other sites in Hillsborough.  The wide variety of sites to is curated to give everyone a chance to complete the Hiking Spree and have a great time, regardless of age, sk...

The Conservation and Environmental Lands Management department has many uniforms. The Parks and Preserves are of course what people expect, but there’s also the Bakas Equestrian Center, the grounds of the Veteran’s Memorial Park, Camp Bayou outdoor learning center, and your Hillsborough County boat ramps! These boat ramps are your gateway to water recreation, and we want them used safely and consciously for boaters and the environment. The man behind this magic is Melvin Dickson. “In blue skies, I’m the Safety, Security, and Logistics Manager for CELM. I’m responsible for the management of the Marine Safety Unit, Park Deputies, and Stand-Alone Boat Ramps, and logistics as it relates to acquiring, and facilitating new innovations for the department.” Before Melvin joined Hillsborough County two years ago, he spent 24 years in active duty service with the Navy.  Because of that experience, of course his favorite days at work are the ones he gets to go out on the water with...

Over 30 volunteers from TECO and Duke Energy showed up bright and early to EG Simmons Conservation Park on a sunny Tuesday last month to plant red and black mangrove trees that will help restore the shoreline and lessen further erosion.  Mangroves are an important tree for all of us in Hillsborough County. Florida's  mangrove ecosystems serve a vital role in the overall health of the state’s coastal estuaries. Mangroves reduce coastal erosion caused by storm surges and improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Mangrove soils and roots also sequester carbon dioxide while providing habitat and refuge to a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Red and Black Mangroves grown by CCA arrive at EG Simmons Conservation Park The trees planted were home-grown and donated by the  Coastal Conservation Association  and the Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center, a company-owned-and-operated environmental restoration and conservation cente...