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Tag: Florida Fauna and Flora

Florida Fauna & Flora – The Swallow-tailed Kite

Swallow-tailed kites are easily recognizable with their black and white plumage and deeply forked tails. Males and females are similar in appearance, size and weight. An average swallow-tailed kite’s body measures 20 to 27 inches and weighs 11 to 21 ounces. This kite’s impressive wingspan measures 3.7 to 4.5 feet.

 

Swallow-tailed kites are migratory raptors. In the spring, it travels from Central and South America to Florida to breed. Wetland forests are the kite’s preferred nesting grounds. Kites build nests in loblolly pine or bald cypress trees. Their diet includes insects and small animals, including frogs, anoles and snakes.

 

Historically, kites could be found as far north as Minnesota. In the U.S., kites are found mostly in Florida with small numbers in other southeastern states. Swallow-tailed kites are not listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government. The species’ greatest threat is habitat destruction. The future of swallow-tailed kites depends on the protection of lowland forests throughout its breeding range.

 

Read the full February 2020 SECO News online.

Florida Fauna & Flora – Spanish Moss

SPANISH MOSS

 

When imagining “the old south,” you may have a mental image of large live oaks elegantly draped with Spanish moss.

 

Spanish moss, also known as Spanish beard, French hair, Graybeard and tree hair, is not actually part of the moss family. It is a bromeliad that clings to itself and dangles from tree limbs. It does not have roots and prefers warm climates with high humidity for absorption of nutrients from the air.

 

Spanish moss plays an important role in nature. Birds, insects, bats, frogs, lizards and snakes use Spanish moss to build nests. Trees are not harmed by dangling moss.

 

You may see Spanish moss hanging from communication and power lines. Small bits are usually harmless and no cause for concern. Large clumps can cause a power outage if moss touches more than one phase. If a large bundle of moss is engulfing poles or lines, send us an email or give us a call.

 

Read the full February 2019 SECO News online.

Florida Fauna & Flora – The Basking Shark

THE BASKING SHARK

 

The basking shark is the second-largest living shark in the world. Basking sharks can grow up to a massive 40 feet long and weigh between 6,600 and 13,000 pounds. This shark is thought to mate in early summer, with gestation of a year up to three years. It gives birth only once every two to four years. Its life expectancy is fifty years.

 

Despite their large appearance, basking sharks are non-aggressive and harmless to humans. The basking shark has the smallest brain weight of any shark – a reflection of its relatively passive lifestyle. Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature‘s (IUCN) Red List as a vulnerable species, this shark is fully protected in the UK, Malta, New Zealand, Florida and the Gulf Coast.

 

Read the full January 2019 SECO News online.