Black Crowned Night Heron

The Black Crowned Night Heron is a unique species of waterbird that can be found anywhere near Florida’s fresh or saltwater sources. Standing around two feet tall with a wingspan of about 46 inches, the Black Crowned Night Heron sports a white belly, pale gray wings, red eyes, blue-black head and back, and two white head plumes falling over its back. They are best known for their stocky silhouette and comical lack of neck. Their calls can primarily be heard at night and sound like short, winded whoops.
The Black Crowned Night Heron is aptly named for its nocturnal habits, spending its nights hunting small aquatic animals like fish, mollusks, and the occasional seabird. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of what is available to them now, even carrion and plant matter. Despite this, they roost colonially in trees with other Black Crowned Night Herons or birds of different species, such as egrets and ibises.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
Author Sarina Pennington, IOF volunteer
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Osceola’s Plume

Osceola’s Plume is a blooming plant that grows along the panhandle and
northern and central Florida areas. The flowers of this plant are white and turn pink and purple as the blooms age. The flowers grow in 40-100 bloom bunches at the end of a primarily leafless 1-3ft stem. From the base of the plant, needle-like leaves can be anywhere from 4-20in.
Osceola’s Plume is dormant during the winter and tends to reappear after fire, often growing in large colonies in the flames’ wake. Despite their love of fire, these plants grow best in moist areas such as bogs, savannahs, flatlands, and marshes. They drop brown seed pods and are a favorite of local pollinators.
Crowpoison, the other common name of Osceola’s Plume, is a member of the Bunchflower family and a group called the Deathcamas, of which it is the most toxic. The alkaloids in the plant’s foliage cause its poisonous nature and can be deadly to humans. Osceola’s Plume is a beautiful sight to behold, but don’t let any pets or small children get close.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Sarina Pennington, IOF Volunteer
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