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You’ll hear it before you see it. A sharp, echoing kee-yer sails over the pines like a warning, or maybe a question. Then—there it is. Perched just above the tree line, a streak of cinnamon chest, checkered wings, and fiercely intelligent eyes: the Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), one of Florida’s most vocal—and misunderstood—birds of prey. … Read more

Tampa Bay isn’t just home to sunbathers and seagrass—it’s a living lab for some of the ocean’s most misunderstood creatures: sharks. From the sleek bull shark to the wide-eyed hammerhead, these top predators are being closely studied by scientists hoping to understand, protect, and coexist with them. How Shark Tagging Works Scientists from institutions like … Read more

Beneath the surface of Tampa Bay, a quiet miracle unfolds every year: some of the ocean’s most formidable predators begin their lives in the shallow, sheltered waters just off our coast. These estuarine “nurseries” are vital safe havens for young sharks—especially hammerheads and bull sharks—offering them a rare shot at survival in the wild. From … Read more

The Edgy Truth About Tampa Bay’s Toughest Shark Most visitors to Tampa Bay expect manatees, dolphins, maybe the occasional stingray. But few realize that one of the most aggressive sharks in the world is not only lurking beneath the surface—but was likely born here. Born in the Bay: Nature’s Nursery Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are … Read more

A curious look at one of nature’s most bizarre—and brilliant—predators Not all sharks are built the same. And in the warm, shallow waters of Tampa Bay, few creatures turn heads quite like the hammerhead. With a silhouette that looks more like a tool than a terror, the hammerhead’s strange design isn’t just for show. It’s … Read more

A tiny world of wonder, built together—one shell, one leaf, one story at a time When I was little, I believed in fairies. Not the glitter-and-wing kind from cartoons, but something quieter. Earthier. A rustle in the ferns. A flash of light on a leaf. A pebble rearranged overnight. That quiet sense that something unseen … Read more

For foragers, herbalists, kids, and anyone learning to notice Some mornings, I walk outside with a mug of tea and my notebook. Not to write a story—at least not right away—but to notice. What’s blooming along the fence line? Where are the bees working this week? Did the same red-shouldered hawk return to the oak … Read more

Tucked deep in the longleaf pine forests of Walton County, Morrison Springs feels like Florida’s secret handshake—a crystalline bowl of turquoise water where cypress knees rise like sculptures and freshwater flows from the earth itself. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget what month it is. Fed by an underground aquifer, this spring … Read more

Florida’s beaches are famous for soft sand, warm water, and seashells—but for the patient and sharp-eyed, there’s another kind of treasure hiding in plain sight: shark teeth. Worn smooth by time and tide, these tiny fossils tell the story of ancient seas and prehistoric predators. Some are no bigger than a fingernail; others, large and … Read more