I’ve always enjoyed observing birds and other life around me. How they change according to where you are in the world you find yourself is fascinating. Such variety in South Florida seems to never end.

The pelicans. I love the pelicans (see 6-2-2020 and 5-11-2023 blogs). They are such ungainly birds, and yet when you catch a group in the sky they seem to just sit and drift elegantly suspended on the air until suddenly one takes a nose dive straight down seeking a morsel that caught its eye. Here are three that have been incorporated into the Art Deco architecture. First, one soaring above the entrance to the original Miami Beach Library, now the Bass Museum, and the last along the side of the famous Friedman’s Bakery on Washington Avenue. I was this one one afternoon when Constant Companion and I did some exploring.

Two others from hotels, the Victor and the late Senator, one that is no longer standing.

The Victor is reputed to have had some association with Al Capone, who lived here for some time. On my tours, I equate stories of relationships with Capone with those of “Washington slept here.”

We live in the midst of the city. Traffic abounds all around (even more so of late, much to our dismay when we want to get anywhere and remember how quickly we could scoot around town). It’s so delightful to catch sight of the birds that grace the area.

Herons of different varieties visit frequently. It’s always a delight to see them in the midst of the city. This one was across the street from our home in the golf course, calmly ignoring cars zipping by much too quickly.

This one is looking for a meal in the mangrove plantings, dripping with Spanish moss and holiday lights, at the pedestrian mall in the heart of the city. I caught it trying to roost in one of the trees later in the evening.

This green heron was roosting in a tree in the neighborhood.

I enjoy appearances on fanciful architecture, from dolphins and seahorses adorning apartment buildings

The look of surprise on the face of this delightful leaping fish that graces a long abandoned fountain at the historic Miami Beach Post Office never fails to bring a smile when I see it.

And the iguanas. Daughter and I were surprised to see some not so graceful iguanas crossing the wires across our backyard one sunny weekday a few years ago.

Perhaps you saw this parody of what happens to them during some of our infrequent cold nights. was roosting in a tree in the neighborhood, thanks so some Lego creator.