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Monique Rodriguez

@citizenpress.bsky.social
377 followers 84 following 193 posts

Florida-based environmental writer and citizen journalist focused on wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation issues across local communities. www.atom.bio/flwildlifewatch

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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Coyote in Florida. Not a myth. Not out West. Right here, between the houses and the brush. #FloridaWildlife #Coyote
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
I will never forget. This mixed-media artwork recreates a watercolor I made on September 12, 2001, while living in New York City. From inside my apartment, I looked through the blinds toward the street and saw smoke drifting across the night—miles from Ground Zero. My heart was breaking!

The composition conveys a quiet, distant view of an overwhelming event. The partially obscured scene, dark night atmosphere, and spreading smoke suggest fear, uncertainty, grief, and the sense of a city forever changed. The recreated work preserves all the original elements of the watercolor.

The artwork serves as the artist’s personal testimony and remembrance of the lives lost, the heroes who responded, and the families who continue to carry the sorrow of September 11, 2001.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Rain didn’t stop the wildlife. This morning, a squirrel, Blue Jay, and Mourning Doves were out in the drizzle. Central Florida nature always adapts. 🐿️🪶🌿
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Alligator, alligator.. what do you see? I see a brand new community storm retention pond waiting for me! 🐊 Is just the way things are here in Central Florida.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
The question is not whether nuclear energy is good or bad. It is whether its benefits outweigh its risks as countries look for low-carbon power and remember accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima.
yournews.com
Nuclear Energy: Promise, Risk, and the Search for a Sustainable Future – [your]NEWS
Throughout history, humanity has repeatedly faced a difficult question: how do we harness powerful technologies while wisely managing the consequences they create?
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Medieval bestiaries transformed the crocodile into a symbol of danger,and moral lessons. As AI reshapes the images we create of animals, one question remains: will it become the next chapter in humanity’s long history of reimagining the creatures around us?
open.substack.com
From Bestiary to Wetland: The Crocodile and the Rewriting of Nature in Medieval and Modern Thought
While researching my previous article on the remarkable story of crocodiles thriving in the warm cooling canals of Florida’s Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station, I found myself thinking about a ve...
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Absolutely beautiful!!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Florida as a Living Laboratory: Crocodiles thriving in Turkey Point nuclear canals + wildlife adapting in suburban ponds. Nature finds opportunity in our engineered landscapes. #FloridaWildlife #Crocodiles #Conservation #HabitatAdaptation”
open.substack.com
Florida as a Living Laboratory of Climate and Energy Overlap
Florida rarely offers clean boundaries between nature and infrastructure.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Breathtaking!!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
A healthy flock of Muscovy ducks thriving in our suburban habitat. #muscovy #divkd #conservation #wildlife #floridawildlife
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
New Guest Editorial in the Osceola News Gazette: ‘The Never Bored Lifestyle’ — finding wonder, creativity, and connection. It might just turn you into a backyard conservationist too.
Read here: www.aroundosceola.com/opinion/gues...
#CentralFlorida #NatureJournaling
aroundosceola.com
GUEST EDITORIAL: The Never Bored Lifestyle
It started right in my own backyard in Poinciana. One afternoon I looked up and saw two White Ibises soaring through dramatic clouds. I grabbed my camera, snapped the photo, and felt that familiar spa...
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
In a world that moves quickly and often through screens, we risk losing something essential when we stop paying attention to the living world around us. #birds #wildlife #conservation #ecology #naturephotography
open.substack.com
Field Notes: What We Risk Losing When We Stop Looking
I usually find myself reporting on stormwater retention pond wildlife across Central Florida, but some of my most meaningful observations begin at home.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Florida’s retention ponds are man-made, but nature didn’t get the memo. What’s happening in them is not what most people expect when they pass the mall. #floridawildlife #nature #ecology #wetlands #conservation #alligators
open.substack.com
Field Note: When the American Alligator Surfaces in Retention Ponds
Below the Surface Ripples
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Can a Christian also be a Climate Scientist? #climatescience #earthsteward #creationists #ecotheology #christianstewards #EENetwork
sojo.net
What It’s Like to Be an Evangelical Climate Scientist
Jessica Moerman doesn’t want evangelicals to dismiss climate change as a purely “liberal” concern.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Yes.. is all connected! ♾️
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
What a handsome fellow. 😍
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
I will definitely read it. I’ve been focusing a lot on avian life here in Florida, but I love all wildlife, and the idea of learning more intimately about beavers sounds both fun and fascinating. Thank you for the recommendation :)
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Thank you for your perspective on this. There are so many angles to consider, and we often miss the unseen impacts that happen beyond what’s immediately visible.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Great read! Thank you!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
In the intricate threads of Raphael’s famous tapestries, where biblical scenes unfold in vivid Renaissance detail, one curious absence stands out: the ravens. Why? open.substack.com/pub/flwildli...
open.substack.com
Timeless Shores: Vigilant Cranes, Vanishing Ravens, and the Bias We Still Carry
An Eco-Critical Review
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
We headed out hoping to snap a photo of a vibrant red Northern Cardinal… and this gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk decided to swoop in and steal the show! Perched proudly in the pines, he reminded us just how alive our Central Florida backyards really are.
substack.com
Field Notes: Between the Edge of Development and the Wild
An Unexpected Arrival
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Garden Crasher Alert! 😂 This bold Cattle Egret just showed up in my backyard like he owns the place. I think he was looking for cows among the caladiums! “Sorry buddy, the only ‘herd’ here is my wild collection of pink-veined leaves and cacti. No free pest-control buffets today!” #floridawildlife
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Dragonflies: Guardians of Florida’s Ecosystem: The vibrant Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia) and the striking Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) aren’t just beautiful additions to the landscape, they are essential players in the delicate balance of our stormwater ponds and wetlands.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
🌙 Late-night wander around the newer stormwater pond turned into a surprise gator encounter! These artificial wetlands in our Central Florida suburbs are becoming prime real estate for wildlife adapting to habitat changes.
substack.com
Monique Rodriguez (@moniquerodriguez919128)
Field Notes: New Manmade Pond Monitoring Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026 Time: 8:00 PM Location: Undeveloped manmade retention pond at the end of our street, Kissimmee, Central Florida Conditions: Cl...
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Terrible. I never thought we would see this day, yet here we are. We’ve crossed the 1.5°C threshold, and far too many people are still sleeping on the haystack, unaware of—or unwilling to face—the seriousness of what’s happening.
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Reposted by Monique Rodriguez
Jason M Ernst @jason-m-ernst.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Space is uninhabitable. The Moon is uninhabitable. Mars is uninhabitable. Where do people think we’re going when Earth’s ecosystems collapse? Why do people think they’ll be evacuated even if there is somewhere to go? Why do rich people think wealth matters on a dead planet? W.T.F? 🌏
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
🌿 Bird of the Day: Common Grackle in Central Florida! Caught this handsome fellow singing his heart out in the trees today. Those iridescent blues and purples really pop in the Florida light! #floridabirds #grackles #conservation #wildlife
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Two jays at the feeder, then they go on to enjoy the birdbath — too cute not to share. iPhone doesn’t do those vibrant blues justice in the dusk light, but the soft little chirps are pure backyard magic. Anyone else hosting Blue Jays lately? They always brighten the yard! #bluejays #birds #wildlife
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
I love them too ❤️
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Hello everyone! Welcome to my Substack, where I share field notes, wildlife observations, and photographs from Central Florida's urban wild. From stormwater ponds to neighborhood wetlands, there's always something new to discover. #Floridabirds #wildlife #ecology #conservation #climatechange
open.substack.com
Field Notes: Urban Wildlife at the Storm Retainer Pond
Eyes in the Grass, Tails in the Reeds
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
It’s striking how often we treat wetlands as optional until they’re gone. Around here, I’m watching stormwater basins try to compensate for what natural systems used to do—especially during heavy rain events.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
I’m documenting local wildlife and ecosystems in Central Florida. If you’d like the full field notes, I share them on Substack—come follow along.
open.substack.com
Manufactured Urban Ecology: After the Rainfall
Reading a Reset Ecosystem
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The have good taste in flowers .. you have to love plumerias 😆
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
[your]NEWS: Living with Nature: How Kissimmee and Orlando Can Follow Singapore and Costa Rica: yournews.com/2026/05/28/7... #wildlife #Florida #conservation #greenroof
yournews.com
Living with Nature: How Kissimmee and Orlando Can Follow Singapore and Costa Rica – [your]NEWS
Sandhill cranes are a common and beloved sight across Kissimmee and Orlando. Here, an adult stands watch with its young chick near the water — a perfect example of how people and wildlife already live...
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
What gorgeous colors!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
What a pretty little fellow! 😍
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Love this color! Beautiful photo 💕
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
So sorry this happened to you, but God has something greater for you and your children. Trust him with all your heart. God gives without reproach and will not forsake those who put their trust in him. Wishing you and your sons prosperity and blessings.
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
A burst of pure red in the Florida greens ❤️ Northern Cardinal doing what he does best. 🐦✨
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Awe inspiring.. look at those eyes!!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Absolutely adorable!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
A little slice of Florida life in one video today—Sandhill Cranes moving calmly through the scene while White Ibis and Grackles add their own energy and contrast. It’s always fascinating to see how different species share the same space. #Floridabirds #whiteibis #wildlife
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Devoted sandhill crane parents gently guide their little ones peck by peck, lesson by lesson. 🌾 Watching these tiny chicks learn how to forage for themselves is a reminder that in nature, survival is taught with patience and care. 🐥🩶 #SandhillCranes #FloridaWildlife #Birding #BabyBirds
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
What amazing color!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
My kind of person! ❤️
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
This photo made my day—such absolute beauty 😍 I could bring out a blanket and spend the whole day surrounded by those pretty flowers and soaking in that sunrise!
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Technology has advanced beyond our wildest dreams. It’s so amazing to think we can discover such deep-sea species just from tiny traces of DNA in the water. Thanks for sharing this!
dreams.xn--its-so0a
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Wow, what an amazing story—Sandhill cranes raising a Canada goose! Did you manage to document any of it?
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
This video invites a dip .. so tempting with all this heat !😁
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Monique Rodriguez @citizenpress.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Anhinga sunbathing 🖤🌿 Love this pose—neck twisted, wings drying, just soaking up the Florida sun after a dive. Who else loves this pose? #Anhinga #Waterbirds #BirdsOfBlueSky #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers #BirdsOfFlorida
An Anhinga basking in the sun with its neck twisted while perched near the water.
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