Birds of Prey - Men’s Floridian Shirt

Okihasi’s Birds of Prey men’s shirt is decorated with depictions of 31 magnificent species that play a critical role in holding populations of prey species in check and helping to see to it that the Circle of Life remains in balance. Stunning in design and crafted from light, breathable viscose, these shirts are practical statement pieces, comfortable on the hottest of August days and sure to start conversations among nature lovers, especially bird watchers. Challenge them to see how many of the 31 predators they can identify!                                

An osprey, stunning in its plumage of black and white, eyes its prize, drops from an ancient pine to the brackish water below and momentarily disappears from sight before emerging and struggling to gain flight. The speckled trout in its talons, heavily laden with roe, exceeds more than half of the bird’s weight. The osprey chirps, as if in self-congratulation, as it heads for a tree that serves well as a feeding station but radically changes its tune upon detecting a rival bird of prey, a bald eagle, in hot pursuit. The chirp, soon familiar to all who visit wooded, Florida shorelines, has become a piercing alarm call. The eagle is undeterred, and the osprey knows that its only way to escape the much larger predator’s clutches is to give it what it wants. It drops the trout, which the eagle intercepts before it can land in marsh grasses, finds a perch and rests its heart. Even among birds of prey, resident in the upper links of the food chain, the competition for calories can be fierce. Experienced predatory birds find ways to capture easy meals and conserve energy. No wonder that Cooper’s hawk hangs out by the bird feeder, waiting on plump doves. - Steve Bornhoft

Please see below for more about the shirt, care, and sizing.

More about Birds of Prey found in Florida

There are numerous birds of prey species found throughout Florida. The term “birds of prey” means that these birds are predators and feed on other animals. They are typically found on the secondary and/or tertiary levels of food chains, which often means they require multiple meals throughout the day to meet their energy needs. When you are on the 2nd/3rd level of a food chain, the available energy per mass ratio becomes much lower, which in turn means they require abundant prey populations to maintain their own population sizes. This is why birds of prey are considered indicator species for the overall health of our ecosystems. If their population sizes are declining, this can infer that the animals and plants lower on the food chain are also declining. In addition, they provide biodiversity support to our ecosystems by controlling certain species populations to provide space and resources for other wildlife to thrive. Furthermore, they help with pest control, nutrient recycling, preventing the spread of certain diseases, indirect seed dispersal, and they are fun to watch. There are 31 different species of Florida birds of prey on this pattern. See if you can identify them all.

MATERIAL DETAILS

1. Light-weight Viscose made from bamboo material - excellent to wear on those hot days.

2. Machine wash cold on gentle - Mild detergents - Dry Cleaning Recommended

3. Line dry

4. Iron on a medium setting - take caution when ironing

Sizing

Do not use generic sizing (S, M, L, etc). Take exact measurements of your body to get the correct size. See the sizing chart below.

Chest Size

Small - 40-43”

Medium - 43-45”

Large - 45-47”

XL - 47-51”

XXL - 52-55”

XXXL - 56-59”

Length

Small - 28.5-29.5”

Medium - 29.5-31.5”

Large - 31.5-32.5”

XL - 32.5-33.5”

XXL - 33.5”

XXXL - 33.5”

Shoulder

Small - 17-18.25”

Medium - 18-19”

Large - 19-19.75”

XL - 20.75”

XXL - 21.75”

XXXL - 22-22.5”