Tulip Trees and Turkeys I have both!

My beautiful doe appears in Newsday!

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 20:47:03 -0400

My beautiful doe appears in Newsday!

Yea!!! Award #10 for Maria’s Duck Tales … Winner of...

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:35:00 -0400

Yea!!! Award #10 for Maria’s Duck Tales … Winner of Global eBook Award!!!

Gardening and Groundhogs: Angelica and George!!!

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 17:21:32 -0400

Gardening and Groundhogs: Angelica and George!!!

Check out my new wildlife blog on Westhampton-HamptonBaysPatch.com

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:07:00 -0400

Check out my new wildlife blog on Westhampton-HamptonBaysPatch.com

Long Island Wildlife Advocate Maria Daddino Wins IndieReader Discovery Award | PRLog

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 13:53:54 -0400

Long Island Wildlife Advocate Maria Daddino Wins IndieReader Discovery Award | PRLog

My interview for IndieReader Discovery Awards (fast forward to...

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:33:00 -0400

My interview for IndieReader Discovery Awards (fast forward to 2:05 minutes). The awards ceremony was held on June 3, 2012, at the Javits Center during Book Expo America (BEA). I was so excited that my little book won in Environment … you all know how much that means to me!!!

Rose has returned ...

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

… from her long journey across the Gulf of Mexico!!! It never ceases to amaze me that the a creature so tiny can fly so far. My garden is once more magical … with the arrival of Rose … my bejeweled hummingbird!

Mama Turkey … on Flickr. My Mama Turkey returned, followed...

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:25:00 -0400

Mama Turkey … on Flickr.

My Mama Turkey returned, followed by her little poults. I couldn’t count how many babies there were … they were too busy running around in my natural conservation buffer!

International Book Awards Finalist ... second category

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:12:50 -0400

International Book Awards Finalist ... second category:

Yea!!! My book - Maria’s Duck Tales: Wildlife Stories From My Garden - is a Finalist in a second category ~ E-Book: Autobiography/Biography/Memoirs! For a little book is has done great!!!

International Book Award Finalist

Wed, 23 May 2012 17:09:27 -0400

International Book Award Finalist:

My little book - Maria’s Duck Tales: Wildlife Stories From My Garden - is a finalist in the Animals/Pets General category of the International Book Awards!!! Yea!!!

Maria’s Duck Tales ~ Indie Reader 5-Star Review

Tue, 22 May 2012 18:04:00 -0400

Maria’s Duck Tales ~ Indie Reader 5-Star Review:

Yea!!! My little book is taking me on quite an incredible journey. It’s off to the Javits Center on June 3rd for the awards announcement!

She’s arrived!!! on Flickr.She’s back … in all...

Mon, 21 May 2012 09:52:06 -0400

She’s arrived!!! on Flickr.

She’s back … in all of her beautiful glory!!! My twenty-year-old hibiscus is now a small tropical tree … quite special for our Long Island climate where winters are sometimes harsh. When she arrives from the greenhouse, I know that summer is near …

IndieReader Discovery Awards: Top Titles To-Date

Sun, 20 May 2012 16:10:44 -0400

IndieReader Discovery Awards: Top Titles To-Date:

Wahoo!!! “Maria’s Duck Tales: Wildlife Stories From My Garden” made the cut … and was awarded 5-Stars!!! The review will be posted next week!!!

A wildlife garden coming alive ...

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:10:36 -0400

Gray catbirds have swooped into the garden. They are everywhere!

My American goldfinches have shed their dreary gray-green feathers for vibrant yellow ones accented here and there by ebony. Breath-taking!

Bluejays are screaming … red cardinals are racing from feeder to feeder … my tiny woodpeckers are enjoying fresh suet … my wildlife garden has come alive!!!

The Cry of a Bluejay ...

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:06:00 -0400

I am sad … so sad … A neighbor cut down major trees in his natural conservation buffers - against the covenants and restrictions of my community. But I shall not rant about that … it’s too late …

A distraught bluejay high up in the trees lining my driveway was watching the devastation and calling for help. Her nest was in one of those huge trees that were felled in an instant. There was no denying her plaintive cry. My heart hurts for her …

How many other nests were destroyed today? How many baby squirrels and baby birds died simply because some imbecile decided to destroy protected habitat simply because he didn’t like the way old trees look?

Some days, I don’t much like people …

A new nightime visitor ...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:07:30 -0400

I am so excited!!! I have a Northern saw-whet owl in my back woods. I have never heard a sound like that. It is soooo loud. I have waited so long for an owl to come into my natural conservation buffer :) It’s 10 p.m. … Happy dreams everyone!!!

Long Island Pine Barrens Fire ...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:02:46 -0400

The fire was quite frightening and I live quite a bit away. Looking out my front door I could see the heavy clouds of smoke and the sky had an errie glow. I couldn’t stay outside too long because the smell of smoke was acrid and I was afraid of an asthma attack. But what really boggled my mind was to see burnt leaves and particles on my back terrace, as well as traces of ash.

Easter Sunday "Brunch"

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:23:00 -0400

As I was walking along my garden path, my arms laden with leftovers from the fridge, en route to offering an “Easter Brunch” to my ever-growing crow family … composed of the largest crows that I have ever seen … I was amazed at the stillness - not a bird or squirrel in sight!

And, then, I heard this strange sound and when I looked up, there were two magnificent hawks circling my wildlife garden … I suppose looking for their own “Easter Brunch.” I watched in awe as they circled and flew their dihedrals in the sky.

At first, I thought that they were two males fighting over their territory but my instinct said otherwise. I think they were a mating pair and the call was to me to “get out of my garden!!!”

Oh, no! He’s polyamorous!!! on Flickr. My male pheasant is...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 09:12:00 -0400

Oh, no! He’s polyamorous!!! on Flickr.

My male pheasant is sure going to be tired!!!! … Although, I suspect, pleasantly - for this pheasant :)

Pheasant Hen on Flickr.A little bit better picture of my new...

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:49:01 -0400

Pheasant Hen on Flickr.

A little bit better picture of my new pheasant hen. Hopefully, I’ll get to see her chicks again this summer!