Ask any wildlife photographer or explore based on Long Island and they’ll tell you that our home turf does not get nearly the credit it deserves when it comes to species diversity. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that most people think Long Island has a couple of raccoons, a possum here and there, and way too many deer out east and that basically sums it up. 

This couldn’t be further from the truth. So for this article, we worked with some of the best wildlife photographers based on Long Island to highlight 10 species that most people might not know we have here. 

As someone who loves nothing more than being out in nature but has a demanding day job that really limits how much time they can do so, the realization of just how much exposure to wildlife I could get right in my suburban backyard has been a huge blessing. I’ve had a bunch of conversations with other photographer friends lately about how many amazing species we have here on Long Island that no one seems to know about. The fact that in the last year alone, I’ve been able to photograph over 20 species of birds (and see another 20 or so) in my backyard really brings that point home.

Okay, so maybe ospreys are not an “emblem” of Long Island in any official capacity but, to those of us who spend a significant amount of time on the water, they are just that. As a south shore Long Islander, I can say they embody our ideals - majestic, loyal, unafraid, and a world class angler.

As a species, they hold a very special place in my heart and as such, I’ve written about them extensively here on ntvli.com. Rather than hear me ramble on again about how amazing they are, I spoke to several of my favorite photographers about why THEY love seahawks. This article will highlight their responses, as well as, some of their favorite osprey photos.

Much to the delight of south shore Long Islanders, monk parakeets are popping up more and more each year in our area. Personally, my wife and I are fortunate enough to have a company of about 30 living in our neighborhood year round, adding a dash of tropical vibes to dreary winters and putting the final touches on our idyllic summer scenes.

While most Long Islanders are surprised to see them, monk parakeets have been hanging around here since the late 60s, and have beautifully acclimated themselves to the New York City area. They’re tough, resourceful, and build massive communal nests similar to the apartments a lot of New Yorkers reside in, making them a perfect fit for the region. Also, like a lot of New Yorkers, the New York parakeet community is rumored to have started at JFK airport.

This article will take a look at our new(ish) tropical friends - how they got here, and the similarities they share with a lot of other enclaves in the tristate area.

Unless you’ve been photographing under a rock for the past year, you’ve probably heard of NFTs by now. Chances are you’ve probably considered selling some of your work as one or maybe you’ve even minted a few pieces already. No matter where you’re at in your blockchain journey, you should know that selling NFTs isn’t as easy as people make it out to be. That being said, it’s a great avenue for making money to do what you love and, if you genuinely dive into it, the blockchain is full of amazing communities that will support your work, give great feedback, and often turn into genuine friends (both digital and IRL).

Need more incentive to mint some of your work? Photography is one of the fastest growing areas in the NFT space, so now is a great time to jump in!

Through my day job as a partner in a creative studio, I’ve been working in the NFT space since October of 2020. I’ve also been minting my own work since March of 2021. I am not an authority on the matter, but I’ve learned a lot of lessons, had some successes, and am very passionate about the space and the opportunities that it provides to creators of all types.

My experience with the blockchain has been amazing so far, and I’m excited to hopefully help onboard as many other photographers as possible. To help do so, I wanted to put together an article summarizing a lot of what I’ve learned to date. I hope that you find it useful and, after reading it, you are ready to get some of your work up for sale or, if you are already active, step your NFT game up to the next level!

While most of the chatter in the Long Island wildlife photography community turns to Snowy Owls this time of year, they are far from the only large raptors we have in the area. Over the past decade or so, Bald Eagles have reestablished a population on Long Island. There are few sights more majestic than a Bald Eagle soaring above the treeline, fishing, or perched high in an old growth tree.

One of the best photographers on Long Island at capturing that majesty is Meredith McCarthy (@merecat_photography). Over the past year, she’s chronicled one of the breeding pairs of Bald Eagles that have made their home on Long Island. For this article, Meredith and I took a look at Long Island’s Eagle population, including her amazing photography and a guest section from Meredith speaking to her experience witnessing them throughout the year. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Meredith’s photography and hearing her story.

ver the past few months, hikers and wildlife photographers throughout the region have been making claims of strange ‘portal like’ encounters while enjoying the outdoors. The common thread throughout each story seems to be the appearance of a rotating green triangle inside of a purple circle that appears out of nowhere. Almost every tale being told in this regard seems to mention a ‘warping’ of reality as these ‘portals’ expand before disappearing completely. While the idea of hidden portals deep in the woods may seem outlandish, there are several instances of video footage that support the claims.

Over the past few years, a lot has been made of the fact that the waters around Long Island have seemed a bit “sharkier” than usual. Several videographers shared regular drone footage of the near daily feeding frenzy of sharks attacking menhaden along the south shore. As Tim Regan pointed out to me, you could actually stand on the shore and witness hungry sharks launching themselves from the water consistently throughout the summer as well - something unprecedented on Long Island. A few weeks ago, a sighting at Lido Beach marked the 20th shark confirmed near-shore at Nassau beaches this summer, which is more than triple the numbers by this time last year. All this begs the question: Are there more sharks lurking in our waters?

While an increase in shark population is likely true, the degree to which we’re seeing it play out in the media may be a bit misleading. Factors such as social media allowing each sighting to reach a greater audience and our increasingly sophisticated monitoring systems raising awareness of sharks where they had previously gone undetected may also be playing a role in the perception that sharks are patrolling the waters ever closer to our favorite beaches and in greater abundance.

This article will take a look at why we may be seeing more sharks around Long Island, the types of sharks that call our waters home, and what it actually means for our marine ecosystem. I’m fortunate enough to be collaborating with two of my favorite content creators on the subject - wildlife photographer and mate on Triton Charters, Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish), and East End Surf/Fly Fishing Guide/On The Water Magazine Field Editor, Tim Regan (@southforksalt). I am very grateful that both lent their content and insight to the piece!

Guest post from Long Island Babes and Bucks co-founder, Jaqueline Molina. Jaqueline gave us a look at her love of the outdoors, the formation and goals of Long Island Babes and Bucks and the thriving community of female hunters and anglers growing throughout the country.