The Osprey: An Underrated, Unofficial Long Island Emblem (with guest words + photos from some of Long Island's most talented wildlife photographers)

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.

A Guide To Responsible Wildlife Photography (From Some of My Favorite Long Island Photographers)

There are pros and cons to the surge in interest around wildlife photography that has been sweeping Instagram over the past few years. On one hand, that need to get as close to the subject as possible “for the gram” can cause serious stress to the subject - affecting every aspect of their life from hunting to raising their young. On the other side of the trend is the amazing platform it creates for raising awareness around important issues like local conservation and species awareness. Those who take it up as a hobby can find grounding in being outdoors in close proximity to the wide array of species that we share Long Island with. This becomes particularly important in a day-and-age where we are constantly overstimulated by too much screen time and often miss out on the beauty in these intimate moments.

It’s important that we as a community try to steer people towards the latter and do our best to welcome and educate photographers interested in wildlife as their subject. For that reason, I wanted to talk to some of my favorite Long Island-based wildlife photographers about what makes it such a special hobby (or profession) and how we can all be responsible in our approach.

Conservation, Long Island WildlifeRichard J NardoJune 23, 2021Long Island Raptors, Long Island Wildlife, Long Island, Long Island Outdoor, Wildlife Photography, Nature Photography, Conservation, Garrett Camasi, Creature Catalog, Tony Trapani, Rich Nardo, Shane Etter, Liana Jonas, Adrianna DeVillacian, JR Aurature, Responsible Photography, Enjoy Nature Responsibly, Snowy Owl Long Island, Snowy Owl, American Oystercatcher, Red Fox, Foxes on Long Island, White-Tailed Deer, Deers Long Island, Long Eared Owl, Owls, Owls on Long Island, NTVLI, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Songbirds, Harbor Seals, Harbor Seals Long Island, Hummingbird, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Osprey, Osprey Long Island, Lawrence Warbler, Warbler, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles Long Island Comment

Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation on Long Island Featuring the Photography of JR Aurature

The diversity of Long Island’s wildlife is dramatically underrated. From its year round residents to seasonal visitors, our bountiful habitats are full of beautiful creatures ranging from insects to mammals; birds to amphibians and lizards. That doesn’t even factor in the important marine ecosystems that exist along our shores and inland lakes, ponds, and rivers.

With so much life and vibrancy right in our backyards, it’s important for Long Islanders to be responsible guardians of our land. Our actions can have a myriad of consequences, and when they cause harm or distress to the other creatures who call Long Island home, it’s important that we proactively work to remedy the situation. Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers are integral to successfully assuming this responsibility.

Conservation, Long Island Wildlife, NTVartistsRichard J NardoSeptember 8, 2020Long Island Wildlife, Long Island, Conservation, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Sweetbriar Nature Center, Volunteers for Wildlife, JR Aurature, auraturewildlife, Owls on Long Island, New York Audubon Society, Shore birds conservation, Piping Plover, Sanderling, American Oystercatcher, Black Skimmer, Bird Watching, Wildlife Photography, Snowy Owl, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, Marshland Conservation, Long Island Raptors, Bald Eagle, Bald Eagles Long Island, Osprey, Osprey Long Island, Red Tailed Hawk, Merlin, Cedar Waxwing, Songbirds, Song Bird Conservation, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, White-Tailed Deer, Fawn, Deers Long Island, Chipmunk, Eastern Cottontail, Coexist with Nature, Honey Bee, Bumblebee, Bee Polination, Bee friendly Garden, New York Bee Sanctuary, All About Birds, Cornell University, They Honey Bee Conservancy, Rich Nardo, NTVLIComment

#NTVArtists - Made in Menhaden: How an Unassuming Baitfish Fuels NY’s Marine Ecosystem (featuring footage + photos from Tim Regan (@SouthForkSalt))

They go by many names - Bunker, Menhaden, American Sardine, Pogy (not Porgy!), Mossbunker, Bug-head, Fat-back. No matter the nomenclature, it is indisputable that these pedestrian-looking baitfish are an important cog in the machine of the marine ecosystem around Long Island. They filter our water, they are an amazing source of omega-3 proteins with a myriad of human-based uses and, perhaps most importantly, menhaden are the primary food source for a lot of our ocean’s top predators. As Paul Greenberg pointed out in his 2009 NY Times Op-Ed, “Nearly every fish a fish eater likes to eat eats menhaden”.

Fishing, Long Island Wildlife, NTVartists, Conservation, Long Island FishingRichard J NardoJuly 31, 2020Menhaden, Bunker, Marine Ecosystem, Conservation, South Fork Salt, Fishing, Long Island Fishing, Responsible Fishing, Striper, Striped Bass, Bluefin Tuna, Bluefish, Humpback Whales, Humpack Whales Long Island, Long Island Whales, Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Dolphins Long Island, Osprey Long Island, ASMFC, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Menhaden DEfenders, Bunker Conservation, Tim Regan, Water Conservation, Harbor Seals, Whale Watching Long Island, Sharks, Long Island Sharks, Sharks on Long Island, Thresher Sharks, Atlantic States Fisheries Commission, Andrew Cuomo, Todd Kaminsky, Steven Englebright, A257, S2317, Multispecies Approach to Conservation, Rich Nardo, NTVLI Comment

#NTVartists: Raptors of Long Island Through the Lens of Shane Etter (@BigOleMrKanish)

While I may not ‘love’ social media, Instagram has provided the opportunity to develop friendships with a lot of awesome people in the Long Island wildlife and photography communities. One of those friends is Shane Etter, a prodigiously talented photographer whose bird portraits are always a highlight of my Insta-feed.

Last February, Shane and I collaborated on a #NTVblog featuring his photos of the various owls that can be found on Long Island at different times throughout the year. Today, I am excited to post our follow-up, exploring the diverse non-owl species of raptors that can be found here as well.

For more of Shane’s photography, please follow him on Instagram.