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3 days ago | 
meadvilletribune.com | Douglas H. Domedion
As the deer population grows so do suburban areas, which in turn puts more folks in contact with nature. Nature has learned to adapt to these changes and some wildlife such as deer have learned that giving birth in a suburban neighborhood is a win-win situation for them. There is safety for the young fawns on the nice lawns, people really don’t prey on them, and there are fewer predators and all kinds of food for them (lush grass, flowers and shrubbery).
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1 week ago | 
niagara-gazette.com | Douglas H. Domedion
New life is everywhere you look in the great outdoors now. Hummingbirds have been hitting my feeders quite hard, probably due to the cool temperatures lately, and the orioles are keeping me busy filling grape jelly feeders. The bird feeders are close to my windows, including the tube feeder which is filled with sunflower seeds, so I can get close views of the visitors.
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2 weeks ago | 
lockportjournal.com | Douglas H. Domedion
Recently I have fielded a number of emails and calls from folks wanting to know what is that “red stuff” all over the surface of Ringneck Marsh on Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Well, there is a lot more of it under the water and it is really bad for the marsh’s environment. Eurasian watermilfoil has been spreading across Ringneck Marsh for years. It’s a non-native, aggressive aquatic plant originally from Europe, Asia and North Africa.
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3 weeks ago | 
lockportjournal.com | Douglas H. Domedion
As the deer population grows so do suburban areas, which in turn puts more folks in contact with nature. Nature has learned to adapt to these changes and some wildlife such as deer have learned that giving birth in a suburban neighborhood is a win-win situation for them. There is safety for the young fawns on the nice lawns, people really don’t prey on them, and there are fewer predators and all kinds of food for them (lush grass, flowers and shrubbery).
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4 weeks ago | 
lockportjournal.com | Douglas H. Domedion
The male cardinal adds a distinct spark in the environment around the bird feeder in winter, and although he still visits my backyard he doesn’t display the brilliant red that he did during the snowy season. In spring, another colorful guy takes over: the oriole, with bright orange feathers that are sure to delight the people who put out jelly feeders for him. Many types of oriole feeders are available, ones that accommodate grape jelly and ones made to hold fresh orange halves.
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4 weeks ago | 
niagara-gazette.com | Douglas H. Domedion
The male cardinal adds a distinct spark in the environment around the bird feeder in winter, and although he still visits my backyard he doesn't display the brilliant red that he did during the snowy season. In spring, another colorful guy takes over: the oriole, with bright orange feathers that are sure to delight the people who put out jelly feeders for him. Many types of oriole feeders are available, ones that accommodate grape jelly and ones made to hold fresh orange halves.
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1 month ago | 
niagara-gazette.com | Douglas H. Domedion
I’ve been fortunate enough to get to observe and photograph a lot of eagles over the years as I keep track of eagle nests for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Recently two great instances really made my week. The first instance involved a nest north of Medina. It had been active for a number of years, but three years ago the predator guard I had installed on the nest tree was partly ripped away by wind and a predator got up there and ended the nesting season.
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1 month ago | 
niagara-gazette.com | Douglas H. Domedion
I spend a lot of time driving around the Alabama Swamps and surrounding areas looking for good nature photography subject matter. I’m often rewarded with some unique views of not only our great variety of wildlife but also scenic views of great sunrises and sunsets. Nature photography has replaced my many years of hunting and other outdoor activities, mainly because my body no longer allows me to get around like it used to.
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1 month ago | 
lockportjournal.com | Douglas H. Domedion
Things are really starting to get busy in the Alabama Swamps now. During the last week of April I put up oriole and hummingbird feeders at home and a few days later both species showed up along with a rose-breasted grosbeak. If you enjoy watching these three colorful species, get those feeders up — and never let more than five days pass before you clean and place new “treats” in them, especially during hot weather.
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1 month ago | 
niagara-gazette.com | Douglas H. Domedion
This is the time of the year when I have a special meeting, down in the flooded part of my woods, with a very beautiful creature. It is one of the most colorful ducks and has the unique habit of nesting in tree cavities. Years ago this duck experienced serious decline due to over-hunting and fewer tree cavities for nesting. In response, man-made nesting boxes were developed and placed around the country and the ducks took to them quite readily.
