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Mills Pond Elementary School librarian Meghan Dyckova recently received an unexpected surprise when her nature photography was featured in the national publication Birds and Blooms magazine.
Dyckova, who enjoys hiking and walking in her free time, captured the attention of the magazine with her opportunistic shot of a unique backyard scene.
“I saw it out of my window and grabbed my camera fast,” Dyckova recalled, describing the moment she snapped a picture of a squirrel snacking on seeds in her son’s toy car. The manner in which the squirrel is perched upright in the photo makes it appear as if the furry guy is taking the blue toy car for a spin.
The librarian’s passion for nature photography extends beyond personal enjoyment. At Mills Pond Elementary in Smithtown, Dyckova incorporates her photos into student activities, with fourth graders often writing poems inspired by her nature shots.
This isn’t Dyckova’s first brush with media recognition. Her photographs have previously appeared in Newsday and on News 12 Long Island. Looking ahead, she has her lens set on capturing the butterfly migration and snowy owls.
“It’s relaxing to me, I love being in nature,” Dyckova said, explaining her passion for a hobby that has now garnered her national attention.
Dyckova learned of the publication of her squirrel photo via a friend in Virginia.
“I screamed and jumped up and down,” she said, describing her reaction to the news.
Top photo: Meghan Dyckova, librarian at Mills Pond Elementary School (Courtesy of Smithtown Central School District).
