Donna Salko

Gertie's Birdies: Quackers and Friends Donna Salko

Author/Photographer Donna Salko takes her readers by the hand into the world of waterfowl, their habits and habitats. With pen and camera she guides children casually through the maze of dabbling ducks, diving ducks and sea birds of North America. Each stunning image is accompanied and complimented by animated verse. It is an exciting way to engage readers both young and old. Donna Salko leaves behind the backyard birds of Gertie's Birdies: A Children's Guide To Friends That Fly. She heads to the waters of oceans, lakes and rivers for a chance to capture the beauty and diversity present in the waterfowl world. "It's one thing to enjoy the birding experience right outside your window, but to go beyond that is a very rewarding challenge," states author Salko. With her move from rural Northeast Pennsylvania to coastal Maine, Donna focused on her new environment. Her birding passion flowed into the duck world. With an "everyone should see this" attitude, Donna sought to bring to life these very distinct creatures. Donna's fieldwork took her along coastal New England and throughout New Mexico and parts of Arizona. Key destinations included Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico and Gilberts Water Ranch in Arizona. She scoured the New England coast from Acadia National Park in Maine through to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Rhode Island. It took several seasons of migrations to capture the images included in Quackers and Friends. In a time of universal disconnect from nature this author seeks to move away from today's high tech world and encourage readers to use their imagination, their senses and emotions to get outdoors and encounter the natural wonderland first hand. This world begs to be experienced and rewards anyone who ventures out beyond their backyard.