Rhode Island woman left family farm to become a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary

Mabel Norman Cerio spent much of her life between art and nature at Paradise Farm in Middletown, Rhode Island. In 1908, she bought the coastal property from the estate of her brother after the death of her father. Decades later, the land would become the Norman Bird Sanctuary, a protected space covering 300 acres.Cerio was a lifelong lover of art and nature. After making Paradise Farm her home and studio, she spent years painting, caring for animals and birdwatching on the property. Her interest in conservation also grew during this period. According to Newport Historical Society, soon after buying the farm, she began making plans for a bird sanctuary and wildlife refuge.Cerio died in 1949. Through her trust, she left Paradise Farm to the community for the purpose of creating a sanctuary.