What in the Woods Is That?

Play our biweekly guessing game!

Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.

Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).

Anyone Home?

Reader Will Durkin came across this nest in a farm field in Franklin County, Vermont. What animal created it?

Answer

This is a savannah sparrow’s nest (and the bird was seen leaving shortly after)! Savannah sparrows craft their nests out of grasses and sometimes further hide by making them only accessible by a side opening.

This week’s contest winner was Christine Young