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!).
We spotted these beech leaves sporting dark stripes in the woods near Bucksport, Maine. What’s happening here?
These leaves show signs of beech leaf disease (BLD), which can cause defoliation and kill beech trees. BLD has become widespread in many areas of the Northeast. For more information, visit this page of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry website.
This week’s contest winner was Colin Holme