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!).

Impression Question

Reader Lori van Handel found this impression in the snow on the side of Sheep Hill in Williamstown, Massachusetts – and saw the bird that made it. What happened here? And what’s your best guess of who made this print? (Hint: No owls were involved.)

Answer

A diving red-tailed hawk created this impression. Although most hawks leave our region in winter, red-tails remain, and you’ll often see them (as Lori did) hunting over fields, or perched on tall trees by roads and other clearings. In this photo, you can see a wing print on the left, and a raised pile of snow beside it, where the hawk’s talons sank down, and came up again, probably lifting prey.

This week’s contest winner was Tyler Cortright