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!).

Mysterious Magenta

When walking in the woods, we came upon these small but eye-catching brightly-colored protrusions. What are they?

Answer

These are the magenta stigmas of beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), which can be found in upland forests around the Northeast. This time of year, it’s easiest to spot their yellow catkins from a distance, and check for the stigmas when you get closer!