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!).
What’s protruding from this birch?
The fungus on this white birch is a clinker polypore (Inonotus obliquus), which has several common names, including sterile conk, cinder conk, and chaga mushroom. It’s used to make a tea that’s thought to have health benefits. Learn more about it here.
This week’s contest winner was Audrey von Lepel