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!).

Seed on Snow

We found this seed on the snow in Corinth, Vermont. What tree is it from?

Answer

This is the winged nutlet of a yellow birch, which usually is hidden by its three-lobed bract resembling a bird’s foot. Throughout the winter, yellow birches release these fruits, each containing one small seed.

This week’s contest winner was Brandon Erny