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!).

Stumper in Snow

Sandy Dannis spotted this strange snow scene in Dalton, New Hampshire. What are we looking at here?

Answer

It’s a winter “grouse house.” Sandy Dannis, who took the photo, explains: “You can see the back hole where the grouse flew into the snow. She slept there using the snow as insulation from the cold. Then she flew out through the hole in the front. You can see the clear wing impressions on both sides of the exit hole. You can also see the spot where it looks like she face-planted on the way out!”

This week’s contest winner was John Gutowski