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!).
Thanks to Felicia Harris for sending along this photo. First, a hint: It’s not a bird you’re likely to find in the forest. So now for a two-part quiz: Do you know what bird it is? And can you tell why it’s on this pebbly surface?
It’s a killdeer, which prefer to nest in large, open areas with short grass and patches of gravel – which this killdeer is using to hold and camouflage its eggs.
This week’s contest winner was Ginny Alfano