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!).
This tool was found recently leaning up against a tree in a forest. What’s it used for?
This “tubing tool,” is used to join pieces of maple sap tubing (we changed the picture to illustrate how it works). The tools cost about $200, but as one reader pointed out, if you’re handy, you can make your own for around $30. We received 39 correct answers.
This week’s contest winner was Peter Szymkowicz of Shoreham, Vermont