What's Your Nature?
Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!
Waterfall Tour: Harper's Falls
Join us for a morning hike to the beautiful Harper's Falls! Located in Downerville State Forest, Harper's Falls is a 1.3 mile trail down to cascades on the Grasse River. The trail slopes up and down but is of moderate difficulty with no steep inclines. Bring your friends and family! To carpool, meet at the Brewer Bookstore at 9:30 am. We'll meet at 10:00 am at the Harper's Falls Trailhead.
EAB Volunteer Training: Gouverneur Library
Emerald ash borer was confirmed in St. Lawrence County last August and is already on the way to becoming a public safety concern. Infested trees can die in 1-3 years, and are at risk of falling on homes and powerlines. Join us for a free workshop at the Gouverneur Public Library to learn how you can help slow the spread by monitoring trees near you.
EAB Volunteer Training: Ogdensburg
Emerald ash borer was confirmed in St. Lawrence County last August and is already on the way to becoming a public safety concern. Infested trees can die in 1-3 years, and are at risk of falling on homes and powerlines. Join us for a walk on the Maple City Trail, starting at the Ogdensburg Visitor's Center to learn how you can help monitor the spread of this invasive pest.
EAB Volunteer Training: Canton
Emerald ash borer was confirmed in St. Lawrence County last August and is already on the way to becoming a public safety concern. Infested trees can die in 1-3 years, and are at risk of falling on homes and powerlines. Join us for a free workshop and walk on the Remington Trail at Partridge Run in Canton to learn how you can help slow the spread by monitoring trees near you.
Summer walk on the Kip Tract Trail
Last Friday afternoon allowed me a few minutes to walk the Kip Trail at St. Lawrence University out to the marsh deck and snap a few photos. I was fortunate to run into interns of Nature Up North who reminded me to get an encounter posted (thank you, interns!). The initial stretch of the Kip Trail features a number of different microhabitats (field, marsh, river, scrub, pine, and deciduous forest), so there is a nice diversity of flora and fauna to observe. Birdlife was vocal with many signs of breeding activity - singing, agitation, carrying food, etc.
Wild Edible Plants, Plus a Little Medicine
Learn some of the historic and current uses of many common wild plants, both native and naturalized. Focus is on edible plants, but will touch on herbal medicine as well. Come dressed for the weather, and for ticks, too.
Leader: Paul Hetzler, Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County, (315) 379-9191, ext. 232.
Date: Saturday, July 21st from 8:00 – 11:00
Moth Night at Indian Creek Nature Center
In conjunction with National Moth Night, Indian Creek will be hosting an exploration of moth diversity at the Nature Center. We will set up a black light and discuss the major features of the many different groups of moths that we see.
Leader: Ray Erickson (315) 379-9235
Date: Wednesday, July 25th, 9:00 - ?
Photo: Luna moth, shared by Lyndsay LaBarge
Campfire Series: Nocturnal Navigation
The sweltering heat subsided just in time for a comfortable stroll down the Kip Trail while learning about nocturnal animal adaptations. After recognizing the heightened senses used in nocturnal navigation, the group turned back for a relaxing evening around the fire, enjoying s'mores and an impressive array of summer fireflies.
Canada Moonseed
Found a cool plant on the other side of the Little River from the Saddlemire Trail: this Canada Moonseed, a climbing vine that strongly resembles wild grape. Its fruits look exactly like grapes, but they are toxic! The best way to tell the two apart is by looking at the seeds: moonseed fruits have a single large, crescent-shaped seed, while grapes have multiple teardrop-shaped seeds.