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!
Porcupine in Aspen
I observed this critter during a slow exploration walk along Gulf Road one afternoon. The porcupine was moving slowly among the upper branches of the tree and seemed oblivious to my presence on the ground.
Exploring Higley - floating shrimp?
Carcasses of shrimp-like animals are floating alongside my kayak. What are they? Fresh water shrimp?
Exploring Higley Flow - Dragonflies
I spent the afternoon watching dragonflies and damselflies from my kayak. A Chalk-fronted Corporal (Libellula julia) kept landing on my hat--the highest point in the wetland. I could hear the flicker of its wings as it landed, but I couldn't see it, so just after it took flight I transfered the hat to my extended paddle. When it returned, it hovered over my head for a few seconds then perched on the hat in its new location. Finally a good look at this beauty.
Exploring Higley Flow - Dragonflies
A steady breeze blows from the west. I paddle along the shoreline and wedge my kayak among the Scirpus stems. I want to stop paddling and just sit. Strands of what look like pale violet intestines float within arm's reach, tangled in dead stems. I lean over for a closer look. There are dark spots--eggs--sprinkled within the strands. Whose eggs? Snail?
House wren caring for chicks
We have discovered a pair of house wrens nesting in a bird house in our large box elder tree. This morning I watched as the parents took turns provisioning in the young. The first photo is the adult wren at the bird house. Next are two photos showing an adult arriving with a mouthful of food for the chicks. The last photo shows one of the parents removing waste from the nest. Tidy creatures!
What you can't discern from the photos is the excited chirping of the chicks in the bird house each time a parent arrives with food!
Cancelled- Fishing Clinic
Never been able to get past getting that squirmy worm on the hook to go fishing? Join us as we run a beginner fishing clinic to show the ropes and get you out on the water. Once a year New York State opens up their waters for free fishing for NYS residents! We will be joined by resident angler Melissa Schulenberg who will be going over fishing technique and saftey as we try to reel in a big one!
We will meet at St. Lawrence University by E-Lot and the Athletic facilities. (See SLU Parking Map, attached).
Full Moon Night Hike--Azure Mountain--A Midsummer's Night Gleam
A Midsummer's Night Gleam? Join Nature up North for a guided night hike on July 22nd during the full moon and witness the night time beauty of the North Country from the moonlit peak of Azure Mountain!
We will hike up Azure, enjoy the moonlight from the peak's beautiful cliffs and fire tower, and descend at 9:50PM.
Please be aware that any night hike is strenuous even if very short! Azure Mountain is only 2 miles round trip though it is very steep and may be slippery.
The Annual North Country Goose Roundup
Come join us as Nature Up North teams up with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for this year's roundup! Each year, at the end of June, Canada Geese lose their flight feathers during the seasonal molt and are flightless for anywhere from twenty to forty days. During this time, researchers take advantage to survey the geese in hopes of better tracking their numbers and migration patterns. Come help us corral in geese by canoe or on foot and enjoy a tasty barbecue meal after our efforts.
Grow Food Not Lawns
The rabbits are eating my new strawberry plants! I bought a six pack of plants at the Potsdam Farmer's Market on Saturday. I just put them in the ground yesterday and they are already getting nibbled. The hanging baskets I planted earlier in the spring are doing well and are out of reach for now. Hopefully my makeshift scarecrow will do the job of protecting them...
I'll try to get a picture of the sneaky (though cute!) little buggers if they come around again!
Morning encounter with a snapping turtle
Mama snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) laying eggs! Females like to nest within 100 feet of water (the Little River was not far away) and in sandy or loamy soils. Snapping turtles are easily recognizable by their size, their long tail, and the jagged, saw-tooted rear edge of their upper shell (you can just make it out in this picture). They also have very powerful jaws which could easily crunch a finger or two. I gave this little lady plenty of space!