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!
Bumblebee Robber Fly!
Visited by a bumblebee robber fly at the canton farmers market! These flies are cleverly disguised as bees with their yellow and black coloration and fuzzy bodies - but a closer look and a few clues will give away their status as flies (members of the Diptera order). First - this guy only has one pair of wings. Bees have two pairs! He’s got short antennae, and his eyes are more round whereas bees generally have oval shaped eyes. Finally the giveaway that this isn’t just any fly, but a robber fly - the mustache (technical name: mystax, a collection of stuff bristles on the face).
Sunshine and Leaf!
I just love the way the sun shines through this leaf and you can see all of its intricate veins, and the rest of the tree stands a little out of focus in the background. Nature is so awesome!
Fungi & Fairy Houses at Lampson Falls
A rainy walk to Lampson Falls to build fairy houses, collecting material along the way, led to the discovery of lots of different fungi, all probably much happier than the humans at the damp conditions. despite the rain it was a joyful afternoon!
Hermit Flower Beetle
Seek identified this as a “Hermit Flower Beetle” he was the size of a half dollar, maybe a bit bigger, and I love that you can see the lamellate antennae, which is very characteristic of scarab beetles. This fella is similar to the beetles we know as june bugs, but not the same. Apparently they can emit a noxious odor when frightened!
Leaves Already Changing?
Enjoyed a nice morning walk on the SLU XC trails, but am surprised to see some leaves already turning red. Keep hearing that everything is “two weeks early,” plus these trees are on the edge of a soccer field right next to the road, so maybe not the healthiest habitat, contributing to some external stressors…
Teacher Workshop August 9th & 10th - Cancelled
Are you a St. Lawrence County teacher interested in incorporating more nature-based learning into your lessons? Do you want to increase opportunities for integrating outdoor learning with STEM content?
We're excited to bring back our annual summer teacher workshop in two parts!
Writing to Reconnect Campfire
We’re happy to announce we’ve rescheduled Writing to Reconnect for our Thursday Night Campfire on August 3, from 7-9 PM at the Wachtmeister Field Station! We’ll be examining natural elements for the articulate expression of our shared environment and ourselves. Today, the way we often say that it's “too easy” to lose track of time on our phones for hours is similar to how we used to talk about the woods.
Birds at the Boat Launch
I work as a Watercraft Inspection Steward to manage invasive species and, when the boat traffic is slow, I try to see what the feathered fellas are up to! There are many places for them to hang out at the boat launch: grasses and reeds, trees, even industrial structures! They are good company for a long day outside and I never get tired of listening to their conversations.
Supermoon Night Hike
August 1st marks the rise of the Sturgeon Supermoon, and we know just the way to enjoy it! Join Nature Up North for a guided hike at Hart's Falls full of fun activities for the whole family. We'll learn why August's full moon is called the "Sturgeon" moon, what makes a supermoon "super," and explore Hart's Falls Preserve under the moonlight.
Build Your Own Fairy House
Looking to get creative in the outdoors? Come learn how to build your very own fairy house at Lampson Falls! Join us for an enchanting afternoon as we make whimsical fairy houses out of objects and plants found in nature. Included in the workshop is a 15-20 minute walk along the trails to gather supplies, which we will then use to build the fairy houses! No prior knowledge or skill is necessary - just bring your imagination.