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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights
Fresh Powder, New Tracks
By Winter Ecology at St. Lawrence University on
This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont. We lost much of our snow last week, but hope you enjoy this account from the snowstorm in early February.
By Kim Haab
6 February 2014
Wednesday night…
Fight Those Late Winter Blues
By Jacob Malcomb on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Has winter weather got you down? Do you find yourself daydreaming about warm spring days? North Country folks may be known to embrace winter, but even the hardiest among us aren’t immune to the late winter doldrums. Fortunately for us, a growing body of evidence suggests that the cure for cabin fever may be just outside our (frosted) windows, in the snowy fields and forests across the North…
Tracking, Trees, and Tranquility: An Afternoon in Glenmeal
By Winter Ecology at St. Lawrence University on
This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont. We hope you enjoy their accounts from days spent in the woods examining the fascinating ways plants and animals endure the North Country winter.
By…
First Day of Class
By Winter Ecology at St. Lawrence University on
This winter Nature Up North is featuring a Winter Ecology Series, in which St. Lawrence University students in Dr. Karl McKnight's Winter Ecology course share their observations from a weekly field trip to Glenmeal State Forest in Pierrepont. We hope you enjoy their accounts from days spent in the woods examining the fascinating ways plants and animals endure the North Country winter.
By…
Walking in a North Country Winter Wonderland
By Allison Paludi on
As temperatures creep back to the 20s and 30s, I can’t picture a better way to enjoy the weather than hiking around the North Country. Whether you head to the Adirondacks or stay closer to home, the experience is 100% worthwhile.
Part of what makes winter hiking fun is the element of uncertainty. Changes in elevation become much more apparent as the snow increases and the wind intensifies.…
Let's Talk Turkey!
By Erika Barthelmess on
Blog: Just Our NatureIn honor of Thanksgiving, I’m going to pause and give thanks for a North Country native, the wild turkey. Likely you’ve seen these large birds traveling in flocks along the side of the road. But did you know that they were once rare in these parts? And across the country? The abundance of wild turkeys across North America is a real conservation success story. And, oddly enough, the story of the…
A War on Crows
By Jacob Malcomb on
At this time of year crows flock to US cities by the thousands to roost in urban trees. The North Country is no exception, as illustrated in recent news stories about Watertown’s efforts to scare off more than 30,000 crows from city landmarks. In previous years, Watertown has hired private contractors to chase crows from their roosts using remote-controlled aircraft, distress calls,…
To Keep the Towers?
By Jacob Malcomb on
If you’ve climbed nearby mounts Arab or Azure, you can attest to the view-enhancing benefits of a summit fire tower. The climb to a fire tower’s observation deck affords a commanding 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape. Adirondack fire towers are relics of Park history. In 1903 and 1908 severe forest fires burned over a million acres of Adirondack forests, prompting officials to…
Sugar Maple Monitoring
By Jacob Malcomb on
Blog: Just Our NatureFew trees are as quintessential to our North Country character as the sugar maple. They are vital to our forests, providing habitat for many other species. In the fall we watch in admiration as sugar maple crowns turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red. Maple wood is sought after by homebuilders and craftsmen for its toughness and the beauty of its grain. In the springtime we tap…
The Tears of St. Lawrence
By Jeffrey Miller on
We are pleased to share a post from our local wandering celestial minstrel, Jeff Miller. Please read on below to find out what's happening in the night sky this week!
Every year, from mid-July to the end of August, the Earth experiences the Perseid meteor shower. A meteor shower occurs when the Earth passes through the debris trail left in space by a comet. The Perseid shower is caused by comet…