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!
Introduced Pest v Introduced control.
I spotted a Japanese Beetle out in the yard on a plant, at first it concerned me a little as I know they have no natural predators to keep them in check in the USA.
They eat leaves, leaving behind only the veins as adults, and consume roots as grubs.
Left unchecked they can wreak havoc.
But the introduced Winsome Fly will lay eggs on the beetle body, which when they hatch will enter the beetle and start consuming it, starting with the parts which give the beetle the ability to fly.
Discovering Pond Life
Join Nature Up North to explore the waters on Indian Creek Nature Center! Their summer naturalists will teach you how to catch and identify common macroinvertebrates that can be found at Indian Creek, and what they can tell us about the water quality at the nature center. Water shoes are recommended, and swim trunks are only needed if you're getting in the water with us. We may even have waders!
Blue Zoo - Catching and Examining Zooplankton
Come explore the micro-ecology of our local water bodies! Meet Marina at the Wachmister Field Sation from 10 am to noon on July 5th for a water sampling adventure. We will learn how to take water samples and then look through microscopes at the zooplankton swimming around! This activity is great for all ages and mobility levels. Come explore, sample, and learn with Marina! Stay tuned for possible location changes.
"share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move."
We were sitting on a dock feeding fish and I saw the young deer at the far bank.
Believing it was trying to get a drink, I was concerned about it falling in.
Instead it gracefully entered, swam silently and calmly across and exited.
As graceful in the water as among the leaves.
Community Paddle: Birding
Looking for a Saturday evening activity? Well, come join Nature Up North as we paddle along the Little River in Canton looking for birds! By canoeing, we cross through different wetlands and terrestrial habitats that are home to a great variety of waterfowls, songbirds, and raptors. Binoculars are encouraged but not required as we will be getting up close to nature. So come join us on Saturday, June 28th from 6:30 to 8 pm! All canoeing equipment is provided.
Encounters on the Saddlemire Trail
I went for a walk on the Saddlemire Trail with my binoculars with the intention of looking for birds. I did find many birds (including American Redstarts, an Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow Warblers, and more) but I also saw a porcupine and a painted turtle! The porcupine was taking a nap up in a tree, and was still there when I passed by again on my way back. The painted turtle was on the side of the trail poking its head out of its shell near a patch of wild strawberries. These encounters were very special!
Dragonflies of Indian Creek Nature Center
Dragonflies and damselflies are aerial acrobats that can be found in and around many aquatic habitats. We will check out the ponds and various trails and fields of the Indian Creek Nature Center. All ages and levels are welcome! Some nets will be provided, but feel free to bring your own equipment. Insect repellent is recommended. Leader: Jan Trybula, ICNC Board member
Bleeding Fairy Helmet or Rosy Bonet Mushroom
I found this cool mushroom growing off the side of a dead log. Not sure what species it is but I think its either Bleeding Fairy Helmet or Rosy Bonet Mushroom.
SLLT Harts Falls June Bird Walk
Join us Saturday, June 14th from 7:30 - 10 am, as Dr. Tom Langen, a longtime member of our board of directors, will lead a bird walk at our Harts Falls Preserve. The migrant birds are back, and all the residents birds are very active. To ensure all can hear and the birds aren’t disturbed, the walk is limited to 15 people. Please e-mail the St. Lawrence Land Trust (stlawlandtrust at stlawlandtrust.org) with your interest and how many plan to join.
A bird in the bush?
I was watching for a nesting kestrel pair when I heard a commotion. It seems this doe got too near a red winged blackbirds nest. The birds were relentless but she was too busy nursing her fawn to be phased. Fawn is hidden by tall grass.