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!
A curious snake on thin ice.
While walking along one of the smaller ponds at the Indian Creek Nature Preserve, I encountered this snake sunning itself in the grass. To avoid me, it went out onto the ice but never ventured far out, and turned to face me before disappearing into the brush on the bank. I am not completely sure what species it is, although I suspect it is an especially orange Northern Watersnake.
Event Recap - Girl Scout Survival Day!
As part of a unique program, I recently had the opportunity to attend a Girl Scout event that left me both inspired and enlightened. This experience not only allowed me to connect with our community's youth but also taught me valuable skills and deepened my appreciation for nature. What struck me most was the girls' enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge. Their curiosity about our surroundings was contagious, reminding me of the importance of maintaining a lifelong love for learning
Knots
Seasons of Change: An Ode to Fall
This photo essay captures the beautiful transformation of leaves as the seasons transition from fall to winter. The change from lush greens, to shades of red, orange, and gold, tells a story of renewal and the texture that autumn brings at St. Lawrence University. I invite viewers to pause and appreciate the wonders of nature we see every day. Each tree has its own process and story to tell. Unfortunately, trees cannot speak, but these images tell it for them.
Event Recap - Pumpkin Party in Heritage Park
Over the weekend of October 26th and 27th 2024 the excitement for the upcoming holiday came to a head. We love the fall season at Nature Up North because it’s a season of change. Trees are changing colors, temperatures are dropping, snow is in the mountains, and wildlife is beginning its winter preparation. Halloween often signals the shift from fall to winter, so we wanted to do something to participate.
Avian Illustration Workshop
Have you ever wanted to draw the wildlife you see outside your window? Now you can!
Join Nature Up North and St. Lawrence Univerisity Student Evelyn Albrecht for a bird watching and art workshop at the Wachtmeister Field Station. This event will teach an introductory-level lesson on drawing birds from reference photos and live observation. You will also leave with the knowledge of how to identify common backyard birds by sight. We hope to see you there!
Migrating visitors at Upper and Lower Lakes.
We stopped off at Lower Lake, which was drained this year by the DEC to do some work.
While there were commonly seen birds like ring billed gulls, trumpeter swans, ducks, geese, blackbirds and kingfisher.
It was a nice surprise to see some Semipalmated Pipers and a Lesser Yellowlegs on their way from Northern Canada down to the Gulf, or farther.
Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
While certainly not located within the North Country, the relatively dark skies in the area certainly allow us better opportunity to see things in the night sky.
The photo doesn't do it justice of course, but I'm still thrilled to get it.
Phantoms in the Park
Calling all goblins, ghosts and ghouls! The annual Phantoms in the Park is set for Saturday, October 26th in Canton's Village Park. Events will kick off at noon with activities and a costume contest, followed by a Trick-or-Treat Parade to downtown businesses.
NOON - 1:00PM | ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK & COSTUME CONTEST
Kiddos can enjoy touch-a-truck with the Canton Fire Dept., St. Lawrence Co Sheriff's Dept., FX Capara of Canton, and the Boyden Brook Body Works' Monster Truck!