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!

Winter Tracking at Indian Creek Nature Center - rescheduled!

Event date and time
February 3, 2018 - 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Event description

The ICNC hosts a wonderful array of interesting animals and fauna throughout the year. Peter O'Shea, local naturalist and author, will lead the group in identifying various creatures by their tracks and other unique features. If snow is sufficiently deep, trackers can bring their snowshoes or borrow them from the nature Center. If no snow, we'll scout the trails on foot. Dress appropriately and please call to register. Photo: Snowshoe hare tracks in snow, Luke Harvey.

Weather or Not

Weather modeling has become quite a big deal in recent years, with meteorologists falling all over themselves to report what the latest models say. It sounds like a fun job, and I am trying to find out how to apply for a position. No doubt I could model categories like “large stationary front” or “high pressure system” pretty well. If it involves appearing in a swimsuit, though, forget it.

First snow of the season on Bear Mountain in Cranberry Lake. Photo: Bill Hill.

First Day Hike on the SLU Kip Trail

First hike with the dogs on a balmy 5 degree day (we've been having a real cold snap!).  The afternoon light at this time of year is lovely against the snow.  

Birdfeed Ornaments

Event date and time
December 23, 2017 - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Event description

Made from cereal, seeds, and string, these ornaments are meant to be eaten….by the birds!!

Join us in making edible ornaments for our feeding stations outside, and make one to take home for your feathered friends!!

 

Early winter sunsets

On my way back from a hike at Carry Falls reservoir, the sun setting against the overcast skies were too good to pass up.

2018 Nature Up North Calendars

We are pleased to announce that 2018 Nature Up North calendars are on sale now through January!  The printed calendar features some of our favorite photos shared by community members as Encounters on natureupnorth.org in the past year.  They also feature Nature Notes highlighting seasonal wildlife behavior to look for each month.  

Calendar cover photo, featuring orange fungi on a mossy background.
Back cover of calendar, with thumbnail photos of all 12 months and Nature Up North sponsor credits.

Stunning Winter Sunset

A little bit of color in the middle of winter....

Caterpillar Soup

When it comes to personal growth, the Wicked Witch of the West had the right idea. Quite possibly she got it from monarch butterflies, which must exist in Oz, since they are found worldwide except for polar regions. Many times, a rearrangement of the self-image we have come to know is needed to achieve our fullest potential. In my experience this is always hard, and seldom is it voluntary.

Monarch butterfly

Khyber Slide (Upper Wolfjaw) 2017: November Early Season Ice

Khyber's Slide on Upper Wolfjaw Mountain. Hunting early season ice with Dan Plumley and Loren Swears. The pitches run up to WI3 grade ice.