Can you guess what this is? Plus last week's answer and winner!

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** Monday Nature Mystery
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04/22/24

We are pleased to announce the winner of our most recent Monday Nature Mystery, Nancy Murphy. (Please email your snail mail address and preference for a hat or tote bag to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) ).

Congratulations to Nancy for identifying the Boxelder tree (Acer negundo). According to MPnature.com ([link removed]) , the Boxelder is a native tree found throughout Virginia. It is in the same genus as the maple trees. It is fast-spreading and is considered an invasive species in some parts of North America, despite being native. Several birds and some squirrels feed on the seeds. The Maple Bug (also known as the Boxelder Bug) lays its eggs on all maples, but prefers this species. The name "Boxelder" is a reference to the use of its wood for making crates and boxes and the similarity of the leaves to those of elder trees (from which we get elderberries). The leaves also resemble those of some ashes, which is the basis for the additional common name of Ash-leaved Maple. Native Americans used Boxelder extensively for incense, beverages, implements in ceremonies, and to make charcoal for paintings and tattoos.

Last Week's Mystery: Boxelder Tree (Acer negundo) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 ([link removed]) , via Wikimedia Commons

Each Monday we’ll post a new photo and identify the previous week’s winner. They’ll receive an ASNV hat or tote bag.

Be sure to post your answer on our Facebook page @AudubonVA ([link removed]) under the Monday Mystery post...do not reply to this email with your guess! We only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email.

Please remember to write the common name, being mindful of hyphens, uppercase and lowercase letters and always include the Latin name in parentheses. To learn more about bird names click here ([link removed]) .
Who is this? Photo: Darla J. Oathout/Audubon Photography Awards

This week’s Mystery: Who is this?


Post your guess (please list both common name and Latin name) on our Facebook page @AudubonVA ([link removed]) under this week's Monday Nature Mystery. Remember, we only accept entries from our Facebook page, not via email!

Good luck!

-Audubon Society of Northern Virginia

Please note that we only accept entries on our Facebook page where they are date- and time-stamped. Remember that, if you need to correct your entry, you should make a new posting instead of correcting the old one so that we get a correct time stamp for your correction. Winners are limited to one prize every 90 days, maximum 2 per person. If you have already won twice, please let newer people have a chance and refrain from answering first.

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