Upon visiting my site for the first time this year I noticed an increase in manure on the farm next to my site and an increase in the depth of snow there. The new snow depth was around a foot and a half in some places, whereas last time I was there, there was about 4 inches of snow. The basswood trees that are found on the site were coated in a layer of black crows that screeched as I approached and eventually flew away. Looking in the snow I could see what look like dinosaur footprints from the turkeys that frequent my site along with what I think to be a Red Fox trail.

So far I have discovered that the land my phenological site is placed on was cleared of trees, it was sold to Mr. Daniel Bowne in 1810 who farmed the land and kept livestock. At some point in the mid-1800s, Spear Street was established and ran past the west side of the property as it continues to do today. Then in 1937, an ariel view of the land was photographed. Spear Street could still be seen going past the property, but the most interesting thing that it showed was that trees started to grow back on the land. Also, the small forest that is there today is shown to have once been extensive and surrounded by farmland.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/40°59’23.7%22N+73°48’33.8%22W/@40.98992,-73.811574,678m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sgoogle+maps!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d40.9899156!4d-73.80938

Aldo Leopold:

The Phenology Place I chose as was a bridge that crosses over a stream in my town. This path is where families go on walks along the stream to feel a little bit of connection to nature in our heavily developed place in the world. I have a connection with this site because of my father who would take me fishing here to practice different techniques before we went out on larger bodies of water. This was also a place where I would go to eat ice cream with friends and watch the stream roll underneath us. We would go whether rain, snow, or shine because we found sanctuary in the large oak trees that line the stream. In the summer the shade would cool us and the leaves would protect us from the rain. In the winter the large canopy would create an umbrella over us so we could watch the seasons change. On my many visits here throughout my time living in Scarsdale, NY I would always stop to listen to the wind through the leaves overpower the sound of cars rushing by on the parkway. I would feel the cool, crisp water run through my hands on its way to the Hudson River, and I would enjoy the look of content on all those who traveled the paths in our little sliver of nature.

Mary Holland:

Back home, in Scarsdale, I feel more of a connection with the ecology of the area, because of my years visiting the site. Whether with friends, family or by myself I would travel there to connect with nature that was close by. I found it fascinating to try and figure out why the leaves felt waxier like someone had come by and applied it themselves.  The path ran along most of the length of the Bronx River Parkway and at the north end, it ended at the Kensic Reservoir where the whole county got its fresh water from. This park connected town to town not only as a path but as a trail to what we all drink. At my site here in Vermont I have understood more of the ecological aspect of it as my education in the area has grown this semester. This area has perked my interest because of the abrupt shifts in landscape from an asphalt lot to a farm to a forest. These changes have led to a wide variety of organisms that I was unable to find at the other Phenological site. The place here in Vermont, I have a connection to because it perks my interest in how the systems affect one another, but my site at home has emotion to it.

On this visit to my site, I first stumbled upon a group of Turkeys that were grazing on the surrounding farmland. After they lurked away into the woods, I climbed the hill to the Basswood tree that marks the center point to my site. Before I got there I noticed more game trails than usual and decided to follow one where I found the bloodied remains of a what I believe to be a squirrel tail and one of the back paws. Looking around the area more I found a pile of scat that contained gray fur in it. The animal I think the scat came from is either a Red Fox or a Coyote. After taking photos of the scene I decided to see if I could follow the Turkeys into the woods, So I grabbed my camera and walked through some of the thick bushes that lined the start of the forest. Once past the front, there was almost no understory and the overstory was almost entirely American Beech. I also saw several dead standing Oaks and Birch trees. I could not find the turkeys and it was getting dark fast so I left and on my way leaving the field, a flock of Geese flew over my head.

Possible dead squirrel

When visiting my site I observed new types of wildflowers growing and that most of the trees there still contained leaves. The gravel lot also contained more manure then when I went on my first visit.

My Chosen Place:

The place that I chose is located right across the street from the Aiken Forestry Sciences Laboratory about a 30 minute walk from red stone campus. the site itself is next to a large field that is owned by UVM and has a forest at the very back of the field. The entrance to the site is a dirt road with clear field on one side and private residence on the other. after walking on the road for about five minutes a hill can be seen with many small basswood trees on it. I continued walking now on the field to the end of the hill closest to the highway, then up to the top of the hill. At the top there is on basswood tree standing by itself and that is the center point of my Phenology site. besides the trees there is tall grasses with visible game trails running through it. In certain spots of the site there are animal bones visible as well.