11/26/18 Rhode Island Phenology

The Phenology spot I visited over break was Wilbur Woods in Little Compton RI, 30 min from my house. Attached below are some pictures of the area as well as a google map showing the location.

  

(Photos by Kyle Webb, 2018)

Wilbur Woods is a medium sized wooded area of Little Compton RI. It is home primarily to Oaks, red in particular. There are very few coniferous trees in this forest, but the ones that are present are Atlantic white cedar and eastern white pine. Also present are various beech species as well as the occasional birch. The forest floor is almost completely cleared in the main walking area. This area is home to many pathways around the woods as well as a stream and a small pond. There was a disappointing lack of wildlife during my visit aside from a few squirrels, though it was the coldest day of the week so it is not all that surprising, or maybe the man and his two dogs I met on one of the paths scared them off. However, I did notice the presence of deer tracks along some of the paths and my friend and I heard the unmistakable sound of a woodpecker chipping away at a distant tree.

This phenology spot shares some similarities to my spot here on campus. For example, both spots are hosts primarily to deciduous trees and both have cleared forest floors. Both sites have very clear human impacts and attractions. Much like the main clearing in my UVM site that has turned over logs and a constructed bench to sit on, Wilbur woods is home to multiple small fireplace areas with stone benches. There is also a few bridges that cross over the stem at various points. However, Wilbur Woods is a much larger area, and is therefore home to a wider variety and higher populations of wildlife. Also dissimilar are the compositions of the forests themselves. Wilbur woods is dominated primarily by Oaks and beeches, while my spot here at UVM is composed mostly of maple trees and some oaks. Also, Wilbur woods’ trees have retained more of their leaves than my UVM spot. This is likely because Rhode Island has received significantly less snow and rain than Vermont has as well as have a higher daily temperature by close to ten degrees.

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