After 3 days in a row at Sugarbush this week, I decided that a fitting phenology blog would be one that compares the winter phenology of Sugarbush to the winter phenology I have previously seen in the Burlington Area. The main difference that I was quick to notice was the difference in tree species. In Centennial Woods I am treated to a wide range of deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, and beeches. However, in the higher elevation of Mt. Ellen you notice that those trees don’t exist past a certain point. Instead, I saw a large population of birch trees. Eventually, those too ceased to appear and I was greeted by Montane Spruce-Fir forest. I wasn’t able to make out any tracks besides human ones. It was interesting to see how this natural space has been cleared for a human activity. I left behind my own tracks in the woods as I skied down the glade. Even in this man made entertainment area I was able to see plentiful wildlife. I saw gray squirrels as well as Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and many Black-capped Chickadees. In a previous visit I have been able to see Red-breasted Nuthatches. It is hard to remember when you are skiing with many people around you that you are in a natural setting. I was on the same mountain with hundreds of people and yet bird life was plentiful. This is pretty similar to what I have seen in Centennial Woods. Birds do respond to elevation but the difference between Sugarbush and Cent. Woods was not enough to deter these bird species. In the other seasons there will be a species that primarily inhabits the higher elevations. That is the Bicknell’s Thrush.
The iNaturalist app was certainly interesting to use. I have used it in the past as a plant ID app. However, I have never used it in its citizen science capacity. My main app of choice for that type of activity is eBird which is what I used for my Great Backyard Bird Count. However, for someone who wants to increase their involvement in citizen science and branch out into other species I will definitely be using this app again.