I made the visit to my phenology site this week right after a storm had started to die down, so I didn’t expect to see many animals. However, I was able to find some evidence of different creatures that were using the pines as their home for the winter. I was able to find a bunch of squirrel tracks:
I found these tracks right at the base of the rock that I sit on (when it’s not covered in snow) to make observations. I was thinking that maybe the squirrel sat there to do some sort of task, like shelling a nut or cleaning itself. The tracks were pretty deeply imprinted as if he had sat there for a while and arranged in a way that tells me the squirrel was comfortably seated, not bounding away. The rock probably provided him with some protection from the wind, so he chose to hang out where he felt comfortable and safe.
However, the species I want to focus on for February is the woodpecker, which had made these giant holes in the side of one of the pines:
Woodpeckers are prevalent in many different types of habitats around country. The Pileated Woodpecker is likely the one that was responsible for these holes, because it is very common in Vermont and especially in coniferous woodlands (All About Birds). They use dead trees to make nesting holes, which usually take them 3-6 weeks to make- they often reside in these holes to keep warm during winter. They are omnivorous, and eat anything from fruits and nuts to larvae and insects. One way in which woodpeckers interact with other species is that the holes that they make in trees (once their makers are no longer using them) are used by other species like bats and owls. On the other hand, they interact less symbiotically with ants, which can make up upwards of 40% of their diets (Hagenbuch, 2018). They even have a special way of pecking at tree bark in order to obtain the maximum amount of ants possible. The share the same predators as most other birds; cats, snakes, foxes, and large birds.
Regarding phenological changes, my site has changed slightly since January. Most of the melted rings surrounding the bases of the pine trees have disappeared, and snow touches right up to the trunk. The lichens had regressed almost completely, and there were very few hints of moss peeking through the snow. Speaking of snow, there was a lot more of it and there was evidence of more extreme winds because, as pictured below, there was snow and ice buildup on the side of the trees that faced South Prospect St. Clearly, the wind has a tendency to blow up the hill, and it deposits snow and ice on the trees in this manner.
If this area was on top of a mountain, there definitely would have been rime ice on the other side of the trees, due to the increased moisture in the air and strong wind whipping and depositing the ice on the opposite side (McDonald, 2020).
Overall…
I think that the term “survival” fits February very well. I couldn’t imagine having to endure these temperatures coupled with the extreme weather and an acute lack of resources. I can only hope that winter does not last too long and that food sources start to grow back soon in time for the spring awakening of all of the plants and animals!
Works Cited:
Hagenbuch, S. (2018, February 16). Wild World of Woodpeckers. Retrieved from https://vt.audubon.org/news/wild-world-woodpeckers
Pileated Woodpecker Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/lifehistory#
McDonald, M. (2020). Winter Ecology III Catching Up [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://bb.uvm.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3232149-dt-content-rid- 47183407_1/courses/202001-14246/LandscapeConservation2_20.pdf