Whenever I come to my spot, not much has changed besides the seasonal variations. In the fall, the ground is covered with multicolored leaves; in the winter, everything is covered in snow; in the spring, the trees bloom, and the stream in the center of my spot comes to life. Some of the key landmarks are the stream and a sign that says “Muddy Buddies,” which never seems to disappear. I believe that culture and nature complement each other, and we can learn a lot from both. Many human-made structures are inspired by nature’s stability. I feel connected to my spot because I often visit it to clear my mind and plan my day.
I could not go to my spot and sit down, but I could catch a panoramic photo of it.
During the challenge, I had the opportunity to visit Burlington City and explore the university campus. While exploring, I came across several beautiful yellow and white daffodils, ferns, and maples. However, I faced some issues while using the iNaturalist app due to poor network connectivity and my phone camera not being able to focus. Despite these challenges, I managed to capture some good photos of the things I saw. Although I am not entirely sure of the number of species, I did spot some Intermediate Wood Fern, Norway Maple, and white and yellow Daffodils. So, I can say that I spotted at least three species of plants that were clearly identified through my phone camera. It was fascinating to see the diverse range of reports from different places around the world participating in this challenge. It’s amazing how many different animal prints and plants one can witness.
It has been a while since I last posted an update. Nevertheless, I am happy to report that my phenology spot is thriving, I’m guessing, despite a surprise March snowfall. I walked to my phenology spot this Saturday, but I had to cut it short due to the snow and reduced visibility. However, on my way there, I picked a small branch from a budding tree and took a quick snapshot of it. I was able to capture the shot when I got back to my dorm.
“I would like to share a sample of a budding tree I received.”
I went to my original phenology spot in Centennial Woods to gather photos for my phenology blog. After the weather calmed down, I visited the spot yesterday to look for tracks. I noticed a lot of activity with squirrels and several birds. Upon arriving at the entrance, I immediately found deer tracks that seemed fresh or a few days old. I placed my “Rite in the Rain” book for measurement next to the tracks and tried to get the best picture without having the book slide down the hill I was on.
While walking down further, I discovered a raccoon print and measured it using my yellow book. I also found the prints of either a red or grey fox, and after referencing my “Mammal Tracks and Scat” pocket guide, I could identify it as a red fox since the grey fox rarely has claws, according to the book. Additionally, I identified the prints of a grey squirrel using my “Mammal Tracks and Scat” pocket guide.
Although my phone was on its last leg of battery life, I still captured all of these tracks using my regular phone camera. I couldn’t use Inaturalist to snap any photos, but all of these photos will be posted on my blog.
Welcome back to my Phenology blog, where I document the changes and patterns of nature in my area. I am excited to share my latest observations as we start the new year and semester. Despite being in the exact location, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of changes I noticed during my recent visit. Although I had hoped to take some photos during my hike, friends accompanied me, and it wasn’t feasible. However, I did notice a lot of tracks on the trail and on the side, which seemed to be made by squirrels, rabbits, and deer. I could also see that a fresh sheet of snow had fallen, and it was almost dark outside. When I finally arrived at my spot, I was pleased to see that the stream was still running and the surrounding area was covered with a thick layer of snow. The trees looked bare without leaves, and the temperature was noticeably colder. I took a moment to reflect on how much had changed since my last visit. The snow-covered ground starkly contrasted with the lush greenery I had seen in the summer. Despite the differences, the beauty of nature still shone through. Overall, I am excited to continue documenting the changes in my area and learning more about the natural world around me.
Upon returning to my phenology spot for the last time, I noticed a significant difference between when I first visited it in October and now in December. While walking towards the spot, I came across a fallen log on the path and saw tracks that appeared to be of a rabbit or hare trying to cross the log. I took a picture of the tracks and continued towards the spot. Now, with a light layer of snow covering the area, most of the trees around the spot had lost their leaves except for the Eastern Hemlock and White Pine, which still had all their needles intact. The Norway Maple had only a few lingering leaves left on its branches before they all fell off. The ground was covered with a combination of decomposed leaves mixed with melted snow, creating a muddy path. I observed no minnows swimming in the water, but I did hear geese flying overhead, migrating somewhere warm. I also saw bird nests and heard the occasional squirrel or chipmunk in the trees. Across the bridge, I had taken photos of the berries of the Round-leave Bittersweet, which were this beautiful bright red and as if they had a little covering protecting them from the snow.
One of my favorite things about my Phenology spot is that I discovered it while taking my parents hiking in Centennial Woods. I also appreciate that it’s easily accessible for me to visit, and it’s a unique location on UVM’s campus. I love that I can identify most of the tree species that inhabit the spot, and I enjoy listening to all the different animal noises. Additionally, I love seeing the changes in the different seasons, from the bright and colorful fall to the snowy and cold winter. Overall, this project was really fun, and I would gladly do it again.
Over this Thanksgiving break, my assignment for my phenology blog was to find a new spot, take some photos, and leave a gift. The place I went to with my friend was called the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. While there, I went on a hike. On the hike, I did not take many photos because I wanted to take the whole scenery without needing to feel attached to my phone, but I did take one shot. The picture I took was overlooking the water. While waking, the wildlife refuge had abandoned army storage barracks used to store ammunition during the war.
When comparing my phenology spot in Burlington to the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge spot, there were a lot of similar trees, mainly consisting of Eastern White Pine, Northern Red Oak, and some Green Ash. Another was the area where both had some form of water feature, such as a pond or a little stream that passed through the land. Unfortunately, I did not bring anything to leave as a gift to my new spot.
Apple Maps Location: In the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge.
Here is a panoramic photo of my Thanksgiving Phenology Spot
I felt a sense of peace and calm as I sat at my Phenology spot. I took a moment to reflect on everything that had happened in the last few minutes of my visit while the world orbited around me. It was a nice break from thinking about my upcoming classes and assignments, just being present in my spot. The forest came alive with the sounds of birds and other creatures, constantly changing. Occasionally, people would pass by on the path, adding to the area’s liveliness.
Map of my Phenology spot (rough sketch)
During my recent visit, I noticed a significant change in the scenery. When I was last there, the trees were still lush with leaves, displaying vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges, which were soon to be scattered all over the ground. However, on my recent visit, I observed that all the leaves had fallen off the maples and beech trees, leaving them bare branches. The buckthorn shrubs were full of bright berries, while the white pine trees flourished with needles and cones. The brook filled with leaves flowing in the water, and the occasional minnow swam by in the cold water. The temperature had dropped, and the wind had picked up, tearing its way through the trees.
Hi to those reading this blog, I’m Abigail (Abby) Brooks. I am a first-year at UVM and studying Wildlife Fisheries and Biology. To start, I chose to blog about the spot in UVM’s Cenntenial Woods. The spot is on the main trail across the bridge, going over a small stream by the Muddy trail sign. While hiking, I encountered this spot with my parents when they visited town for the weekend. I chose this spot to blog because it is an open area with many native species of flora surrounding it; another was that the location is easily accessible for me to get to just off campus. When standing there off the trail, you can see a bridge, a few fallen trees, plenty of woody plants, and a stream with a few minnows.
