For the City Nature Challenge, I explored both the Intervale Center and Centennial Woods. On Saturday (5/1/21), I attended Spectacular Nature Day at the Intervale and made 20 observations. It was really exciting getting to help plant some ostrich ferns, learning about the wildlife and vegetation in the floodplain, and birding! Some of my most memorable observations here included a tufted titmouse perched on a tree branch, multiple groups of young gypsy moth caterpillars under the peeling bark of a silver maple, and three painted turtles sunbathing on a log. I had a very good experience using iNaturalist and was able to upload my observations quickly and efficiently. I’ve used the app in the past and am always amazed by how easy it is to document my findings and how accurate their suggestions usually are. On Sunday (5/2/21), I visited Centennial Woods and made 17 observations. Some of the most memorable observations from this visit were a chipmunk jumping in and out of a cavity in a snag, two large mallard ducks (one male, one female) quacking and swimming in the water, a black-capped chickadee that landed in a bush right next to me, and an interesting orange fungi that appears to be pinewood gingertail. I thought it was really interesting how diverse the observations from around the world were and had a good time scrolling through the species list. Participating in the City Nature Challenge helped me learn so much more about the many species that surround us, and I really enjoyed being a part of this important citizen science project!
(2021). [Map showing location of the Intervale Center and Centennial Woods in Burlington, VT]. Google Maps. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Intervale+Center/@44.493109,-73.2074817,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4cca7a88b9971471:0x6957e2b61a39875a!8m2!3d44.493109!4d-73.205293