Month: May 2022

May 5th, 2022 (49°)

I walked to my phenology site today, knowing it would be the last time I observe it for the purpose of my phenology blog. This is unfortunately my last blog post for my phenology site.

There are signs of spring all around. Unfortunatly, the leaves on the deciduous trees have not yet grown yet, but there are plenty of other things that are growing. There are plenty of samplings and new growings sprouting. I saw young Eastern White Pines, Early Meadow Rue, and Buckthorn. The dirt was firm, and grass was starting to grow.

There were a few bird calls happening but overall a very minimal amount of wildlife exposure. I drew a Species Interaction Diagram to depict an example of the interations in my site.

It is hearthwarming to finally feel the sun after persistant months of cloudy coldness. With the heat bring new signs of wildlife which is always enjoyable to witness. I love my phenology site and am excited to come back to it futher on into the future.

May 3rd, 2022 (57°)

During this year’s BioBlitz in the Greater Burlington Area, I spent my time in our well-known, local Centennial Woods. Centennial is a great natural area near the UVM campus that a wide variety of plant, animal, and fungal species call home. When I was exploring Centennial on this sunny afternoon I encountered many species of plants and animals. I could identify some, and iNaturalist helped with the rest. iNaturalist is a great tool that helps people identify species, along with connecting with others who enjoy nature. During my trip, I spotted plant species such as Barberry, Ostrich Fern, Sensitive Fern, and Honeysuckle.

As far as animal wildlife goes, I had a little less luck. I spotted a few birds such as Yellow Finch, Bluejay, and Chickadee gathering around a bird feeder. I tried to get close enough to take a picture but every time I got within camera’s distance, they would become skittish and fly away. I also spotted some small fish in the Centennial Brook. I couldn’t quite identify them and neither could iNaturalist because they were too small to photograph. I had a fun time feeding these fish with small worms and insects I found on the ground and under rocks. I was able to identify one of the insects I found: a Bombardier Beetle. This beetle did not like its disturbance and sprayed liquid out of its rear. I’m glad it did not end up on my skin because when I researched the beetle when I got home, I found out that was its defense mechanism (spraying hot acid – YIKES!)

Overall I had a great time going outside and enjoying the nice day in Burlington. The BioBlitz is a fun sight to see and I am eager to continue observing the Burlington area as the weather slowly becomes warmer.