Description of Home Place (Tone of Aldo Leopold):
This new place is one of my favorite locations on my family’s land since it represents the interconnection and succession of forest and swamp habitat. A stream feeds into the swamp and where the two meet snake grass and cattails emerge. Beginning here and throughout the swamp are many swamp kinds of grass, which prevent my feet from being completely sucked into the mud.
Deer tracks are plentiful throughout and the white snow is interrupted by mud seeping through into their tracks. On the edge of the swamp are thorn bushes, which bare blackberries in the summer. Its sharp thorns do not protect themselves from the deer which come into this area to feed at night or from my family who look forward to their berries every August. These deer not only leave behind their tracks in the snow but also nibble on the Eastern White Pine, which lines the driveway. Their constant visits harm the lower four feet of the tree and even when the trees recover the deer trim the new growth very quickly.
Yet, these frequent visits create deer trails for my brother to track and this season he successfully harvested a large buck. This area, stretching right up to my home, has provided my family with instant access to nature and the wildlife that visits and lives here. We live among the birds, rodents, deer and occasionally porcupine and coyotes and are grateful to experience this connection on a daily basis.
There are many old conifers, which have been rooted in the muck of the swamp for decades. In recent years, some hardwoods have begun making their way from the edge of the bank and into the swamp. While many have not lived past a few years, a few have been successful and mark the change in the landscape.
Comparison to Centennial Woods (Tone of Mary Holland):
In comparison to my place in Burlington, this area has a greater diversity in wildlife. In this location, there are many deer and tracks of rabbits, weasels, mice, chipmunks and red squirrels. In Burlington, there seems to be a higher population of squirrels, chipmunks, and birds, but there have yet to be sightings of any large mammals. Since many of the small rodents were discovered through tracks and not sightings, other species may be noted in the Burlington place now that there is snow on the ground. In terms of woody stem composition, the two places are strikingly different.
The Burlington pace has well-drained soils, while my home place has standing water throughout most of it. The Eastern White Pine, Red Oak, Red Maple, and Sugar Maple, which thrive in Centennial Woods, would not be able to sprout in the rich muck residing in the swamp. Although, both habitats attract many bird species, such as Chickadees, Goldfinches and woodpeckers.
Yet, since my home phenology place is also near a large fielded area and interstate, many birds of prey can be seen soaring in the skies above. Overall, the two are staringly different despite having many woody stems in a close proximity to water, which demonstrate the impact the flow of water can have on its surrounding environment from water absorption in the soil, plant life and attracted wildlife.
Deer Tracks:
Freezing Rain: