PHENOLOGY BLOG !!

This month, April, has had a lot of changes; between contrasting weather patterns, plant growth and death, and animal activity, my backyard has held a lot of phenological activity throughout this past month. As April has progressed, the level of green has only continued to increase. The grass has gotten more vibrant, new trees are budding, flowers are growing, and the world is becoming colorful once again. It is so nice to see flowers and life becoming more active, especially in a time where people are forced to stay indoors. The peach tree in my front yard has lovely pink blossoms, and new daffodils have replaced the old ones that have died of. Small purple flowers I believe to be bellflowers have also bloomed nicely. The forsythia bush in my backyard has been struggling, so the bright yellow bush is now browning and dying; however, some new sprouts have grown, so there are green buds that should replenish the yellow flowers soon. In terms of animals, there are abundant sighting of birds such as American Robins and Cardinals, as well as some Blue Jays and Sparrows in my yard. Their calls are very pleasant to listen to, and they show a true sign of spring. Grey squirrels and (cottontail?) rabbits are another frequent sighting in my yard.

Something that has changed a lot throughout April has been the weather. There has been snow, cold temperatures, warm temperatures, sun, and a lot of cloudy and rainy days. On Saturday the 18^th, there was snow throughout the night prior, as well as throughout the day – that snow turned to rain later in the afternoon, and the next day, the sun was out in full force with high temperatures. On Tuesday the 21^st, I recorded the temperature to be 48 degrees F and rainy, with no recognition of the strange snowstorm we received just a few days prior. It seems that the warmth and amazing spring weather we had last month in March was just a mirage – I hope that temperatures and weather will improve going forward into May. Despite infrequencies with the climate, this month has been beautiful, and I love the signs of natural life emerging further into spring.

For my phenology assignment at home, I am lucky enough to do my own backyard. My yard has a wide assortment of trees, flowers, and wildlife, and I am able to go outside and experience the wonderful spring beauty whenever I wish. Throughout the month of March, there has been a variety of different kinds of weather and plant and animal activity; spring has certainly sprung. This month has been surprisingly warm throughout the majority of days, and an early spring came with sun and blooming plants which would normally still be dormant. The forsythia bush is my backyard is in full bloom and has continued to bud despite changing weathers and temperatures; a variety of wildlife shelters or feeds on this plant: squirrels, rabbits, robins, bluejays, and other animals have all perched on or below the flowering branches of the forsythia bush, and it is wonderful to watch from inside my house. Other plants have bloomed in the month of March; daffodils and crocuses line the fence of my backyard, and they have grown throughout the month. Other plants have continued to grow and bud but haven’t yet bloomed, despite warm and sunny weather; the violet bush in the front of my hard has budded significantly early, and the general greenery of my yard is more advanced than usually expected at this time. The grass is greening and trees all around are beginning to bud.

Around the 20th of March, there were occasional snow showers; in my notes, I recorded that on the 23rd, there were light showers, and there had been earlier in the week, as well. The snow covered everything with a light sheet of white, and its arrival was unexpected due to previous nice weather. The whiteness disappeared either overnight or in a few days, and the brief recollection of winter was quickly forgotten as sunshine fell onto the landscape yet again. The soil outside is still in the process of unfreezing after cold temperatures and periods of snow, so when I walked through my backyard, certain areas were softer than others; where the sunlight can hit the earth, the soil was more compacted by my footsteps than shady or covered patches of dirt, which had more resistance. This month, despite some weather fluctuations, has been very nice, and I hope the good temperatures and natural beauty continue to escalate during the spring months.

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When I visited the Redstone woods for this February visit, I saw little wildlife activity, but it was still a lovely scene; as the bright sun was setting, orange and yellow filled the sky and sunbeams illuminated the tall Eastern white pines. I only saw the tracks of humans, dogs, and gray squirrels in the area – aside from these tracks, there were no signs of life during this visit, and it was silent except for occasional cars or students passing by in the distance. There were no birds in the trees or small creatures that I could see.

The gray squirrel is a major component of this small patch of woods; because the area isn’t large, and the trees are spread apart a decent amount, larger animals wouldn’t be able to occupy this space. Squirrels, however, are small enough to get protection and food from this forest, so they are the primary species here; the home range of gray squirrels typically only ranges from one-25 acres (VT Fish & Wildlife Dept.). In the cold winter months of Vermont, gray squirrels take refuge in den trees with cavities about one-three feet deep with small entrance holes, and it is good to have a habitat with nut-producing trees, like oak and beech (VT Fish & Wildlife Dept.). On a typical day, this squirrel will only move about 160 feet due to a small habitat scope and a heavy reliance on trees (VT Fish & Wildlife Dept.). In the day, gray squirrels mostly look for and gather food, and they have to balance the energy they lose with the amount that they gain with sustenance, especially in cold temperatures; because gray squirrels are diurnal animals, they sleep at night and do their activities during the day, all the while avoiding predators and threats like humans and dogs (PA State University). The gray squirrel has multiple predators, such as snakes, weasels, skunks, and red foxes; however, their main threat consists of large birds like hawks and owls, who can swoop in from above (PA State University).

Although there aren’t many forms of wildlife in my patch of woods, there are many Eastern white pine trees, which are an important factor in the life of the squirrels here. Gray squirrels eat the seeds, bark, and foliage of white pines, as well as use them for shelter from threats; it is very valuable for nutrient and protective purposes, and the gray squirrel couldn’t exist here without it (Adirondacks Forever Wild). Squirrels also have a significant interaction with beech trees, where some are present in the Redstone woods. Gray squirrels will strip the thin bark of beech trees in order to fill their nutritional needs, as well as for constructing their dreys (Wildlife Online).

Since my last visit, there haven’t been too many phenological changes to my spot in the woods. There is a similar amount of snow, with possibly a slight amount more than in January due to recent meltings and freezings. The understory is largely nonexistent, and the canopy of trees remains the same, with buds on the ends of tree branches and no leaves on the trees aside from evergreen needles. Wildlife is hidden, aside from the tracks of animals passing through.

References

Adirondacks Forever Wild. (n.d.). Eastern White Pine. Retrieved from

https://wildadirondacks.org/trees-of-the-adirondacks-eastern-white-pine-pinus-strobus.html

Pennsylvania State University. (2002). Eastern Gray Squirrel. Retrieved from

https://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/graysquirrel.htm

VT Fish and Wildlife Department. (2020). Gray Squirrel. Retrieved from

https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/mammals/gray-squirrel

Wildlife Online. (2020). Squirrel Interaction with Humans – Damage to Forestry. Retrieved from

https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/article/squirrel-interaction-with-humans-damage-to-forestry

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Wildlife Activity: There were a variety of tracks to find in this small patch of woods, but the majority of tracks belonged to either humans or dogs. However, I also saw two small pairs of tracks of what I assume is a gray squirrel because five fingers are evident and the print is small, with a larger section for the back feet.

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Winter Twig Identification: Some trees I saw included both coniferous and deciduous trees, such as Red Maple, Eastern White Pine, and Northern Maple.

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            My sense of place resides in my hometown of Wayland, Massachusetts, which is about half an hour outside of Boston. It is a small, suburban town with lots of natural elements surrounding my home and throughout the town as a whole; my home with all its charm is where I feel most comfortable and at peace in the world. When I think of my home and my sense of place connected to it, my mind mostly wanders to the social, ecological, and aesthetic features that I love about it. Because there are multiple natural spaces in the direct vicinity of my house, such as a lake, forest, and parks, my childhood and life growing up were directly impacted by having open access to the environment; this helped to foster my adoration for nature and my wish to study the environment in college. Another factor that adds to my sense of place is the beauty of it; the seasonal nature like changing colored leaves in fall and fat snowflakes in winter makes my home a visually appealing place to me. I am able to feel welcome and content while seeing this aesthetic in addition to the recreational and social aspects that I appreciate. Despite these more nature-focused values, however, I am most drawn to the social aspects of my location of place; without my loved ones, family, and friends, I would not enjoy my home nearly as much as I do. I believe that in most cases, in order to truly feel at home and have a strong sense of place to one’s house, one needs that emotional connection.

            Throughout my life in Wayland, my town has stayed relatively the same. Some development has occurred, such as new restaurants or roads, but those updates have not negatively affected my sense of place; the direct area around my home and the natural spaces there have been untouched, so my main sense of comfort has remained intact. Also, these new places allow for opportunities to arise for my loved ones and I to enjoy them, further developing the social side of my hometown. After months of schoolwork and stress, I was very glad to be home once I returned back from UVM during break, because it was nice to be in a comfortable, familiar place where I was able to fully relax. There weren’t any major changes over the few months I was gone, so it felt natural to be back. My sense of place in my hometown has certainly affected my development and happiness in life; if I wasn’t content with where I was living, it definitely would be harder to feel at home and have the freedom to grow a sense of personal identity. Due to the nature around, I was able to discover my love for the environment, and having supportive social ties further aided my development and satisfaction with life.

Since my last visit the the brook in Centennial Woods, there has been a massive amount of change in terms of phenology and natural elements. The snow we’ve gotten over this past week had a large impact on the area; it covered the brook to an extent, as well as the entire ground surrounding the water. The paths and foot bridges are all covered by white powder, as are the soil and vegetation on the ground. This made the normal path inaccessible, so some unknown person had moved a foot bridge to go over the brook as a means of continuing through the woods and the unseen path. Only a small area of the brook is uncovered and open to the naked eye, and part of the water is iced over due to the cold temperatures; the ice was a cloudy/murky white color, and the brook itself was relatively clear with little tea-coloring. The trees were all bare and there were no leaves in sight; the snow covered everything with vast whiteness. Compared to the last visit, there were hardly any signs of life in the snowy fall. There was nothing in the water-no minnows or water bugs were swimming like before. The area was very silent and peaceful except for occasional bird calls; at one moment, a large flock of geese that are in their migrating season flew above the brook area of the woods, on their path for warmer areas. There were also tracks of an animal in the snow at one point; they belonged to either a deer or a rabbit, it was hard to determine.

When thinking about my personal sense of place, my mind automatically goes to natural areas-this certainly includes the brook in Centennial and the woods as a whole. This small area of the woods is a welcoming place, but the forest as a larger entity also is encapsulated in my sense of place. The solace from campus and urban life in Burlington is needed, and I love to be in the environment and the fresh air. Forests are beautiful places full of life and wonder; from different tree and plant species to a variety of wildlife, they are almost magical. Throughout its history, Centennial has experienced a lot, from deforestation to purchases by companies, to UVM ownership and protection. Now, it is a UVM sanctioned natural protected area, but there are still acres open for development, so certain parts of the woods may be altered for those sakes; my place here can be affected by these changes negatively, so my sense of belonging may not be the same in the future. I hope this is not the case, however.

At my site, not a lot has changed since my last visit, but there are still many noticeable features of my spot at the brook in Centennial Woods. There are different types of vegetation by and around my area, and there are various land and water creatures that can be spotted, as well. There are various chipmunks, with the Latin name marmotini and in the phylum Chordata, because it is a mammal. I have also heard a Blue Jay call, and the bird is in the corvidae family. There are many green ash trees with a scientific name of Fraxinus pennsylvanica; many of these leaves have fallen off the trees at this point in the season, and they are everywhere in the brook, dirt, and grass around the trees. There are also pine trees that surround the brook, although they are slightly separate from the main location. I have seen minnows swimming in the small river under the family Cyprinidae, and although their number has decreased as it has gotten cooler, I still can see them occasionally. I have also spotted multiple Gerridae water buds that dart through the water. There is also moss and some small mushrooms that are growing on a fallen log at the edge of the brook. These animals and species are all common in forests and in small bodies of water, so it is no surprise that they are located by the Centennial brook.

The trees have defiantly gotten thinner since my last visit, but since it’s been warmer this month than what is typical, the changes haven’t been that drastic; the green ash trees have some leaves still clinging to the branches, and the grass is still intact. Aside from some lessening in the total volume of greenness, there hasn’t been much vegetation change. The area I chose is flat, so the topography hasn’t changed, but the soil depends on the rain and the wetness of the area. When I went, the water level was pretty low, so the soil was muddy, and the area was bare. When constructing my map, I realized how much I like my area; it is pretty, peaceful, and full of life. There are certain aspects of the area I don’t think about specifically when I imagine the area, like buckthorn bushes and pine trees, because they are on the outskirts, but they are still an important part of the surrounding ecosystem.