Back at the Quarry!

After about two months, I visited the Redstone Quarry again and was surprised at how much color had returned to the area. Last time I was there the ground was covered in snow and there was nothing but bare trees.

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The signs of budding and flowering were vibrant and brightened up the landscape significantly. Due to the lack of snow or mud, I was not able to see any animal tracks, however I was able to sit quietly on the rocks and listen to the different bird songs and watch the small bugs fly around overhead. I am interested in learning how to identify birds based off their song so I can better understand the interactions happening around me.

This species interaction chart demonstrates how all of the species I studied interacted with each other. The Norway Maple and Juniper tree are competing for sunlight and water, and they are on the same trophic level. There is a commensalism relationship between these two trees and the two bird species (that I was unable to identify) because these birds create their nests in the trees and live off of the tree’s protection. The two bird species are competing for these trees as their habitat as well as the prey that they will eat. I studied both worms in the dirt and ants crawling across the rocks, both of which most birds prey on.

I took a twig off of the blooming Norway Maple and brought it back to my dorm room to study for 10 days and see if it’s buds continue to blossom, and will report the progress here.

See you soon, Redstone Quarry!