Looking at my Phenology spot through an event map shows a more personal element between me and this location and shows readers what experiences they might have. Over the course of looking at my phenology spot from September till now I have an array of experiences I have put into this map and my photo gallery. Overall my experiences with my location belong within a marsh landscape and center around organismal interactions within the phragmites stands.
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(10/4) Phragmites are the focal species of this location and are found along the banks of the brook. They are an introduced reed species to Vermont, yet act as a source of shelter and sustain to many native species. As the seasons are changing these reeds are still standing upright and holding onto their pigments staying green as ever.
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(10/17) Basking in the sun the garter snake gains external heat to regulate its body temperature. Garter snakes are not the only ectotherm found at my location and eastern red-back salamanders and wood frogs (heard) can be found here. As it is getting colder they have been less and less prevalent preparing to hibernate. One the rare occasion you can hear a wood or green frog call.
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(10/24) Hikers are important factor for my phenology spot. They help clear trails from encroaching phragmites. This group was a family “outing” and asked me to photograph them for a group photo. Hopefully others can leave the city of Burlington and enjoy this spot as much as I do!
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(9/24) Catbirds makes refuge in buckthorn thickets and eats the berries along with other bird species such as thrushes. Catbirds are one of the species that use phragmites as a source of shelter, yet as it is getting colder I have not seen them since mid October. They were once a dominant species here in the warmer months of the year and are getting slowly replaced by white-throated sparrows.
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(9/9) Soaring above the power lines this red-tail hawk uses thermals to help travel across the landscape. The most common hawk species found at my phenology spot are accipiter species such as Cooper and Sharp-Shined Hawks. However as it is getting colder they are less seen during daylight hours, but can be seen more at dusk.
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(10/18) Outside my phenology spot a hundred or so yards into the surrounding the pine stands there was a foraging grey Squriel in a sugar maple. Holding onto what appears to be a chestnut. At my phenology spot and all of Burlington you can see squirrels and generally all mammals foraging to prep for winter.
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(10/31) As more and more birds fly south the Hermit Thrush is still around. This individual was found low to the ground looking through debris on the forrest floor as typical of most thrushes.
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(9/4) Ruby-throated hummingbirds and other nectaravors drink from Jewelweed. Jewelweed was once a dominant herbaceous found along the trails, yet as it is getting colder the last time I saw them was early October. The only herbaceous plants I see know is sensitive fern.
For the latest wildlife action at my phenology spot was an actively foraging pileated woodpecker. When hiking to my phenology spot along Centennial Brook I heard it drumming into a snag. With my phenology spot and the nearby area being wetlands it has drowned standing trees, which are now snags. These snags provided the pileated woodpecker a refuge for its favor meal carpenter ants. Pileated woodpeckers are not the only species that benefit from snags and I’m sure to see other wildlife use them throughout the year.
Pileated woodpecker drumming into snag on Centennial Brook
Other woodpecker species such as hairy, downey, and flickers drum into trees. These holes in this fallen tree were most likely done by hairy woodpeckers.
In terms of recent developments it is fall and the leaves are officially gone. Sumac and other deciduous trees are in the process of losing there leaves and fruiting bodies such as the seed pods in Sumacs. The only trees I do see that still hold onto their leaves is a lone white oak sapling, yet its leaves are losing their pigment fast. For the rest of the trees that are losing their leaves and receding their fruiting bodies bird species such as warblers and vireos are starting to migrate south for new food resources. Until then these trees provide food and shelter to many species such as grey and red squirrels and remaining bird species.
As it is getting colder Sumacs and other deciduous trees are starting to lose their leaves.