Cam's Phenology

My backyard woods area in Virginia was the location I chose as a phenology spot over break. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the woods behind my house, which is a comfortable spot for me.

What makes my spot back home unique is the diversity of wildlife, as well as the fascinating natural and man-made features it has. The tree composition of my forest comprises primarily large mature white oaks. However, to my surprise, there are also paper birch and sugar maples. Bamboo is also abundant in my spot; I do not know how it got there, nor do my parents, but there is a large bamboo forest present. This makes my site unique because it’s the only place in my neighborhood with bamboo. It also has a stream running right beneath it. Although the bamboo looks very cool, I looked into the impact of bamboo on the environment, and it turns out bamboo reduces biodiversity and makes the soil more acidic. I plan on bringing this up with my parents to have a healthier forest! Compared to the phenology of my Vermont location, there are many similarities, such as white oak, red and sugar maple, and grey squirrels. The main difference I found was that my Virginia location contains no evergreen trees, while my Vermont location has many.

When I came to see my phenology spot I was very surprised to see how the different the spot was before I left. When I first saw the foliage I was shocked to see how open the canopy was in my phenology spot. I was under the impression that a majority of my spot contained evergreen trees such as Eastern White Pines, Northern White Hemlock and Norway Spruce, but I was mistaken since there were many more deciduous dead leaves on my spot than on evergreen’s floor. On my exploration, I happened to find some animal tracks as well. I attempted to ID them as coyotes; however, I was never 100% sure. Although I found animal evidence, I can confidently say that the presence of the animals I saw in the spring, mainly squirrels, has decreased.

Reflecting on my phenology spot this semester, the aspect I enjoyed the most was the rustling of the leaves and the feeling of the wind hitting my face. I found myself getting lost in the moment, simply enjoying the sensation of the wind on my face and the sound of the leaves rustling around me. It was a welcome reprieve from the stress of everyday life. It was a truly wonderful experience and one that I will always cherish.