Rock Point Phenology

Final Phenology Post

I got to visit Rock Point this week the day before I went home for the summer. As the spring season comes to an end it was easy to see some changes in the phenology of the Thrust Fault. The leaves of the trees had started to turn green again, there were birds chirping, groups of people were walking around observing the nature and taking advantage of the good weather, and there was lots of pollen sitting on the surface of the water. During my visit I was able to spot a cardinal and Blue Jay chasing after one another, and saw many trees in bloom or growing new leaves, such as Sugar Maples. There was also some Buckthorn growing in, an invasive species.

Over the course of the year I have learned a lot about how nature and culture are intertwined at Rock Point. For starters, Rock Point is used as a school for students, children being able to spend the day outside and explore and learn about nature. It is also a great resource for the community of Burlington, with public trails and gardens for people to explore. Rock Point is not only a place where people can go to witness the beautiful scenery of Vermont, but also holds many educational opportunities for Vermonters, tourists, students, or any person wanting to learn about ecology and the environment. The Thrust Fault is a great place for people to see the geology of Vermont first hand and understand how it was formed, as well as the unique ecosystem that it holds.

As I continued to explore Rock Point and become familiar with the land, I became more and more attached to the Thrust Fault and felt more connected to the natural environment. The first time I visited the Thrust Fault I was in absolute awe of the land and was completely drawn towards it, knowing I had to choose it as my phenology spot. I not only appreciate the ecological aspects I have learned about at Rock Point, but also feel spiritually connected to the land, knowing that I am a part of nature and have developed such a strong relationship to this location. Every time I visit Rock Point I feel such a sense of gratitude towards the land and all it does for us, and would definitely consider myself to be a part of the Thrust Fault. I feel so thankful that this phenology blog brought me closer to Rock Point and gave me my new favorite spot to visit in the Burlington area.

I was able to participate in this years BioBlitz by primarily exploring the Intervale center. On Saturday, May 1st I participated in the Spectacular Nature Day at the Intervale. This was such a fun, memorable experience for me, and it made me feel so lucky to be apart of the Rubenstein School, as well as the Burlington/Winooski community. During this event I was able to plant ostrich ferns, observe birds, identify wildflowers and trees, as well as spending my day outside enjoying the sun. I also really enjoyed using iNaturalist, an app I had never really used before, but was very easy to learn and very fun to experiment with. I will definitely be using iNaturalist in the future to identify species and take along with me on hikes and field studies.

One of my favorite species to identify this weekend was the Red Deadnettle. Alicia Daniel from Burlington Wildways joined us for a portion of the Spectacular Day, and was teaching us about identifying wildflowers. We worked through her key to try to identify this flower, but had a hard time figuring out what it was. As soon as We logged it into iNaturalist we got a clear answer, and it was incredibly cool to see how easy and fun it is to use iNaturalist. We also had a tricky time trying to identify a garlic mustard that was flowering (not pictured), and we all laughed when we logged it into iNaturalist and realized it was a species that we had been talking about and observing all day long.

When looking at reports from other cities across the globe, it was easy to see the differences in species types in each location. For example, when looking at Ecuador there were lots of species I had never even heard of before, such as the Stilt-legged Flies and the Hanging Lobster Claw Heliconia. When looking a little bit closer to home in New Hampshire, I was able to see more recognizable species such as the Broadleaf Cattail and the Common Serviceberry. I found it super interesting to look at the different locations participating in the City Nature Challenge, proving to me that there are so many different species in so many locations around the World.

Spring at Rock Point!

Visiting the thrust fault this week was a rewarding experience. Walking along the rocks in the sun felt like a nice break from the stressful atmosphere on campus, and as I observed the changing phenology of the landscape I felt like I had formed a connection to Rock Point, the place I have been visiting for almost 7 months now. The tide seemed to be very high today, and there was water dripping from the Iberville Shale and the layer of moss that lay on top of it. As the weather continues to warm I was able to see more signs of animals. I spotted a few different species of birds, including the American Crow, a Cardinal, an American Robin, and some ducks in the water. Along with bird sightings, I was able to spot a few nests in trees surrounding the thrust fault. Lastly, I saw a few squirrels and chipmunks in the trees and along the forest floor.

As I walked along rock point and the Thrust Fault, many buds were present in the trees and herbaceous plants. Pictured above are some buds that I spotted, and (hopefully) identified correctly. The first photo I believe to be a Yellow Birch twig, the second I believe to be a Green Ash, and the third I photo I believe to be Buckthorn.

As the weather gets warmer and the sun seems to shine more, the phenology of Vermont starts shifting with the upcoming spring months. Walking around the city of Burlington, you can sense that everyone is feeling the shift in the seasons. There are people skating, walking, running, and biking, enjoying their time outside. As I was walking down the bike path I could hear live music playing, and people gathering to watch the show. The ice on Lake Champlain reaches a certain point and then is met by moving water. Most of the snow on the ground has melted, and the trees are still without leaves. Although the temperatures are still in the 20s-30s, the weather is gradually getting warmer and spring is coming.

While walking I saw an American Crow in a tree and heard its iconic caw. I couldn’t find many animal tracks besides dogs, as the area I was walking in is a heavily trafficked area. As for trees, I was able to identify what I believe to be a Basswood and a Red Maple.

Winter at Rock Point!

Heading to Rock Point this week was an insanely special experience and something I am so happy I was able to do after returning to campus. Although brutally cold, it was amazing to walk to the thrust fault in the snow, and a little nerve racking walking over the ice. Since the last time I have visited Rock Point, it has seen a lot of different phenological changes. The most obvious ones are the snow on the ground and the ice covering most surfaces. Other changes was the water flow; waves crashing harder and faster than normal. It was also very windy, and there are noticeably less signs of wildlife (most birds and squirrels aren’t seen). Maple trees are also beginning to be tapped, an exciting sign of winter!

I was able to find a few animal tracks, most of them I concluded to be dogs. These however, belong to an animal that walks and trots. It is hard to see the prints clearly but I can assume that it could be either a deer, coyote, or fox.

The human history of Rock Point most likely began with Native American activities, specifically the Abenaki tribe. In the mid 1800s, the land was cleared by loggers, leaving a view of Lake Champlain and the mountain range behind it. Impressed by the stunning landscape, Bishop John Henry Hopkins purchased the 100 acres and built a home, destroying the ecosystem that had been existing there. As Hopkins family grew they began to manage the estate and all of its natural resources, modeling it into the landscape that we see today. After living on the property for over 50 years, the Hopkins family transformed Rock Point to an Episcopal educational center. By 1860 an Episcopal Boy’s School was opened on the property, eventually transforming into Military School during the Civil War. After financially hard times, the school was forced to close in 1899, and by 1929 the building was used as a center for church activities. On Easter Eve of 1979, the building was tragically burned down in a fire. In 1980 the Bishop Booth Conference Center was built on the property, leaving us with what we see today at the Rock Point Center.

Citations

Berrizbeitia, I. (n.d.). Focal Places in Burlington. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://www.uvm.edu/place/burlingtongeographic/focalplaces/rp-landuse.php

Phenology from home- Sweets Knoll State Park

After moving back to my home base in Dighton, Massachusetts, I decided to choose a phenology spot that meant a lot to me. Sweets Knoll State park is located in my town of Dighton, and is a place that I have been going to since I was a child. As I became more interested in the environment and ecology during high school, it was a spot where I could go to study the natural ecosystems around me and observe different species of plants and animals coexisting in the area. Dighton is mostly comprised of farm land and suburban neighborhoods, so Sweets Knoll has always been an excellent place to get away from the average day to day life and reflect in nature.

Sweets Knoll is a state park resting alongside the Taunton River. It is comprised of walking trails through the woods, waterfront viewing areas, and even an abandoned railroad bridge. The park is habitat for different species of wildlife, such as squirrels, raccoons, foxes, ospreys, ducks, a family of bald eagles, and more. When comparing Rock Point to Sweets Knoll, we may see similarities and differences in both the ecology and phenology of the areas. For example, Sweets Knoll tree species are mostly comprised of White Pines, as well as multiple species of Oaks, American Beeches, and a few species of Birch trees. At Rock Point we are also seeing White Pines, American Beeches, and Red oak, but Northern White Cedar, Sugar Maple, and Green Ash are also present there. At Rock Point, the Champlain Thrust fault sits on Lake Champlain, a body of freshwater. On the other hand, Sweets Knoll sits alongside a river, which is a body of salt water. Although I wasn’t able to measure the pH of the soil at Sweets Knoll, I would assume that the salt water alongside the park and the amount of White Pines present may affect the acidity of the soil. At Rock Point however, we are seeing a relatively neutral pH. Both sites are greeting winter in the same manner; deciduous trees losing their leaves, bird species migrating for the season, and soil starting to freeze. While Rock Point is a fantastic place to observe the geology of Vermont, Sweets Knoll is a prime place to study saltwater and woodland ecosystems. I am expecting to see more changes in both ecosystems as the winter months continue, and hope that while I am home in Massachusetts I can use Sweets Knoll as a place to study phenology.

A 70 degree Day!

It was a beautiful day to head out to Rock Point, With a temperature of 70 degrees! I was able to put my feet in the water for a short period of time and sit in the sun, reflecting on the sounds I heard around me and the beautiful view of the Champlain Thrust Fault. At this point most, if not all, of the deciduous trees at Rock Point have lost their leaves. I was very satisfied with my visit to rock point this week and left with a few pieces of sea glass!

The cold is coming!

Appearance of Vegetation

Signs of Wildlife

There were not many signs of wildlife, besides the few squirrels and chipmunks I saw running on the forest floor, as well as the squawking of sea birds above my head. I did stumble upon a few cedar trees with strange holes in them and thought they may be from woodpeckers, but I am still unsure of the true cause. (pictured below). I am hoping as the months progress I may get a sign of more wildlife, or see changes in the habits of the ones I have already observed.

The Beginning of Fall!

Rock Point is a natural area in Burlington Vermont, open to the public. The park holds public gardens, plenty of hiking trails, a view of Lake Champlain at the Thrust Fault, and multiple educational opportunities surrounding nature and ecology. I got to Rock Point by taking the bus from UVM to the Burlington High school bus stop, walking a very short three minutes to get to the Rock Point entrance. The whole excursion took about 30 minutes, a manageable and easy trip for those who are willing to make it (It is definitely worth it!!). I decided to choose Rock Point for my phenology assignment after visiting it on a recent NR1 lab. As I walked through the forests of Rock Point for the first time, eventually trekking over to the Champlain Thrust Fault by the water, I instantly fell in love with the location. I believe that Rock Point has so much to offer ecologically, and it is a truly fascinating place to learn and study the seasons. Through my next few months at Rock Point I will be focusing mainly on the Champlain Thrust fault and the Limestone Bluff Cedar-Pine Forest that rests above it.

Map of Rock Point Center

Vegetation and Woody Plants

Because the Thrust Fault is considered a Limestone Bluff Cedar-Pine Forest, it is easy to guess that the forest is comprised of mostly Northern White Cedars and White Pines. However, while walking through the woods you may also spot some Red Oak, Green Ash, and Sugar Maple, along with other less common species such as Shagbark Hickory. The shrubbery is mainly comprised of Buckthorn, an invasive species that is easily spread throughout the forest. The leaves of the deciduous trees have began to turn yellow, while the coniferous trees are still holding their green color. You will also notice while walking through the woods, or even taking a look at the Thrust Fault, that many of the cedars are able to grow their roots on and around rocks, a helpful adaptation in the ecosystem.

Photos from 10/11/20