Centennial Phenology

It’ll definitely be strange to finish out this blog away from my site in Centennial Woods but as with everything we will persist, and so will the blog. I’m very lucky to live in a wooded area that’s also close to the beach; I’ve been able to escape the confines of my house and venture around nature.

For my new site, I decided to focus on my backyard. The first thing I notice upon going out there is the moss! I’d guess that the moss covers around 65% of the ground but once it gets warmer it tends to become less noticeable with the planting of new grass seeds. I was walking around barefoot and as I stepped I noticed the moss was wet, reminding me of the rainfall we had the other day.

There are several different kinds of plants out there, including this Hollybush that retains a similar look throughout the duration of the year. Upon further inspection of this one I noticed what looks like a hole left over from a bug eating away at a leaf.

A sign that it’s spring! This beautiful plant is a Camellia and has been blooming the last couple of weeks. Some buds are still in bloom or are getting ready to start. Below the Camellia is a Rhododendron and its buds are slowly beginning to develop and I’m guessing that they many bloom within the next month.

Most of the trees in my backyard are oaks and thus there’s little tree cover this time of year and an abundance of leaf litter throughout the year. There’s often squirrels and birds that create nests in these trees but I don’t see any at the present moment.

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Another prominent feature of my backyard are the sounds of frogs croaking in the distance. After some research, I believe that these are Spring Peepers. This would make sense since Spring Peepers live in wooded areas near ponds (which we have near our house) and are known for their chorus that begins around mid-March to signify that winter has ended and they’re ready to mate (National Geographic 2018).

My Notes:

• recently rained
• flowering bush- some still buds
• floor cover is predominantly moss with some patches of grass and bare areas
• **research what kind of shrubs are out there
• leaf with a hole in it from a bug
• hear frogs croaking
• dead leaves still around

Work Cited

National Geographic. (2018, September 21). Spring Peeper. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/s/spring-peeper/

As we walked down to our site we heard a large group of raven overhead flying towards campus. An occasional one would swoop down into the barren trees for a moment, but wouldn’t linger too long. We searched the site but found minimum traces of wildlife activity aside from this. There was, however, remnants of some sort of haired animal. Although we weren’t certain the exact type of species we were looking at we thought that it could possibly be a squirrel.

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Squirrels aren’t nearly as active in the winter as in warmer months and tend to stay in nests or dens when the temperature falls under 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but this week we had several days where the temperature was well above 30 (Dunn, 2017). This makes the conjecture of the animal being a squirrel more reasonable. As mentioned, squirrels live in nests or dens depending on if they’re ground or tree squirrels. Squirrels typically spend the day out and about looking for food and return to their nests at the end of the day to sleep through the night. In winter, however, they don’t spend nearly as much time out of their homes since they create food reserves and thus rarely have to leave for food (Miller, 2017). Most people assume that squirrels rely solely on acorns as food; however, they eat an array of nuts in addition to seeds, fruits, fungi, grains, vegetables, roots, bulbs, and bark (Love the Garden, 2020). Squirrels have both ground and air predators: hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, wildcats, weasels, snakes, fishers, and pine martins to name a few (Dunn, 2017).

In terms of species interaction, we were unable to figure out what animal had attacked the squirrel. We searched the surrounding area for animal tracks but since the area was heavily trafficked by humans we weren’t able to find anything. Given the area though we guessed that it was a land animal like a fox. I thought maybe this way of skinning the animal was characteristic of a certain predator but I couldn’t find any evidence to that. We talked about reasons as to why they might’ve been out of their nest in the first place and thought that maybe it was taking advantage of the warmer weather this week to add to their food reserve- since there are still some berries on a couple bushes.

References

Dunn, Elton. “What Do Squirrels Do in the Cold?” Animals.mom.com, 11 Aug. 2017, animals.mom.me/squirrels-cold-4390.html.

Miller, Pamela. “Squirrel Sleeping Habits.” Animals.mom.com, 11 Aug. 2017, animals.mom.me/squirrel-sleeping-habits-5119.html.

Love The Garden. “What Do Squirrels Eat?” Love The Garden, 2020, www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/what-do-squirrels-eat.

Wildlife Activity

Although we didn’t see any animal activity first-hand we did find tracks that indicated that there were still active animals in the area. With the help of our tracking guide, we were able to make predictions as to what kind of species left the prints. More tracking information follows:

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Winter Twig Identification

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For twig identification, we thought that they were either Norway Maple or Red Maple twigs. We came to this conclusion based on the large terminal bud on the twig; Norway Maples have larger terminal buds than Red Maples but both are similarly shaped. The buds were also red which aligns with Normary and Red Maple descriptions.

Sketched Twig Labeled

Phenological Changes

Some of the most evident changes in the site were observed within the stream. In particular, the width of the stream seemed to be much thinner than our last visit and as a result, some areas of the stream appeared deeper. Along the edges of the water there was some ice but it wasn’t thick enough to support our standing on it and there was still some running water beneath it. Where there were large rocks surfaced throughout the stream there was also ice surrounding them. In terms of vegetation, the area is quite barren with just a couple hemlocks scattered around the banks. In addition, the main fallen tree still had moss on it despite being snow-covered. The running water and the presence of rocks and twigs within the stream created really interesting and intricate icicles.

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Field Notes

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Citations

All photos were taken by me and Sofia Vallecillo

Tracking Information: “Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide”

For Thanksgiving break, I’m back in Ocean City, New Jersey. Ocean City is a barrier island in South Jersey about 40 minutes south of Atlantic City.

Although I live right off the island, I spend the majority of my time here, and might as well live here; it’s where I went to school and where I worked in the summer. It’s hard for me to even think of a day when I haven’t been on the island. In the summers it’s where my friends, family, and I spend virtually all our time. Whether it be surfing, kayaking, watching the stars on the beach, wandering the boardwalk, or hanging out in the local cafe, we’re always here.

Being back it feels a lot smaller than it did. When I left in August it was still very touristy and busy since it was summer, now that it’s emptied out it’s kinda like a ghost town. I knew that things would continue to change while I was gone but it’s strange coming back to so many changes after being gone for three months. Being away for so long and missing some of the major changes, and the fact that I’ve formed such a strong sense of place in Burlington, makes me feel slightly disconnected here.

On the other hand, being away I also feel as though I’ve had a much-needed break. Stepping away and looking back on Ocean City I’ve been able to appreciate things that I had taken for granted and also see some of the downsides to living here too. For example, last night I went down the beach and watched the sunset; I’d forgotten the feeling of seeing the sun light up the ocean, walking into the water, and running back when a wave swells. I’ve definitely formed a deeper connection with the ocean- ironically by being away from it. People here are noticeably different than those in Burlington too. The city has a history of being pretty religious and although it isn’t as religious now, there are some things that have carried on through to today. The majority of the population here are families and older people which probably has to do with the fact that this is a dry city- meaning we don’t have any bars or liquor stores on the island. In addition, the Blue Laws, which were put into effect when the city was founded, forbid leisure activities like swimming and shopping on Sundays- this is the same law that made the city dry. Although these have been amended throughout the years, many shops still have shorter hours on Sundays. As a result of all this, the people here are all pretty similar and not as interesting as those in Burlington; I definitely feel more of a connection with those in Burlington even though I haven’t lived there for nearly as long. 

Although I love it here and have a strong sense of place, I wouldn’t say that I necessarily fit in here. Having the chance to live somewhere else where I feel much more at home has made me realize this and I’m really grateful for that. Overall, a sense of place is really important to me- like with anyone. As cheesy as it sounds, I compare my happiness in a place to that of a plant. A seed can’t grow in bad conditions just like I can’t thrive in a place I don’t feel connected to. I’d say that my sense of place in Burlington is beginning to be greater than my sense of place here at home. Personally, I find that I’m more creative, confident, and motivated there than here. 

When I first visited this site it was for a different class; I was asked to find an area in Centennial to meditate in and this is where I ended up. From this first experience, I felt a connection to this site, that’s what led me to choose this place for this blog. Throughout my visits here I can see how my sense of place has evolved with the site. I’ve become more in touch with the smaller details in the landscape- whereas before I simply saw the prominent features- I also make it a point to try to notice something I hadn’t before. Seeing the way that animals interact with this place has also caused me to care about this site further. When I walk through the water I take care not to step on snails and make sure to pick up any litter to protect the organisms here. I think- like with most things- the more time I spend here the more I’ll care about and feel a connection with it.

I’ve found that I’m happiest and most relaxed when I’m in or near nature. I love Burlington but other than the waterfront there isn’t much in the way of nature downtown. Knowing that I have this site within walking distance of me is really great and further strengthens my sense of place with it since it’s so unique. It’s also the first natural site that I interacted with since coming to Vermont- which makes it special.

In terms of time, I think that sense of place relies on the culture of society at that certain period. For example, during the mid 19th century when areas in Vermont were being heavily cut down the sense of place in what was Centennial Woods was probably generally less than what it is now. I’m basing this assumption off the fact that with fewer trees and vegetation the area was probably much less interesting and thus harder to sympathize with and connect with. Personally, I think that over time the more that I spend time here and learn about the site in classes and through friends, the more my sense of place will develop. In response to what my site “is becoming” I’d say that I’m pretty certain it will continue to simply be a part of UVM that students and locals alike go to to get their fix of nature. It could possibly become more heavily researched as issues like climate change and water quality become increasingly worse.

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Just from the first couple trips to the site, I can already see changes occurring. Changes in the vegetation were very apparent in the changing of the leaves. When I initially visited, the majority of the leaves were still green but it’s definitely gotten colder since then are the leaves are now mostly bright hues of red orange and yellows. Tree cover has also reduced now that the leaves are falling. In terms of the six organisms I selected, they all highlight the changing of the season. For example, the chipmunks were running around collecting nuts for the impending winter. In addition, the honeysuckles and maples show a change in the fruiting of the honeysuckle berries and the tar spots on the maple leaves which are characteristic of this time of year. More species information can be found below. The soil was especially wet due to the rain from the night before my visit. When we first mapped out the site it was a bit difficult to remember all of the features from just our memory. After getting back to the site after the mapping activity we realized just how many things we had left out which was really interesting since we had thought we did a pretty good job surveying it before. Forgetting about certain things made us realize that we should find more time to get out and visit the site to keep in fresh in our minds and get the chance to observe as many changes as we can.

Map

Six Organisms:

Eastern Chipmunk:

Taxonomy– Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Rodentia, Family: Sciuridae, Genus: Tamias, Species: Eastern Chipmunk

Snail or Slug:

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Mullusca, Class: Gastropoda

Water Striders:

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia , Phylum: Arthropoda, Class: Insecta, Order: Hemiptera, Family: Gerridae (Water Striders)

Norway Maple

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Spermatophyta, Class: Dicotyledonae, Family: Sapindaceae, Genus: Acer, Species: A. plantanoides

Dwarf Honeysuckle

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Dipsacales, Family: Caprifoliaceae, Genus: Lonicera, Species: Lonicera xylosteum

Alder Buckthorn

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Rosales, Family: Rhamnaceae, Genus: Frangula, Species: Frangula alnus

Resources https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/chipmunks/ https://bugguide.net/node/view/163

3:56 pm

63 degrees + sunny

Plants:

• About 80% of the area is still green (with it being Fall that should be changing soon)
• Observed: Dwarf Honeysuckle with red berries, Ferns on and around the banks of the brook, Northern Red Oak, Maples with black tar spots on the leaves, Buckthorns, and a couple Eastern Hemlocks
• Good amount of pine needles on the ground
• There are three fallen trees that extend over the brook. They have moss growing on them, the wood is splitting, and there are small holes. After some research, I believe the holes were made from a Sapsucker bird. When a tree is under stress (which these fallen trees very well may have been) it concentrates its sugars to help fight disease and repair damages, Sapsuckers are able to pick up on this and take advantage of the available sugars.

Stream:

• Some areas have a higher velocity than others due to factors like: the shape of the channel, the gradient of the slope, the volume of water, and the amount of friction caused by rough edges within the riverbed. Overall, the stream is fairly active.
• Varying depths ranging from about an inch to a little over two feet.
• A couple of logs in the stream which has caused some sedimentation buildup.
• The banks are slightly eroded as seen in the exposed roots of trees and plants.
• Lots of riffles
• Many rocks embedded in the bottom of the stream, slimy and slippery to touch which indicate a build-up of algae.

Animals:

• Within the stream, we saw countless water striders- which can tolerate moderately polluted systems.
• A couple squirrels and chipmunks were spotted collecting food to help get them through the winter
• Some snail trails were seen on the algae-covered rocks which led me to believe they were present in the area

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For my NR01 class I was tasked to choose a ecological location around Burlington and visit that site over the next couple months, journal pieces and patterns that I observe, and ultimatley track the phenology of the area; I decided to choose a brook in Centennial Woods. My site has land vegetation, a stream, and a decomposing tree that extends across the width of the bank.