On this exceptionally less icy excursion to the Winooski spring was in full swing. Not only was a light ting of green evident on the landscape, but many species were active in the park, as well. The vegetation was in different stages of growth with some just small buds and others with full leaves out. Another aspect of the Winooski I noticed was the very low water level because this spring has been especially dry.
There was a lot of bird activity on the river, as well. Herring gulls, a common type of gull on the shores of Lake Champlain, were very busy on the rocks by the rapids. They were fishing, mating, and fighting. This species arrives in late March or early April and begins to build a nest for egg-laying in late April. While they were the most numerous species on the river, I observed several other bird species including Canada Geese and a black water foul that I have yet to identify. Though the gull calls were the loudest, closer to the forest I heard a few other bird calls. First, I saw a Downy Woodpecker flying through the trees. With the many dead and decaying trees, this patch of forest is ideal for nesting and feeding. I also saw a few American Robins closer to the road in open spaces, which they generally prefer.
All of these species I observed play important roles in their ecosystem called niches. A great way to represent the relationships between various species is a species interaction diagram. Below are diagrams that demonstrate the relationship between various species at Salmon Hole.
http://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/herring-gull.pdf