March is a time of gradual transformation here in Vermont. The signs of winter slowly releasing its grasp are all around if you look for them. This week, I searched for some indicators of the coming warm months in the city of Burlington. The most visible change was the melting snow on the ground. Above freezing temperatures from the past week have led to most of the snow melting, exposing the barren ground beneath. In colder areas, snowmelt is a huge factor in the water cycle. When temperatures rise above freezing point, a great deal of water that had previously been suck in solid form is freed and enters drainage systems. This can result in flooding, erosion, and an increase in stormwater runoff (which is already an issue in an urban area like Burlington). The Winooski River was already at an elevated water level due to the increase of input from snowmelt.
The other sign of spring I noticed during my walk around the city was buds on the branches of some trees. Though very small, these buds are a sign of the transformation that is soon to come.
After my walk around Burlington, I also visited Salmon Hole to see how warmer weather is impacting the area. The most noticeable change was the tracks of birds, which weren’t present just two weeks ago when I last visited.
These tracks were hard to confidently identify, however, the increase in crow activity I have noticed over the past weeks makes me think these may be the prints of the Common Crow. In early spring, crows begin their courting rituals to find mates so this would account for the numerous tracks I saw on the banks of the Winooski.
I also used my recently gained tracking knowledge to identify the tracks of an Eastern Cottontail.
Sources:
“Common Crow.” Common Crow | Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Agency of Natural Resources, vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/birds/common-crow#:~:text=Crows%20are%20considered%20year%2Dround,in%20many%20of%20these%20birds.
“Field Guide to March 2021: Vermont Center for Ecostudies.” Vermont Center for Ecostudies | Uniting People & Science for Conservation, 3 Mar. 2021, vtecostudies.org/blog/field-guide-to-march-2021/.
Snowmelt Runoff and the Water Cycle, USGS, www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/snowmelt-runoff-and-water-cycle?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects.