The final visit to my phenology spot was undeniably bittersweet. The weather was beautiful, the birds were chirping, insects were out, and Centennial Woods was teeming with life. My sight hasn’t changed drastically over time, and has simply changed with the seasons. As there is running water going through my phenology spot, the curves of …
Author Archives: ggrzan
City Nature Challenge (BioBlitz)
During the City Nature Challenge, the only place that I really explored was on campus. The BioBlitz unfortunately fell on a very busy time for me, so I wasn’t able to participate as much as I would have liked. That being said, I definitely made sure to snap pictures of some species that were closer …
The Vernal Equinox (3/29/2024)
With the arrival of spring, my phenology spot was incredibly active. During my walk to my phenology spot, birds could be heard all throughout Centennial Woods, squirrels were chasing each other through the understory, minnows were present in the streams, and insect activity is beginning to return. There was some incredibly exciting amphibian activity a …
Wildlife in Burlington
For the “Wildlife in Burlington” phenology blog post, I decided to mostly stay on campus and do some mammal tracking. The main area which I explored was the open area with some trees by the Davis Center Tunnel exit. I figured this area would have at least some activity, due to the presence of scattered …
Returning Visit (1/28/2024)
The return to my phenology spot was admittedly depressing; not because of the “sad” winter weather or lack of vegetation, but because of the lack of genuine winter weather. The conditions during my visit were a sad excuse for winter weather; the area should’ve been covered in fresher snowpack rather than slush, the water of …
Final Post of the Semester
Upon arrival at my phenology spot, it was very apparent that winter was approaching. The state of my spot at this point wasn’t incredibly different from my last visit, but it was obvious that we’re moving closer and closer to the winter season. The phragmites which dominates my spot still stands, and the leaves of …
Phenology at Home (Northport, Long Island, NY)
For the phenology-at-home portion of our Phenology Blogs, I picked one of my favorite local beaches which is a 15 minute drive from my house. Crab Meadow Beach is right next to a golf course, and contains an estuary + salt marsh (located on the right side of the Google Maps screenshot). The phenology spot …
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A Quick Visit (11/17/2023)
During the Urban Naturals Stewardship lab, we conveniently walked through my phenology spot. Upon arrival, I noticed the growing size of the oil deposit sitting along the streambank. Just down the trail from my phenology spot, we came across an invasive earthworm, which ironically led to the group dilemma of “should we kill it?”. In …
Vegetation Changes and Sensory Experience
The most prominent vegetation changes don’t lie directly in my phenology spot; they are most noticeable in the surrounding area, especially the trees in the distance. In pictures taken during my first visit on 10/25/2023, the trees in the distance visibly had yellow leaves which had not yet fallen. Upon returning to the spot, many …
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Birds-Eye Map of Phenology Spot
The specific spot which I have chosen for this project lies on a bridge above one of the streams running through Centennial Woods. This area is significantly disturbed- being largely overrun by invasive “Common Reed” (Phragmites australis) and in close proximity to other invasive species such as Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and Alder buckthorn (Frangula …