As we wrap up both the semester and the academic year, I made one last visit to my phenology site. Over time the major geography of the area has remained the same. The large fallen tree still lays across the path at the entrance, and the original ring of trees still circle the main spot …
Author Archives: hscopela
City Nature Challenge
As we wrap up the academic year and inch closer to finals, the global city nature challenge takes place. This includes public participation in identifying biodiversity in different areas. Part of this is also a friendly competition. Our class participated as a group, yet split into lab groups as we race for a spot professor …
UVM Phenology Walk
This phenology prompt was a little different than the rest. We were asked to walk through campus and take data on five specific tagged trees using “Natures Notebook”. I went out early morning on April 5th for this activity. It was a moderate temperature and partly cloudy. All five trees were in roughly the same …
Phenology project: Wildlife Sign in Burlington
For this assignment, I mostly stayed close to campus in order to fit the project into my schedule. I recorded wildlife sign on campus, in centennial woods, and at lab locations such as the Intervale center. I found iNaturalist to be a generally easy tool to use. Above: A track found in Centennial woods. This …
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New Semester !!
After a long winter break I finally returned to my phenology spot and looked at how the area has changed since last time. The biggest difference is the presence of snow cover. The snow is packed down on the trails but still has volume in more exposed areas such as the swampy area behind my …
Preparing for the Cold (Pheno #5)
It is now December, yet unfortunately due to global warming Burlington has minimal snow on the ground and the city has yet to shift fully into the Winter season. However, there are still phenological changes that can be observed. Most deciduous trees have fully shed their leaves– a few stubborn species still cling on such …
Porcupines!!!
This week we were asked to find a spot near us during thanksgiving break and compare it to our Burlington spot eco- and phenologically. For mine, I chose to go into part of the woods on my property and look at the area around what my mother and I have always called “Maude’s Tree.” This …
Late October (Phenology assignment #3)
Today I went to my spot and sat still for 20 minutes, no stimulations or distractions other than the natural world. This was a lovely experience, a break from the constant rush of classes and college life. At my home in central Vermont, I often spend long periods of time alone and quiet in the …
Phenology Intro!!
For the class NR1010– Natural History & Human Ecology– we were assigned this project. Each student chose a small spot in the greater Burlington area where we will spend the semester watching seasonal changes in the landscape. For mine, I chose a spot in centennial woods. To reach it, start at the main entrance to …