John Patton’s NR001 Phenology Assignment Blog – Centennial Woods

When deciding where to explore in the greater Burlington area, I wanted to go to locations where fewer people have visited, so that my observations would contribute to a greater ecological understanding of less explored places. When examining the map, I saw that the area around the South Burlington Recreation Path had few observations, so I decided to walk there. This route would not only bring in fresh observations to our iNaturalist project, but it would be along a path that I have had previous experience exploring while winter tracking a few months prior. After visiting the path, I went around the retention pond by the Redstone Lofts building for a few more observations, and then walked along the side of the Patrick Gym. While this route didn’t traverse any far-flung locales, I’m glad that I investigated more unique locations on UVM’s campus.

My experience with using iNaturalist was overwhelmingly positive. I’ve had a history of using plant identifications apps (and specifically iNaturalist) from my sophomore year of high school, so learning the ropes went quite quickly for me. In addition to my previous experience with iNaturalist, my newfound knowledge of focal species in NR001 and NR002 made it easier for me to corroborate what iNaturalist suggested about the species I was observing, making the entire process quicker. 

Over the day that I used iNaturalist, I made 20 observations comprising a total of 16 species. While some species that I observed were common, like Norway Maple, Northern White Cedar, and Common buckthorn, I also documented some more unique species like Trembling Aspen and even a Mallard Duck! I was certainly glad that the warmer weather of Spring has budded many of the plants I observed, as it was easier for iNaturalist’s algorithm to formulate suggestions of plants with leaves/buds than those without them. 

In examining the reports of other cities, I was quite surprised to see many cities with thousands of observations I have never heard of before, like La Paz and Chiayi-Yunlin. In examining the observations more closely, I discovered so many cool plants like the Caven Thorn. This goes to show the value of direct reporting and giving people direct power to influence, as I would’ve never discovered the ecological and physical beauty of these locations without the contributions of so many thousands. I really like how the global City Nature Challenge has deconstructed my Americanized perspective of what makes a landscape beautiful!

As the semester draws to a close, I made my last trip to the phenology site in Centennial Woods. Honestly, it was a bit emotional because I have worked with this place for many months now, and knowing that it was the last time I would use it for this blog signifies how far I’ve come in the first year of UVM. Luckily, tears weren’t shed because I was too busy navigating the giant patches of mud along the trails that formed from the inundating rains the past few days. When I reached my site, I did a final, rough sketch of the “fern forest” that I have come to love looking at.

My site has changed over time in numerous ways. Phenologically, the maples that characterize much of the understory in this spot have gone through the cycle of leaf drop, dormancy, and budding as temperatures dropped and then climbed again. Examining storm-caused changes, high winds throughout the winter months have led to the accumulation of eastern white pine branches in the understory, which I hadn’t noticed when I first visited my phenology site in the fall. The relatively few changes has meant most of the site looks similar to its condition in which I first saw it, reinforcing an aspect of stability that I’ve come to appreciate during a time that has seen numerous changes in my life.

Over time, I’ve become acquainted with the ecological features that define my site and give it character. The first landmark that signals I’ve entered my spot is a huge snag, filled with woodpecker holes, which serves as a visually distinct entity in a spot dominated by the dark bark of eastern white pines. However, the main landmark of my spot is the bed of ferns that carpets much of the hillside and serves as a focal point of my spot. In fact, I love this spot so much that I’ve returned to it during labs for other classes, just so I can enjoy its natural splendor. Smaller features also contribute to the special feeling of my phenology spot, especially the small log bridge that crosses an ephemeral stream. 

Nature and culture intertwines here most obviously through the walking trail that exists at the southside of my spot. Centennial Woods is in close proximity to the largest city in the state of Vermont, filled with people who have a strong connection to the nature of the area and who appreciate utilizing natural resources. As such, the path acts as a facilitator of human desire for natural interaction. Additionally, nature and culture collide here because the landscape promotes spiritual self reflection. As trees and shrubs distance oneself from the noise and movement of the greater Burlington area, one has the opportunity to engage in meditation and reflection, and find healing in what nature can bring.

Though I have been coming to the phenology spot for many months now, I do not consider myself part of this place yet. This is because I’ve used this spot expressly for scientific monitoring and investigation. As such, I’ve not formed that emotional bond that seems to be a prerequisite for my connection with a location. In addition, as a first year student, I am still getting to know Burlington, and need more time to truly assimilate this area into my psyche as a place I call home. I am hopeful that as I continue to come back to Centennial Woods over the next 3 years, I will give myself the opportunity to reflect and observe it through a spiritual lens, giving greater attention to its intrinsic significance in my life.

For our final excursion to see our selected tree, I waited as long as possible. Considering the recent spate of warm days, I was eager to see if the American Beech I have been observing for the past month has shown any signs of opening up for spring. As I passed the Jeffords garden, I could see a dogwood tree blossoming with bright yellow buds, making me hopeful!

Unlike last time, it was a much easier walk down Centennial Woods. By this point, all the snow has melted, leaving a clear trail free of icy conditions! The clearing of the snow, in my view, is an important part of the phenological calendar, as it signifies that spring is around the corner and that plants are ready to officially bloom for the spring and summer.

When I reached the American Beech, it…. looked much like it did before. Immediately, I was disappointed. I couldn’t believe that nothing had changed yet! As I drew closer, I couldn’t see any action on the buds indicating that the American Beech was ready to leaf-out. However, when examining the rest of the tree, I noticed something interesting. Many of the leaves that had hung on the tree through winter were gone! Lying on the forest floor were many of those leaves, sitting on top of the older layer of detritus. It was clear that these leaves were shed quite recently, as they hadn’t blown far from the tree or become ingrained with the rest of the forest.

If I’m being an optimist, I think that though the tree may not be ready to fully bloom, it is taking the necessary steps to do so by dropping old leaves to make room for new leaves to grow. If this theory is correct, it could mean that the beech is ready to bloom any day now. Looking ahead for the week of April 10th, there are 3 days where the highest temperature will be over 70 degrees. It would be realistic to expect that the American Beech might start to bloom in response to those temperatures. I’ll be sure to examine this specimen when I come back to make my phenology sketch later this month.

After logging my iNaturalist post (reluctantly with the caption “no evidence of flowering”), I made my way back to central campus, excited to hammock and enjoy the nice weather, dreams of spring dancing in my head.

Over a month since my last visit to my phenology site, I was eager to see whether the specimen of American Beech I had examined in early March had made any signs of coming alive for the springtime. My spring break trip in Virginia had shown me cherry blossoms out in full force (so much so it triggered my allergies!), and all I could wonder was “Has spring finally reached Burlington?” Only one way to find out!

Let me say first and foremost that the walk to the tree was fraught with danger. I faced many obstacles, including icy conditions, and blowdowns. The photo below will give you a sense of this treachery. Compared to when I visited my site last, there was actually more snow this time around. Spring may be coming, but the icy tendrils of winter still linger in the depths of Centennial Woods.

Finally, when I reached my tree…I was sorely disappointed to see that it looked exactly the same as it had when I visited in early March (except with a bit more snow around the base). Just like last visit, there was no evidence of the tree’s awakening from dormancy. A key observation that supported this theory was the continual display of marcescence.

The retainment of the dead leaves on this specimen indicate that the tree has not yet dropped these final leaves to let new leaves grow. Taken with the fact that the buds have shown no signs of greenery and remain the dull, brown color of winter, it tells us that the tree so far has shown little change and the spate of warm temperatures Burlington has experienced recently will need to hold before the tree is ready to bloom in the springtime. In the meantime, I made my iNaturalist post and scrambled back up the icy terrain to return to campus. Hopefully, my visit on April 10th will see the tree maybe exhibiting some signs of greenery. However, that will wait for another time.

On a brisk sunday afternoon, I made my way to my phenology site to see if I could identify an American Beech, and distinguish it from similar trees, like maples. I slipped and slid down the icy paths until I reached my snowy and slushy phenology site. From there, I spotted a young American Beech, no more than a few years old. How, you may ask? Well, it was obvious because the beech I was looking at displayed marcescence, or the tendency to retain leaves in the winter. As you can see from the photo below, there were many pale yellow leaves still attached to the tree.

This was actually the first hint that allowed me to distinguish between this American Beech, and other species of tree nearby, especially Sugar Maple. This marcescence not only is indicative of a certain kind of tree like Oak and Beech, effectively ruling out a maple, but the presence of leaves allowed me to compare the tree with a maple leaf. It was clear that the pinnate leaf, with alternating veins that led to pointed ends, was a completely different shape than that of a maple leaf, which is palmate in nature.

However, it wasn’t just the presence of a few dead leaves that led me to distinguish the specimen of American Beech I was looking at from other trees, as I also examined the buds on the ends of twigs.

Looking at the twig of an American Beech, there are a few identifiers that can help seperate it from a maple tree. For example, the buds and branches of the American Beech are in an alternate pattern, while the branching of a maple exists in an opposite pattern. Additionally, the buds themselves are quite different. The buds of the American Beech are long, narrow, and scaled, whereas the buds of a maple are smooth and small. Overall, between the distinction in leafand bud shape, I was confident that I had identified an American Beech. Then it was time for INaturalist! I used 2 photos, one of the buds and one of the leaf, to identify the American Beech on the INaturalist website, and wrote in the description that there was no evidence of flowering (it was clear that the tree was dormant for the winter). Then, I submitted it with my geolocation so that everyone could see where I went in Centennial Woods!

After successfully uploading my post, I walked back out through Centennial Woods, satisfied with my identification work and excited to return to the spot in just over a month’s time for our next assignment!

For wildlife tracking this week, I decided to visit the South Burlington Rec Path, which runs from the Patrick Gym all the way to a shopping center on the south side of town, as well as a loop trail that runs by the Bio Research complex on Spear Street. Hopefully, this route would provide a lot of tracks that have not been mapped by others yet.

As the trail was located along the road for a good stretch, the traffic noise presumably drove away a lot of the animals. The only wildlife I saw along the route was an American Crow or two, as well as a lot of domesticated dogs on leashes following their owner. This fact was evident by the numerous paw prints found in the mud along the way!

Though I at first let myself fantasize about the possibility of the print pictured above to be from a big cat, like a catamount, I knew it couldn’t be true. With the human presence constantly along the trail both in the forms of cars and bikers, and the abundance of dogs, the print almost certainly belongs to a dog. Though tracking isn’t my strong suit, it was helpful for me to examine context clues from my surroundings to hypothesize which sort of creatures would traipse along these landscapes, and ask “why” they would be doing so.

This was also the time where I first used INaturalist to see what ID suggestions would pop up for this print. I’ve used INaturalist before in high school and in NR095 – Urban Ecology, so I was used to the program providing accurate identifications for plants and animals. However, when I submitted this photo, it did indeed come up with the domesticated dog as a top suggestion. These gave me confidence that it could help me with my tracking moving forward.

Next, it was time to put the boots I was wearing to the test and walk into the snowy woods to see what I could find. Though I was initially worried that I wouldn’t be able to find the tracks, I found a lot in a short time span!

The first print I saw was this relatively freshly made track. As it has 4 toes with what seemed to be an x and claws, I knew it had to be either a fox or wolf. However, I wasn’t completely sure if I could rule out a dog either, as this was pretty close to the trail and I had seen dogs making similar prints. The bottom part of the print seems to resemble that of a wolf or coyote, but the claws do not seem to line up with the way they are oriented in the tracking guide.

This third print was interesting. Though this print didn’t go far in terms of detail, the tapering from top to bottom reminded me a lot of the snowshoe hare, and the length lines up with what was in the tracking guide. It was the only track like this in the vicinity, and Inaturalist had this as a top suggestion when I entered it into the program.

The last prints worth mentioning (I found A LOT of dog prints) was this curious collection of small prints, I think from an eastern gray squirrel. I found one in the vicinity as well as a nest in a nearby tree, meaning that it was likely the culprit of these tiny prints in the melting snow, not to mention they look like the prints described in the guide.

Though tracking takes a long time to be done right, I am proud of what I accomplished today. Tracking encourages me to look closely for the more-than-human world and think about what animals are nearby and why. Using context clues and INaturalist really helped me along in my identification and because practice makes perfect, continuing to engage in this sort of identification will be key in becoming a more knowledgable tracker!

After over a month apart from my last visit to my spot in Centennial Woods, it was time to return and observe how it has changed since last year. With the temperatures finally dropping enough to resemble a true Vermont winter, I was eager to see what I could find evidence of in the fresh snow we received this past week.

The first thing I noticed in regards to phenology was the now complete dormancy of the deciduous trees at my location. The unseasonably warm temperatures last year left some maple trees to still retain their leaves, the last bit of sustinence flowing through the leaves. However, it was clear that now, the trees have finally ceased any nutrient flow and are now dormant for the winter, evidenced by the heavy drooping and browning of the leaves.

Even with the supposed dormancy of the woods at this time of year, there were still signs of the pulsating life underlying it all. I heard a few bird calls and one was loud enough to be caught on camera. See if you can identify the species, and let me know!

Mammals

In addition to the plants and birds at this location, I was eager to see if I could spot any mammal prints in the snow, as I have not before observed many mammals here before beyond a squirrel or two. Though I did not observe any prints in the unbroken blanket of snow near the fern forest, the trail near the edge of my phenology site yielded some interetsing clues as to what animals roam around Centennial Woods.

A promising print that I was able to spot was right near the trail, which could symbolize that the trail acts as an important route for mammals as well as humans. There seems to be 4 main toes and an “x” across the middle of the print, indicating this could be a fox, coyote, or even a wolf. However, I am not nearly well trained enough to truly identify it for sure. What do y’all think?

There was another print nearby, pictured above, which was smaller than the original print I found, with the “x” still being distinguishable. Maybe it is a smaller individual of the same species, or maybe it is an entirely different species altogether! It was really hard to tell considering the track patterns were disrupted by the presence of many human prints along the same trail.

Conclusion

Even with the arrival of winter in Vermont, there is plenty still going on. Though the last vestiges of a warm fall fully faded away at my phenology spot, the activity of birds and mammals in the area show that the animals here are remaining active and are on the move as we ourselves move through January.

I made my last trip to my phenology spot this semester on a sunny Monday morning, the chilly wind quickly arousing me from the last vestiges of the previous night’s slumber. As I approached my phenology spot, I was surprised to see the “fern forest” of my phenology spot had quickly turned into a “fern flatland”: where once before the ferns had stood proudly tall, they now lay close to the ground, as if clutching to its moderating warmth. Even so, they were still a verdant green – a color reminiscent of a forest on a summer day. This made up for the color that was fading from the surrounding environment.

Where during my last site there had been ample yellow from leaves changing colors, now remained only brown. Maple leaves of the palest green and tinged with yellow still lay on the forest floor, but the process of decay has set in for most of the leaves, removing any hint of the fresh leaf drops I had witnessed last visit. Speaking of leaves, some young norway maples still clung to withering leaves on their branches, though at this point, around 75% of the deciduous trees in the area had dropped their leaves completely. Around me, much of the understory vegitation had dropped their leaves too; one bush still had a few bright red berries (though they did not come out well on camera), easily visble against the brown all around.

However, even with the contemplation of the vegitation around me, I couldn’t help feel a bit dejected. Throughout the time I had been to my phenology spot over the past few months, I witnessed little animal activity. I heard some bird calls and a squirrel or two, but nothing I would consider to be too exciting. So, as I started to leave my phenology spot, I was bummed that there was no wildlife to be found. However, as I walked along the trail, I came across this suspicious pile.

As I bent over for a closer look, I could see they were chips of wood, seemingly chipped off from a nearby snag. As I stood up from my examination of the curious pile, I heard a solid Thud. Thud. Thud. And, as I craned my head to the sky, I saw a Pileated Woodpecker!

Easily visible to the bright red patch at the top of the head, the woodpecker made itself known as it drilled into the side of the tree, probably hoping for a nice brunch of insects and worms! Though I had thought that my phenology spot was relatively devoid of animal activity, this sighting well and truly proved me wrong – there is so much to see if you only look up!

Phenology Spot Reflection

As this semester comes to a close, I can say I chose well with my phenology spot. If I had to pick a physical feature that I liked most, it would be the ferns. I have numerous fern forests near my home and seeing them here reminded me of how much I look foward to walking in the woods when I get back. However, I loved the white pines just as much: I don’t see many coniferous trees at home, and seeing these sentinels stand true and tall in the woods made it clear I chose a location new to me. Overall, I think deciding to have my spot in Centennial Woods was a good idea. I walked by the trail leading to my spot numerous times as I went to go to other locations for labs and assignments, and each time I walked by, I felt the pull to go and visit. As I was almost always so close to my spot, I never truly felt “apart” from my spot in that regard.

Deep in the New Jersey countryside (yes, that does exist) lies a curious collection of strange relics of the not-so-distant past. A concrete bridge. Old foundations. An abandoned silo. Trees mysteriously planted in neat rows. What can we learn about the structures, phenology, and ecology that characterize this place? Read on to find out!

Phenology Spot Location

Photos of the Phenology Spot

Ecology and Phenology

The phenology of my location is little changed from my spot in Burlington. This area has seen similar temperatures to Burlington the last few weeks, and as such, the areas are generally aligned to the same phenological calendar. Like my spot in Centennial Woods, the leaves of the trees have fallen, and wildlife is apparing less abundant as the animals here prepare for a cold winter. However, the ecology of this place is very different from Centennial Woods. First of all, there are almost NO coniferous trees here. Unlike Centennial Woods, in which the towering white pines are a focalpoint of the location, I counted 5 coniferous trees at most. The abundance of maples and oaks forms a deciduous forest that dominates here. Secondly, I noticed that the understory here was thick with thorny brush. It was hard to step foot anywhere off trail for fear of being plunged with hundreds of thorns from bushes that towered well over head height. In Centennial Woods, however, thorns are kept to a minimum, and the brush that is most likely to be experienced is knee height. The understory in Centennial Woods is mostly composed of younger trees, which is a stark contrast to here in NJ, where trees are either fully mature or on their way to be, with no younger trees in sight (probably being choked out by the thick, thorny understory). Another contrast between NJ and Burlington deals with the soil and overlying organic layer. The tree plantation and surrounding forests in my NJ spot contribute little to replenishing soil — many of the fallen maple and oak leaves sat on top of the ground, not decomposing or breaking down. This was different from Centennial Woods, where I not only noticed leaves in various states of decomposition, but also branches and fallen trees covered in moss, representing a robust decomposition process. Overall, the homogenization of tree species, the thorny understory, and scant evidence of healthy soil formation leads me to conclude that the ecology of my spot in Centennial Woods represents a much healthier ecosystem than that which exists at my spot in NJ.

An Honorable Harvest Tribute

Thinking about how I wanted to represent my appreciation towards the land I roam around in, I thought a painted rock would be suitable. Instead of leaving it for someone else to take, placing it in a secluded spot to let the land claim it would represent the time and effort we must put in to respect and honor the land in ways that are not just for our express benefit. Using ecologically safe paint, I painted a ladybug on a small stone and placed it at the base of a tree. Hopefully, it will be representative of the enhanced biodiversity I hope to see in this location as the forest matures years from now.

Light is so elegant when it makes its way through the canopy. I craned upwards, observing the motes of dust and dirt that danced through the dazzling beams of sunlight; nature’s waltz. The dying light of the late October sun reaches the ferns too, and the spiderwebs that interlace them – illuminating the strands of silk that drift aimlessly in the light breeze. A maple above me glows the palest shade of yellow.

I hear the hum of traffic noise, but also what is near me, like the faint rustling of the understory, the voices of people on the otherside of the riverbank, and the occasional bird call. Leaves tumble upon each other as they fall from precipitous heights. I can feel the tinge of moss on the log upon which I sit – tactile and green.

The thick layer of decomposing organic material makes for a soft texture underfoot, and the aroma of which – the browning of maple leaves – indicates it is truly fall.

The faint warm kiss of the sun envelops me as the day comes to a close in the fern clearing.

Changes in Vegitation

-Many more fallen Sugar Maple leaves have carpeted the ground, adding shocks of yellow to what was a floor of orange, dead pine needles.

-Though some trees were still green on the bottom branches, there are many more deiciduous trees -especially the maples- that have turned yellow since last visit.

-Most woody plants are in the process of losing or turning their leaves, unlike last visit when most woody plants retained bright green leaves.

-The many fallen leaves have rendered my location to feel more open than it had before.

Phenology Spot Map