During the four-day urban BioBlitz, I explored the Intervale and different areas across campus. I encountered roughly 15 different species that I could identify. My experience using iNaturalist was good, while it could be slow at times it was very easy to use. I found it interesting that so many regions participated, and it seemed as though regions with a more tropical feel had more species recognized due to their vast biodiversity.
For the last time this school year, I revisited my original phenology spot in Centennial Woods. Overtime my site has not changed much. Small changes have occurred like the fallen trees decomposing more, and saplings being developed, but the big changes that have occurred are simply phenological. this means it’s the area’s natural cycle and it will return to each stage again and again. I have become familiar with many landmarks near my site. I know to turn off the main trail, onto a smaller one, soon after I pass a large snag in the middle of the path. Then, I go down the hill and see the two fallen trees that first brought my attention to this area. In addition to this, a few large oak trees inhabit my spot as well as Centennial Brook. On a smaller scale, I like to check on my favorite saplings and plants each visit. This includes a little tree, I believe to be a hemlock, growing out of one of the downed trees. Nature and culture intertwine in many ways, while I am in my spot, I like to ponder the connection that the indigenous had to this area and to the brook. The past is also connected to the present with medicinal uses of plants in the area. I now consider myself a part of this place primarily due to the frequency in which I visit it. But further, because of the impact I have on this place due to my frequent visits. If I go off the trail in certain directions, I will harm the organisms around me. I can also have positive impacts, such as cleaning up trash I see and simply valuing my spot.
When I revisited my tree in Centennial Woods, it was clear that the buds had grown and changed. They are larger and fuller indicating that Spring is upon us. Other aspects of Centennial Woods indicate this as well. Much of the snow is gone from the area and more shrubs and fungi can be spotted.
This week, I revisited my tree in Centennial Woods. This time I was able to pull down a bud and they are in early stages of development. Not much else about the tree is new, but the area has changed. The snow is melting causing an increased amount of water in the brook with a heavier flow. With this, there was a lot of fungus growing which I always enjoy seeing. I even spotted some witches butter which is my favorite to find.
Once again, I journeyed into Centennial Woods, and I walked my typical trail until I came across an American Beech tree. This tree is rather easy to identify based off of its bark. The bark is smooth and gray and easy to distinguish from other trees. This was how I was able to make sure it was not a young maple, which may look similar. A young maple has bark that is browner in color and has more texture. The American Beech is also known to keep its leaves late into winter, but my tree did not have any leaves left that I could easily see. All accessible branches were at the very top of the tree, so twig I was unable to ID a twig as well, but in this case, it was not necessary.
To look for wildlife signs in Burlington, I went to Centennial Woods. I went earlier in the day on February 18th and due to the snow, the previous day, conditions were great for looking for tracks and signs. I encountered more animal tracks than I have ever seen before. I saw many squirrel and snowshoe hare tracks, along with numerous fox tracks. Though all my identifications may not be accurate, the tracks were very clear and were something I had ever seen before due to the much vaguer tracks at Jericho. While exiting the area and walking back to my dorm, I even saw bird prints along some lasting snow on the sidewalk. I identified them to be crow tracks.
I was not able to identify all the tracks that I saw due to my skills and the fact that some were in high traffic areas, however I did get many pictures. When deciphering between different animals, I went based on the number of toes, the movement, and the size, even though sometimes these were hard to identify. The way the animal moved was my biggest clue because it seemed to be the clearest, when the number of toes is vague and size changes based off age. I did notice some possible animal marks on a tree that interested me, I wasn’t sure how they got there, but they seemed intriguing. I did not put all my pictures into iNaturalist, but I did put in a few. I had a good experiencing using the iNaturalist app and it was easier to use than I expected.
Happy spring semester! I visited my phenology spot for the first time this semester on a snowy day. This snow was heavy and wet and was falling off of trees in chunks, disrupting the surface of the snow, causing it to be difficult to identify any animal tracks. Tracks that I could identify were dog tracks due to their shape and size and the fact that they followed alongside human footprints in and out of the area. Due to the type of precipitation and many human tracks in the area, it was also difficult to identify any bedding areas. In addition to this, the fresh snow covered any scat.
There were not as many phenological changes in my area as I expected. The snow is new, but some American beech trees still hold onto their leaves. Fungus persists, it just shrunk or froze. I do not know if Centennial Brook tends to freeze over the winter, but like last semester it is not frozen. Yet, I have observed an increase in the quantity of water in the brook and it is louder than before.
During my last visit to my phenology spot for the semester, I recognized some key changes in the area. One of my first observations was that almost all broad-leaf trees have dropped their leaves except for young American beech trees. Conifers keep their leaves years round, so I knew that they would be some of the few plants left that are still green, yet I was surprised to see many American beech trees holding onto some of their leaves. While there is no persistent fruit in my area, there are persistent shrubs such as intermediate wood fern and some true sedges. Moss still lines the landscape along with a recent burst of fungi. These growing fungi can be a sign that something is decaying, and that decomposers are doing their job. Another sign of these decomposers is a reduction is the number of leaves lining the ground. The day that I chose to visit my spot was, unintentionally, rainy. Due to this poor weather and the presence of many leaves still on the forest floor, I was unable to identify any animal tracks, but there were still signs of animal activity. Some of these signs include many noticeable woodpecker feeding holes and other marks in tree bark. Despite the rain, I was still able to observe active birds and squirrels at my spot showing that animal activity has not noticeably decreased.
I truly enjoy going to my phenology spot. I value the calming walk through Centennial Woods along with the peaceful sound of Centennial Brook. I always take a moment to listen to the brook while sitting on the fallen trees at the center of my spot. My favorite part of my phenology spot, however, has to be the small details. These details become more obvious each time I visit and include the ever-changing fungi and the new plants growing. I especially enjoy when I can find some witch’s butter growing. Its orange hue adds a pop of color to the forest and knowing it edible, I am always temped to try some.
For Thanksgiving, I went back home to Massachusetts. The new phenology place that I chose is behind my neighborhood in Carlstrom Memorial Forest. I grew up exploring these woods and was eager to visit again. Due to Vermont and Massachusetts being close to one another, the ecology and phenology are similar. All the leaves in my new place for this week have tuned and fallen to the ground, just like my spot in Centennial Woods. The area is very hilly and right as you enter the woods from behind my house, the area primary consists of oak, maple, and beech trees. As you go further out, you come across a copious amount of eastern white pines. This is due to land clearing in the past and the quick growing nature of the eastern white pine. On the topic of land clearing, there is a network of stone walls in these woods. These marked land boundaries and still serve that purpose today. They also imply a land use history involving agriculture and or livestock grazing. From the lack of small stones on top, it was likely that it was just used for livestock and not farming. I can also add that the soil is very much degraded and not fertile. My place is also incredibly rocky, yet it was not always this way, most of the rocks came from the construction of I-290 which is nearby.
I chose this place not just because it’s close to my house, but because it reminds me of my childhood, something I miss very much while at college. My best friend lived on the other side of Carlstrom Memorial Forest, and we would travel through the woods to get to each other’s houses. Though she has passed away, I still see her parents often and the woods is dotted with memories of her. Before she passed, she enjoyed painting rocks and spreading them across town to bring joy to others. When she passed, her parents, friends, and I continued doing this in her memory. Check out @Zoesrocks on Instagram, https://celebratezoe.com/, or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvZ5donT29s for more information about Zoe and her legacy! Though I did not bring a gift to leave in connection to Honorable Harvest, I will always be grateful for the memories that these woods allowed me to create. I have left rocks as gifts in the past and here are some rocks I found during my walk through the woods today!
As the autumn season progresses, the vegetation in my spot in Centennial Woods has experienced more leaves changing color and falling to the ground, as well as more seasonal plants, such as ferns, dying off. Fungi levels stayed the same due to similar moist weather in between visits. Another noted change is more water movement in the brook. I do not believe that this change is connected to the change in season, but as I was sitting for a time in this spot, I experienced more noise from water movement in the brook than I did in previous visits. Other things I experienced were the sound of cars in the distance and the sound of a plane flying overhead. In addition to this, I also heard numerous birds chirping. I was also met with a light and cool breeze and an unwanted tick crawling up my leg. My chosen spot seems to be on a less traveled part of Centennial Woods, so during my whole time there, I did not come into contact with any other people. A map of my area, with some labeled vegetation can be seen below, along with a couple pictures.
