The Phenology of Centennial Woods A UVM blog

It was hard for me to believe the spring equinox occurred a few days ago while I was walking to phenology spot. The entirety of Centennial Woods is covered in a layer of packed snow, which made for good tracking conditions. The print in the snow likely belongs to a dog, but I’m not quite sure about the one in the mud…

I noticed more and more bird calls as I walked further into the forest. I spotted Black-Capped Chickadees, crows and many robins. While my phenology sight is mostly phragmites and therefore did not feature many birds itself, The entire natural area without a doubt has more birds than it did in the winter. Unfortunately, this was the only bird photo I was able to snap!

The phragmites look essentially the same as they have all winter. Most are currently weighed down by the snow, but it won’t be long before they spring back up and start to turn green. As for more noticeable changes in foliage, the neighboring Sumac is starting to grow buds along with the saplings in the stand.

For our exploration of Burlington, we stayed close to home and looked for wildlife signs just behind the entrance to the Davis Center tunnel behind University Heights. After following the fence that separated the line of backyards from campus, we spotted many dog and human footprints, but we also made some more interesting discoveries. These included rabbit tracks, scuffles in the snow, and many signs of squirrels including tracks, nests and sightings.

I submitted a few uninteresting photos to iNaturalist; other observers’ posts including more elusive species without doubt put mine to shame. If I had set aside more time to look for wildlife signs, I would have liked to make a more substantial contribution to this lively and diverse collection of observations.

Telling the difference between rabbit prints and squirrel prints was the only challenge we encountered while examining tracks. We decided that the linear path with asymmetrical front foot placement was made by a rabbit, and the more erratic paths made with smaller feet were the work of squirrels living in the area. Because the conditions of the snow don’t always allow for the observation of a defined footprint, it is important to take into account the bigger picture– the animal’s movements. Learning about gate patterns in NR 1020 proved useful when we couldn’t always get a good look at the details of the prints!

The icy paths made my return to the Centennial Woods Bridge rather difficult. Under a gloomy Sunday sky, I inched along the frozen mud and slippery snow to check on my site. The snowfall has almost completely blanketed the area, flattening some of the clusters of Phragmites under its weight.

The melting snow has not yet seemed to have an impact on the flow of the stream, and by the time my next assignment is due, the water level will likely have evened out already. I may pay the bridge an extra visit to determine if there are any changes in the stream discharge. As for signs of animal activity, Walt and Chris were right about winter providing tells about wildlife whereabouts. Many tracks were spotted in the snow on this visit.

This natural area is a popular spot for dogs and their owners, so the majority of these tracks along the well-traversed path likely belong to the canines in the neighborhood. However, there is potential for the pawprint in the first photo to be Coyote tracks. This section of the river seems to be a semi-popular spot for animals to stop by the river, but I am hoping to find more evidence to confirm or disprove this theory.

An unfortunate discovery I also made was the carcass of a squirrel near the edge of the pine stand. Although it is unclear exactly what the cause of death was, the insides of the squirrel were partially visible; this leads me to believe whatever end the critter met was most unpleasant.

I returned to the bridge over one of the small streams that flows through Centennial Woods today, slipping and sliding on the muddy paths as I traveled. The only trees that shade the forest floor now are Eastern White Pines and Hemlocks. Just about every leaf is the same shade of dull orange; most are on the ground except for a few holding onto the branches of Centennial’s Beeches, Northern Red Oaks and Sugar Maples.

The leaf litter and pine needles are starting to turn to a homogenous sludge that covers every inch of the ground. As for animal activity, the whole forest is quieter without the chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves and phragmites. Additionally, I was able to spot a print that looked like deer tracks, and I got to take a closer look at the pieces of the abandoned beaver dam as it continues to deteriorate.

When asked to detail my favorite aspects of my Phenology site, the first thing that comes to mind is how it almost has a musical quality to it. The sway of the plants and the calls of birds, along with the trickling stream and other sounds of the forest, all come together to create a sort of symphony. When the wind causes the forest to switch from silent to musical, I always am inclined to stop and listen to the beautiful sound, especially when near the sea of Phragmites. Additionally, I love the way that the space is used by all kinds of members in the community for recreation or enjoyment; seeing another person that likes spending time in Centennial as much as I do makes me so incredibly happy.

To draw a closer parallel to my phenology site in Burlington, I decided to examine a bridge in an urban natural area similar to Centennial Woods in my hometown. My sister site is located in the Maple Grove Forest Preserve in Downers Grove, Illinois.

This bridge is much sturdier than the one I spent some time on in Centennial and it looms above a much wider stream bed. While some of the deciduous trees still had their leaves last time I visited my spot, every tree in this area is bare and their leaves have started to decompose on the forest floor and in the water. There are no coniferous trees in this forest. Another species that seems to be absent is the phragmites that lines the riverbed at my original phenology spot. There is little to no plant growth along the sides of the river here, which is likely why it has gotten so wide over time. Despite the ecological differences in these two waterways, the social uses of both places are similar. Locals can be seen walking with their children or their dogs along the bridge frequently throughout the entire day. Additionally, they are both natural pockets of land in relatively developed areas that can be used by visitors to maintain their connection to the outdoors.

An Exploration of a Peaceful Phenology Site

After taking a left turn at the fork that marks the start of the Centennial Woods Loop Trail, I came across the narrow wooden bridge that I had visited around 2 weeks ago. I sat down in the center of the bridge with my feet hanging over the small, trickling stream below. After taking 15 minutes to take in my surroundings using all my senses, I felt relaxed and connected to the area. I also noticed the absence of the vibrant fall leaves on the deciduous trees in the distance, and the newfound softness of the once mighty rustle of the Phragmites that smothered the stream bed. Both of these are tangible reflections of the decay that comes with the transition into winter. Though things look duller than before, it’s important to remember that this is a necessary part of the nutrient cycles on which the forest ecosystem relies. A crude map of the area can be found below:

UVM students are fortunate to have such a biodiverse area so close to campus. Centennial Woods features both deciduous and coniferous trees as well as various shrubs that line its extensive stream system. Some of the most populous tree species in the woods include:

• American Beech
• Sugar Maple
• Northern Red Oak
• Eastern White Pine
• Eastern Hemlock
• Striped Maple
• Basswood

Species in the understory that are found along the riverbanks include but are not limited to:

• Poison Ivy
• Buckthorn
• Honeysuckle
• Barberry

Some photos of the vegetation:

Centennial Woods is a small but frequently visited natural area just outside of the University of Vermont campus. This is a well-preserved and biologically rich area that is used by the community for education and leisure. There is a network of footpaths and trails that crisscross the forest, but the most traversed entrance is a short walk down the street from the UVM Police Department. I chose to garner a more intricate understanding of this space because it has a similar phenological makeup to a wooded area in my town, and I’d like to have a more developed relationship with both of these spaces. I want to understand the importance of exploring what is figuratively “in my backyard” by getting to know the nuances of this place.