Over my break, I decided to choose the Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary and Audubon as my phenology spot. Wellfleet is where I usually spend the summer, but also visit in the winter (or in this case, Thanksgiving). The Audubon is located on the bay side of Cape Cod, creating marsh land to surround the woody trails and habitats in the area. I decided to choose a spot located between the marsh life and woody species to determine the differences in the species here in Wellfleet, and those in my phenology spot in Burlington!
This video displays the spot I chose to observe. It is clear the trail divides the woody ecosystem from that of the marsh life.
Comparisons
The most obvious difference of my new phenology spot is the addition of the marsh. However, at Salmon Hole the water equivalent would be the Winooski River that flows just a short walk down from my spot. In Wellfleet, there are many different woody species along this trail that are not present in Winooski. There are significantly more Northern White Pine trees in Wellfleet than in my previous spot. Additionally, the sea-side trail allows many different species to thrive such as “Ripgut Brome”(long sea grass), Broadleaf Cattail, and the Common Greenbrier. Larger tree species I noticed included scattered spruce trees in the area, and oak trees which were also abundant at Salmon Hole.
Some ecological differences between the places would be the human uses and impact. In Wellfleet, the Audubon is a naturally protected area, so all of its surroundings and environment have been maintained. However, human impacts include trail usage and disruption to animal habitats in the woods and marsh. In Salmon Hole, my phenology spot consists of man made elements such as stairs, wooden bridges, and a small culvert to divert water into the Winooski River. The Winooski River used to be a source of water power for the factories in the area, causing buildings to be made and more pollution for the surrounding town, ultimately affecting the forests as well.
Although I did not leave a gift in my new spot in relation to Honorable Harvest, the natural beauty of the area speaks for its self. The trail overlooking the bay and marsh alongside an ecosystem rich in diversity was enough to take in and admire.
Location
