Winter is approaching and Red Rocks Park is displaying more signs of phenological change. Trees have begun to drop their final leaves and undergrowth has become sparser. As I walk to my spot, I notice the leaves under me are frozen and the forest on both sides of me is dusted with a light covering of snow. An expansive layer of ice stretches from tree to tree far back from my phenology spot. I arrived at my spot at the same time as I usually do, but this time the sun has already begun to set so I start recording my observations quickly.
The foliage around me has changed. More leaves have fallen to the ground and all leaf colors have turned to shades of oranges and browns. The Northen Red Oak tree that stands tall above me still holds onto about 30% of its browned leaves and the few American Beeches next to me hold on to their orange leaves. The Eastern White Pines that stand in front of me hold onto pine needles and give the area some greenery in a landscape of browns and oranges.
The ground cover has remained consistently thick with leaves, but now the leaves are covered in a light coating of snow. The leaves are all frozen and any previous undergrowth has given into the winter conditions and gone away for the season.
As I sat in my spot recording phenological changes, I observed two squirrels chasing each other on the ice and trees in front of me. I also noticed a snow-covered log lying next to me bearing the tracks of a small animal (pictured to the left). The tracks are a challenge to make out, but I assumed they were left by a squirrel considering the events that were occurring in front of me.
I heard no birdsong my entire visit and I was inclined to believe that many species of birds in the area had begun their migration south. Overall, I felt that the presence of life — both human and animal — had decreased since my last visit. The wintery conditions have made it harder and less enjoyable for some in this area.
Overall, I have really enjoyed visiting my phenology spot in Red Rocks Park. My favorite part about this location was having a natural area to escape to that was a little bit of a challenge to get to. When I visited, I truly felt like I was away from campus and was able to take a deep breath and enjoy my surroundings. This park has some very nice trails to explore and really beautiful points overlooking Lake Champlain. I’m very happy that I chose this spot, and I am excited to continue visiting it next semester!