Gadowski’s Phenology Blog

This month during my visit to Centennial Woods (2/28), there was fresh snow cover. I went in the evening as it was getting dark and tracks were covered in a little bit of fresh powder. Immediately I was able to find fox tracks. The size of the prints and the gate are why I believe they belong to a fox. The tracks led towards the brook, so it could have been going to the water. 

            This fox likely has a den it lives in and comes out in both the day and night. It is an opportunistic feeder that will search for food at all times. It is also an omnivore, consuming things like rodents, amphibians, worms, berries, seeds, and more. One interaction I have found evidence for is foxes consuming mammals. Not today at Centennial, but another time there, I found fox scat that had fur in it. This was likely from a rodent and it shows how foxes consume small mammals. Another piece of evidence I found was a slight chew mark on a twig near the fox tracks. This shows the animal interacting with plants. I believe the chew marks were from the fox because of the close proximity to the tracks and because they were low enough down that they matched the height of a fox. 

            Since my last visit to Centennial Woods, some small changes have occurred. There appears to be more life; wildlife seems to be more active and some small buds are even beginning to appear on the trees. Also, visually, there is more snow cover than when I last visited. During this visit, it had snowed most of the day so there was some fresh powder. 

Figure 1: Fox tracks 

Figure 2: Field notes 

On my latest trip to Centennial woods, I found what appeared to be deer tracks. After veering off the human-made path for about 10 yards, these deer tracks appeared. The tracks showed a split hoof print and had a diagonal gait. The size of the prints, a little enlarged due to snowmelt, also were about the size of a deer. The animal appeared to be going towards the stream, which would make sense for deer. 

            Since I last visited Centennial woods, many phenological changes have taken place. There is now very little green that can be seen because we are now well into the winter. There is a decent amount of snow cover, but it is beginning to melt. There is also quite a bit of ice, especially on the paths. None of the trees have leaves, except for some species like American Beech, which are still holding onto dead leaves. I also did not see much wildlife other than squirrels; not many birds could be heard or seen. 

The twig I chose to sketch featured alternate branches, alternate buds, and single terminal buds. After examining it, my best guess was that it was a Sugar Maple. Comparing it to more full-grown Sugar Maples, it seemed to match. Sugar Maples, many types of pines and spruces, American Beech, and Birch are some of the common trees that I have seen a lot of in Centennial woods.  

Below are my field notes for my visit at Centennial Woods on 1/29/20:

My home and the property it is on was where I spent my Thanksgiving break. This sense of place I have of my home has been shaped over many years of living here and experiencing the different elements on and around my home. It has also shaped me as a person and has influenced what I view as other good places.

            I see my home as a small farm in rural Vermont. Living in a rural place my entire life has made me love this type of landscape and feel most at home when the landscape is natural. My home is surrounded by open fields and thick forests. In the properties’ past, it would have been completely clear cut and used for sheep farming. In the woods at my house, the old stonewalls used for sheep are still there, looking out of place in the now grown in forests. The fields that are still open are still hayed every year and grazed by different animals like they have been for hundreds of years. 

            I see my home as a reminder of history. It was built in 1799 and was used as a tavern, then a farm, which it still is today. Many things that happen at my home also happened here hundreds of years ago. It still bears the name “Willow Brook Farm” like it has for many years past. 

            Over my lifetime, my home has not changed a lot. This is mainly because my family has tried to preserve and maintain what was already there. We keep the forest grown in, keep the fields open, and try to keep preserve the historic house and barn rather than modernize them. 

            My home has shaped who I am. I feel most comfortable in rural areas and on farms. I like to be surrounded by rolling fields and forests. I also have an appreciation for history and historic architecture. Growing up in this particular area has given me healthy experiences and appreciation for certain things. 

            Below are two photos from my home. The first one is the view of some of our fields, a potting shed, chicken coop, and duck house. Behind the pines in the background are mountains that are across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. The second was taken when I was on a walk in the woods with my dogs. After growing up here, I’ve become accustomed to being able to step outside and go for a hike. That is one of the many things I’m thankful for about living here. 

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As the seasons have changed, my sense of place in Centennial Woods has changed. When I first went there, I saw it as a lush green place with lots of birds and other living things. Now, I see it more as a quiet place with lots of dead plant life and not many birds. It just does not seem as much of an “alive” place now. 

In terms of the larger Burlington area, Centennial Woods is just a small part of it. When I first went to the forest, I did not really know where Centennial Woods was relative to the rest of the campus and surrounding Burlington. Now, I know exactly where it is and what surrounds it. Knowing the exact location makes the forest seem smaller. I also see it as a quieter place on campus and in Burlington. It’s an area to take a break from the urban community without having to travel very far. 

Centennial Woods has gone through a lot of change over time. It began as being used as agricultural land, then it was used by the medical school. When the medical school used it, cadavers were buried on the property. After that period, ROTC at UVM used it as a firing range. Now it is used as a research forest and a recreation area. Throughout time, many different people have had very different senses of place at Centennial Woods. For example, I would have a very different sense of place of the forest (as a recreational area) from people who knew it as a burial place for cadavers in the early 20^th century. Currently, people on campus and in Burlington most likely see Centennial Woods as a place to do research for school or a place to do activities like running or hiking.   

  The photo displayed below of the entrance of Centennial Woods shows how dead all of the plants are now. When I first visited the area, it was very lush and green. 

Field notes: 

Today I visited Centennial Woods again. Since my last visit, it has gotten a lot colder and the trees have lost all of their leaves. I visited later in the day as the sun was setting and it was only about 45 degrees. The wind was also fairly strong. There is much less green than last time I was here. The leaves are now all on the ground and there is not as much greenery on the forest floor. Many bushes and small trees still have some leaves, but they are shades of orange, red, and brown. There is still some green grass and green low-growing plants like ferns. Moss also covers many of the rocks, trees, and bridges around the streams. I noticed a lot of large mushrooms on trees as well. 

The soil was muddy due to the flash flooding the night before. The brook was a chocolate-brown color and had a very heavy flow. Around the banks of the brook, it was all washed out. There is not much plant life on certain parts of the banks to hold it together and prevent heavy erosion. 

I did not see much in the way of wildlife. I didn’t notice any insect life, most likely because it has frosted since my last visit. I didn’t hear many birds or see many squirrels either. Most of the moving organisms I saw were just other people and dogs.

The photos I took were of a maple tree, moss, ferns, paper birch, some type of weed, a pine tree. These are all living organisms that are plentiful in Centennial Woods, so they represent the forest. There are a variety of trees in the forest, including many maple, pine, and birch. Most of the plants that were still green were the weeds and ones like the ferns. There was also a lot of moss in the forest, especially in wet areas. 

I chose Centennial Woods, a university owned nature preserve in Burlington, as my point of focus for my phenology assignment. It has a long history in Burlington and the land has been used in many different ways. It the past, it has been used for farming, ROTC training, and even for medical school purposes. I chose it mainly due to its close proximity to my current residence hall and because it has a lot to offer. It is a 65 acre plot on campus which borders I-89. The forest features both deciduous and coniferous trees, many streams, fields, wetlands, and boardwalks.The forest gets lots of use from students and residents in Burlington.It features an array of different trails used for walking, running, biking, and more. Often times, students in research classes will visit Centennial woods for academic purposes.

The main entrance of the forest is near the UVM medical center and is marked by a sign that reads “Centennial Woods Natural Area” and a trail map. When in the forest, you may notice is it much quieter and calmer than the surrounding campus and urban area. You’ll hear the sounds of many different birds, the leaves rustling, and the interstate off in the distance. You might see other people using the nature preserve for recreation activities, like running. Common wildlife seen include birds, squirrels, frogs, and rabbits. The experience of the forest is different for everyone. You may find it to be a quiet retreat if you are just going for a leisurely walk, or you may see it differently if you’re going for an intense run. Some students might even view it as an extension of their classroom and research. I am about a 10-minute walk from the forest entrance. I find Centennial woods to be almost a piece of my home. I am from rural southern Vermont and spent a lot of time in the woods growing up. This forest is a lot similar to home and it is nice to have it on campus.
Shown below are my field notes from when I last visited Centennial woods:

 

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