Red Squirrel Presence

• Significantly smaller than gray squirrels and have reddish-brown fur above with a white underside.
• Stores large amounts of food in its territories for wintertime.
• During the day it forages for food, and it sleeps during most of the night time.
• Red Squirrels are primarily granivores, which means they eat the seeds of plants.
• Top predators include: lynx, bobcats, coyotes, hawks, martens, foxes, and wolves.
• 1st Interaction – Tracks were found at the bottom of a tree, thus displaying an interaction where the squirrel uses the tree for shelter.
• 2nd Interaction – I also found a second trail of squirrel tracks close to the original tracks. This could mean that another squirrel was either with the first squirrel, or following closely behind it.

Phenological Changes

The last time I visited my Phenology site in Centennial woods, it was inhumanly cold and snow was piled at least a foot above the ground. This time, the temperature was far more manageable and there was less snow packed on the ground. I picked a good day to go, as it was relatively sunny and there wasn’t a high amount of wind. However it was still winter, so the trees remained with no leaves on them and I struggled to pick up an audible sign of wildlife. There are a multitude of fresh tracks scattered on the out skirts of the trail due to the lack of fresh snow- but with snow in the forecast most of these tracks will most likely be filled. The stream not far from my site also remained frozen, and I predict that the next month it will be flowing.

Common deciduous tree twigs found at my site: Eastern Hemlock, Sugar & Red Maple, American Beech, and Ash

Since my previous visit to my phenology spot, the temperature has dropped significantly and there is far more snow on the ground. As a result of this, I was able to notice an immense amount of animal tracks printed into the snow, which consisted mostly of squirrels likely foraging to nuts. Additionally, the leaves on all of the trees have completely fallen off, causing the forest to seem immensely still and dead. There is also a stream nearby to my site and it has not yet frozen over.

For my Thanksgiving break I traveled back to my hometown of Pennington, New Jersey- just fifteen minutes out of Princeton. This was my first time revisiting where I grew up and currently live since I left to attend the University of Vermont, so I did not know exactly what to expect. There are a multitude of factors that all contributed to my connection to my town, and throughout the break I took note of them. The very first thing that I noticed when I left the airport was how much warmer it was, and although I usually enjoy colder weather- the humid, heavy air of New Jersey felt welcoming to me. As soon as we took our exit off the highway, I immediately felt a massive sense of relief flush over my body- I had returned home. Pennington is smaller in scale than most towns, but is packed relatively close together. I would describe the immediate environment as suburban, yet there are plenty of natural forests within the vicinity where i’ve hiked, fished, and biked. I believe that this is somewhat similar to UVM in that there are numerous different recreational environmental areas all within biking range of campus. My town is reminiscent of the colonial era in America- and thus it has been dubbed, “Historical Pennington,” as displayed on banners around town. A large percentage of the homes and buildings in Pennington were built hundreds of years ago, and instead of tearing them down, the towns people decided to refurbish them. For example, my home was built around the middle of the 19th century but still stands in good condition to this day. However my strong sense of place for Pennington does not lie solely in the architecture and environmental surroundings- is also lies in the people and community. Having the opportunity to see my family and friends over the break truly made me realize how much people can impact your health and your well-being. Whilst mostly everyone at UVM is understanding and compassionate, I feel that I haven’t been there long enough for my friends to have a whole-hearted understanding of who I am at my core. Returning to my loved ones who understand my personality, sense of humor, and faults was extremely refreshing to me- and I feel like I have a more defined image of who I am because of it. Overall, I feel that my sense of place in Pennington positively impacts my mental health, and I am truly excited for when I’ve spent enough time exploring Vermont to feel a strong sense of place there; for place-attachment plays a large role in day to day life. If one feels like they belong in a certain area, they are far more likely to be happier and more productive. Thus, one day I hope to call Vermont my home.

As I traveled on Bike to my phenology site in Centennial Woods, I expected the trees to have no leaves on them, but when I arrived it was clear to me that this was not the case, and winter is not yet it full swing. There are still trees with leaves on them- but I expect this to change soon, as the consistent cold weather and cloudy days are only leading to a long drought of sunlight and warmth. Compared to the last time I visited, my site in the forest seems barren. I believe this is because all of the color in the forest was made up of the leaves, and now that they’re gone brown is all you see in every direction. Also, I noticed far fewer organisms besides plants in the area, which is most likely because they are preparing for winter. These observations aren’t only true in terms of my place, for most of the forests in northern Vermont are also changing rapidly as the cold creeps in. Prior to the most recent visit of my phenology site, I didn’t feel undeniably attached to the area surrounding me or the ground I was touching. However, as the warmer months started to dwindle I’ve felt more like I understand what is around me. I have always preferred the winter months over summer due to their peacefulness, lack of unbearable heat, and beauty of snowfall- and my spot in nature exemplified all three of those reasons. As I was walking along the path, the only sound being made was my feet schlepping through mud, and the only thing moving were the gargantuan trees swaying back and forth. I predict that the next time I visit my phenology site, it will be even quieter, more still, and undoubtedly much colder.

Patrick Allex

Phenology Assignment #2

It’s the first day of November, and the signs of a cold winter are already on our doorstep as we move closer to a frozen wonderland. Since the last time I visited my Phenology spot, the area has gotten far cooler, and a majority of the leaves from deciduous trees are now covering the forest floor. There are far fewer animals than the last time I visited as well, the largest organism in the phylum chordata that I saw were minnows swimming in a nearby stream. This is most likely due to cold conditions worsening, and explains why I saw a rather small amount of animals. The soil could have also changed since I last took notes at my spot, as pine needles covering the ground make its pH slightly acidic.

        The state of Vermont is known for it picturesque landscape and vibrant colors in the fall, and during my first fall in Vermont I will be biking down to Centennial Woods and observing. The spot I chose is roughly 30 feet from the entrance of the forest, yet it is surrounded by hundreds of trees and other plant life. What stood out to me first was a Boxelder that I attached in an image below. The tree seemed to be rather old, and one of the tree’s three furrowed trunks no longer had bark- which could mean this tree isn’t getting the amount of nutrients it needs. This Boxelder has multiple knots in the wood, and moss growing on its bark as well. The temperature inside the forest was warmer than outside, and I believe this was due to there being no wind inside the forest due to how packed the trees are. The ground I walked on was completely covered with fallen leaves of all different colors and shades, and for some time I sat and just appreciate the beauty of this forest. All around me I could hear branches swaying, the birds chirping, and the wind barreling through the trees towards open space. The air inside Centennial Woods was brisk, yet it had an aroma of fresh nature in full bloom. The experience of being in my phenology site relaxed me and gave me time to reflect on my day and how I could’ve done things differently. Prior to biking down I had been doing homework for an hour or two, and after I biked down and relaxed to the woods, I felt recharged and mentally sharp again. I believe that is one of nature’s true powers- alongside it’s silence and beauty- to give energy back to those who explore the land and treat it with care. For if we do not take care of nature, how will it take care of us? I will be checking back in on my spot in Centennial later to review how it’s changed since I last went- so stay tuned for more on my Phenology site!  

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