I set out for my March 25 entry a couple weeks late, and was able to witness a lot of new spring growth and activity at my site. There were a few plants beginning to sprout, the first sign of green other than some wilted ostrich ferns that remained through the winter. I identified a plant as being in the avens tribe using iNaturalist, and notice some of the trees at my site were beginning to bud. The buds were tight and not open yet, and more obvious on the younger trees. I documented the buds of a maple tree. This semester I have been learning about different ways of knowing and have decided to try to incorporate a new one into my understanding of my phenology site. I practiced mindfulness on the boulder at my site for about ten minutes today, which made me feel connected with the activity happening there. I did not notice any tracks in the mud by the water, but I observed a significant increase to the bird activity at my site since the winter. I watched a few crows fly overhead and immersed myself in the bird song while I practiced mindfulness. I want to learn some of the common bird calls. By spending time in stillness at my site, I noticed a lot more. I saw a fish flitting by in the water that was about two inches and length. I noted how fast it was able to move through the water and how reactive it was to external stimuli while navigating the creek. I also encountered a garter snake and was able to get some pictures which was an exciting observation. I could feel the renewal of rich plant and animal activity at my site with the incoming of spring. I am excited to see how it changes when the weather gets warmer.
maple bud
new plant growth from the avens tribe
view of my site as seasons change
my garter snake friend!