Local Phenology: Blackstone River & Canal National Park

View of the Blackstone Valley River from the bank above a Beaver Den.

The Blackstone River is an integral part to the Blackstone Valley region of central Massachusetts. Located in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, this park brings in visitors from surrounding towns with its serene running river and large grassy field for dogs of all breeds.

The Blackstone Valley river is home to a number of insect species from orders Coleoptera and Hemiptera, two Orders I located this week upon observation. Other insect orders surround the river and find solace in the wide open spaces; Lepidoptera.

The location amidst the National Park in which I chose to spend most of my time was a small outlet where a functioning beaver dam once operated. The area was obviously frequented by humans: trash was scattered, a picnic bench was rotting apart and there were human shoe as well as dog tracks in the shallows by the river. Traffic was audible through the supposedly thick forest though it was impossible to see the source of this noise.

Con-caved Roof of the Beaver Dam

I noted Eastern White Pine, Red and Sugar Maple, Paper Birch, Cedar, Basswood and White Oak trees most predominantly. Shrubbery was abundant and weeds and thorny under-growth was common.

Large Cedar Tree

I could identify one bird call as the Chickadee but was able to spot a black and white Finch perched on some drift wood.