Author: oharring

As my time at UVM for the semester comes to a close and I return home, it is interesting to look at how different or similar the two ecosystems are- Burlington, being a large city in the state and my hometown, Middletown Springs, being a small rural town, there are bound to be obvious differences between them; however, there were intriguing commonalities that I found between Salmon Hole Park and my new site along the Poultney River, just a 15 minute walk from my house. The site includes a section of maple-tapped trees along with a portion of a large cornfield; in between both is the river, which froze last night.

The ecology and phenology of the separate locations are both fascinating- some similarities between them include the aquatic aspect of the ecosystems and the corresponding wildlife that interact with the environment. At Salmon Hole, the wildlife was mostly avian, including species such as the Great Blue Heron and Black-Capped Chickadee. At the Poultney River Site, the wildlife encompasses a more broad spectrum of species, namely mammals. Deer, fox, and squirrels (along with other rodents) are relatively common in the area since there is a large field and forested section, both of which create habitat for a broader variety of wildlife. Avian species are also present, but mostly common backyard birds or raptors, namely Woodpeckers and Hawks, along with Turkey Vultures. Canada geese are also common in both areas. The vegetation is quite different, with the Poultney Site only being comprised of hardwood trees and Salmon Hole of swamp-like species (cattails mostly). In general, Salmon Hole has a broader range of vegetation in its site area whereas the Poultney River site has a wider variety of species in its ecosystem.

Further, the surrounding landscapes are similar between the two- Salmon Hole is surrounded by man-made constructions (roads, bridges, industrial buildings), and the Poultney River Site is next to a graveyard and a cornfield, both originated from the human involvement in the area. It would be intriguing to take detailed samples from each site (water/soil pH, dissolved oxygen levels, or even E. Choli levels and correlate them with possible causes in the surrounding environments. However, despite these similarities, Salmon Hole is in far more developed surroundings and has a noticeably more diverse vegetative landscape, whereas the Poultney River Site is more isolated yet naturally sustained without the same level of human interference/interaction- it also has a more diverse range of animal species.

Upon a smooth inhalation,

My lungs vivaciously expand,

Nostrils flaring, eyes watering.

Leaves crunch under my soles,

enriching my soul with

Their satisfying sensory stimulation

Every glance reveals a new curiosity,

an optical bewilderment, intriguing

My mind in the liveliness of the quiet

Quiet, yet so loud is the land

Loud in its life, in its story, history.

I could remain lost here for eternity

In this brilliant quiet

Writing and drawing this Event Map was such fun! I love this technique of interpreting what your senses pick up while walking along Salmon Hole.

The park was especially quiet today; I think the changing of the season’s may deter people from going out in the wilderness as much. However, today was quite warm (like the last few days have been), so it was nice to explore the area. The leaves have almost entirely fallen, with the exception of a few oaks with leaves clinging to their branches and twigs. Songbirds remain dominant; the chickadee call is forever ingrained in my brain, and I see no reason to complain. The water is flowing slightly slower than it was, which is expected since it hasn’t rained in a while. It is almost as the the park is in its slumber at the moment, or at least readying for slumber like the many animals that inhabit it. I saw no squirrels today, sadly, but I hope they are prepared for their hibernation. Mallards and geese were still there, though likely they are preparing to leave too. I can take comfort in this though- the semester is coming to a close soon and, like these animals, I shall be leaving Burlington to rest elsewhere.

Having only been two weeks since my last visit to the site, Salmon Hole Park has not changed drastically since then. The hardwood trees, notably the maples and birch, have lost almost all of their leaves, but the oaks, which are usually late to turn, are beginning the process of leaf dropping. No Canada Geese were noticed upon a second visitation to the site, but mallard’s were still presence (albeit fewer of them) and common backyard birds were still active in the area (this is to no surprise since they are year-long birds inhabiting the area). Of these birds are notably the chickadee, goldfinch, pileated woodpecker, American Robin, blue jay, common sparrow, tufted titmouse, and creepers. A hawks nest was sited in the area, with the Hawk present upon second visitation to the site. There is active ornithological evidence of in-habitation of the site by wildlife, as well as evidence towards possible beaver life due to signs on trees near the waterfront.

Welcome to Salmon Hole Park, a gorgeous natural site along the Winooski River! This lush ecosystem provides habitat and resources for several plant and animal species and is located just northeast of Trinity Campus. Being just a 20-minute walk away from campus, this phenology site drew my attention because of its unique setting and fascinating wildlife, especially the ornithological aspect.

While the site is largely dominated by deciduous tree species, there are the occasional conifers as well. Of the deciduous varieties, Cottonwoods and Northern Red Oaks are the most populous species present. Since the site is close to the road, stormwater runoff and erosion clearly affect the vegetation growth. Knowing this, it is logical that the area is well-drained, and the soil is likely high in pH and moist, resulting in the higher density of deciduous species that thrive in such conditions. The density of specific species in a certain region, however, varies along the riverside of the site. For example, at one location, cottonwoods and oaks are dominant, whereas, further down the riverbed, staghorn sumacs become more dominant. These little ecological niches could be random, or something else may be responsible for this phenomenon.

The following list is comprised of the common woody plants seen at Salmon Hole Park-

Cottonwood

White/Northern Red Oak

Paper Birch

Yellow Birch

Eastern White Pine

Red Maple

Sugar Maple

Norway Maple

Box Elder

Stag-horn Sumac

Green Ash

Glossy Buckthorn (invasive)

Honeysuckle (invasive)

Barberry (invasive)

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