Centennial Woods

Nature and culture are intertwined in Centennial woods in may ways. The past human land use is easily visible today. When the land was colonized, it was clear cut for grazing. As you walk along the paths, you will see the remains of barbed wire fences and cement walls, evidence that the land was once used for livestock. However, a restoration effort took place, which is why there are seemingly perfect rows of white pines that are all the same age in the forest.

After this semester, I do consider myself as part of my place. I have explored the woods countless times, whether it be for an upcoming blog post, for fun with friends, or by myself. I have come to care for the woods very much because it has provided me with many great experiences. Because my relationship with the land has grown, I feel more inclined to help protect it in the future.

During this visit to Centennial woods, it was clear that spring has sprung in Burlington. The ground was no longer covered in dead leaves, plant life has started to cover the floor. In particular, I noted the presence of fiddleheads in Centennial, something I did not see last time. I noticed that the small, young buds on the trees last time have started to grow even more, most of them flowering or sprouting leaves. I was able to identify Silver Maple and American Beech buds. The brook was also flowing faster and the water level had gotten higher due to more melting snow upstream. Overall, Centennial woods is much greener than ever before this season and it is amazing to see how much it has changed since the beginning of the semester.

During the City Nature Challenge, I went for a walk on the bike path that starts near Redstone Lofts. It was a very quiet and peaceful day, so I was able to hear the birds very clearly. The most memorable part of the experience was when I was able to get very close to an American Robin. I walked very slowly until I was about 2 feet away, which is the closest I have ever been to a bird that I remember.

Using iNaturalist was a very cool experience. I liked being able to upload a picture and have the computer identify what is in it. I was not very knowledgeable about the species I was capturing, and I feel like I have learned a lot from this.

Reports from other participating cities were fascinating to view, especially ones from different countries. My favorites to look through were from Canada, where there were many beautiful flower species that I had not heard of before. I am excited that I was able to participate in this event!