Hello blog! For this assignment we were tasked with sitting silently for 15 minutes and reflecting on our experience. By the end, I felt a much deeper emotional and spiritual connection to my phenology site. It was kind of like getting to know a friend. Here is what I observed…
What I took away from my 15 minute meditation was an admiration for the incredible ability of nature to synthesize with anthropogenic life. As I sat, I heard many bird calls. I could recognize the sounds of chickadees and blue jays. I could also hear the trickle of the descending stream nearby. But most of all I could hear the sounds of traffic, horns blaring, and planes overhead.
I spotted a woodpecker that swooped above me. It was tapping at the trees in search of bugs, and the hollow sounds rung out over the forest. I enjoyed watching his methodical strategy. All of a sudden there was a jarring siren sound that pierced the peaceful moment. But the woodpecker didn’t skip a beat. It was completely unfazed by the loud intrusion, and it continued pecking away. I was amazed by how its behavior had become so accustomed to the urban surroundings. It was a great example of nature’s adaptability and resilience.
Later on, a couple with a cute dog passed by me on the trail and asked what I was working on. I told them we were researching the changes in the forest throughout the seasons. The woman told me about how much she appreciates watching nature shift and change when she is taking her dog out for hikes. I thought it was very sweet how thoughtful she was about her surroundings and that she found time to show gratitude for it.
Changes in the Environment:
- All maple leaves have fallen
- Only a few beech leaves and white pine needles remain
- The temperature was much colder and there was a cool breeze
- The currents of the river were swirling dramatically, which could be a result of the temperature shift
- There were less people on the trails
- The fungi that were there on my last visit were gone
- I recently identified the unknown species of tree, which is a rare native butternut tree, and the strange plants on the stream bank, rough horsetail
Bird’s Eye Map:
