Author: srisk

It’s so crazy that today was the last time I’m going to visit my phenology spot this year. But I definitely was able to end off the year with a bang because today was a BEAUTIFUL day. My phenology spot has come back to life! So many plants are in bloom! Ferns are beginning to unfurl underneath the Hemlocks, and the Red Maple by the bank of Centennial Brook has started to flower. Debris from the Sugar Maple blossoms was scattered all around the tree, hinting that White-Tailed Deer were likely present and feeding. Centennial was alive with bird calls coming from all directions. They all blended into each other and were really difficult for me to distinguish, but I definitely heard an owl which was really cool. Moss and lichen were visible once again in the Hemlock stand both on living trees and organic debris on the ground. Centennial Brook is no longer covered with snow and was running freely today, though the water level was looking much lower than I remember it being. I even saw a Water Strider seemingly fighting to get upstream. The point of land that juts out against the bank was very damp, and much of the underbrush hasn’t regrown yet. The buds of the staple Red Osier Dogwood at my phenology site have begun to bloom. Canada Mayflower and Creeping Buttercup have started peeking above the underbrush. A new Burdock plant is also beginning to grow. The existing Burdock Plant hasn’t started to bloom yet and is still brown and dormant. The grassy area on the other side of the brook is also visible once again and was covered in growing Wood Horsetail grass. I also saw a Goldenrod Gall Fly sack, which I learned how to identify in lab. It was really cool to realize that the hole in one of the damaged Hemlocks was likely made by a Pileated Woodpecker! I’ve been watching the spot for signs of life all year, and now having the knowledge to make an educated guess about what likely created the hole and inhabited it was really satisfying.

In what ways do nature and culture intertwine at your place? Do you consider yourself a part of your place? Why or why not?

Nature and culture intertwine not only at my phenology spot, but across nearly all of the world’s ecosystems. Human connection with the environment is an enormous part of our culture and there is evidence of our values throughout the natural world. We use natural areas for recreation, education, and to benefit our overall health and well-being. The trails that I walk to reach my phenology spot are covered in shoe prints, I see fellow peers exploring the woods around me, and installations like electricity lines and power grids are constant reminders of the ways human activity and the environment intersect. It is because human impact is so clear that I don’t really consider myself a part of my phenology place. It’s been hard for me to really connect with Centennial Woods, the sound pollution from roadways and jets overhead and constricted area are a constant reminder that I am in Burlington. I hope that as I spend more time in Burlington in the coming years I come to feel more at home in the landscape here. When Burlington truly feels like home, I will definitely begin to consider myself a part of its beautiful natural landscapes.

BioBlitz! Yay! On Saturday, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time outside making observations for the City Nature Challenge. In the morning, I went for a run through the Burlington Country Club. I didn’t see much wildlife at all though, only one Grey Squirrel and one Canadian Goose, which is pictured below. Later that day, I went for a nice long walk at Red Rocks Park in South Burlington with my friend Molly. It was a really beautiful afternoon and I’m so grateful that I got the chance to hang out in one of my favorite places in the Greater Burlington area. Most of the visual observations I made were of plant species. I surprisingly didn’t see a ton of wildlife at Red Rocks, but I was able to spot some really beautiful plant life and here some cool bird calls. My iNaturalist experience on Saturday was one of the best I’ve had yet. It was really nice to be able to identify flowers and plant species with ease as Molly and I came across them. We spotted lots of Eastern Chipmunks and Grey Squirrels scampering around in the understory. We also found a Pileated Woodpecker going to town on a tree by the overlook, which was really cool to see especially after we’ve been learning so much about them in lecture. It was a real challenge to take good pictures of wildlife when they were camouflaged in their surrounding environment and often being spotted from far away though. I also saw some really beautiful flowers, like purple and white Round-lobed Hepaticas and Dutchman’s Breeches. I really love pine trees, so being in an environment so dominated by pine species like Hemlocks was awesome. I also saw a lot of ferns covering rock faces in the park. iNaturalist identified the fern species shown below as a Polypody Fern. iNaturalist also helped me figure out that one of the other plants I observed was a member of the Trillium genus. We heard a lot of bird calls while at Red Rocks. I wasn’t able to identify them myself, and I haven’t been able to get them to upload to iNaturalist since I saved them as movies, but I put them as videos below. 🙃 Altogether, I identified 9 animal species (Grey Squirrel, Canadian Goose, Eastern Chipmunk, Pileated Woodpecker) and 5 plant species (Round-lobed Hepaticas, Dutchman’s Breeches, Eastern Hemlock, Polypody Fern, Trillium) that particularly stood out to me, but I must have encountered hundreds (if not thousands) more.

I decided to look into how Boston was doing in their City Nature Challenge. It was crazy to see how biodiverse an area that is so heavily urbanized and developed could be. When I looked at their iNaturalist board, more than 12,000 observations had already been made! There were observations made for everything from ferns to crabs to beavers and the top contributor had made 500 observations. I then decided to take a peak at Costa Rica’s progress in their City Nature Challenge and was blown away. At the time I checked, there were nearly 1,300,000 observations made of almost 48,000 species. It’s wild to see how the endimicity and biodiversity of the tropics is reflected so clearly in the City Nature Challenge. Costa Rica’s City Nature Challenge also had over 55,000 participants, which was still really inspiring. This was a really cool event to be able to participate in, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the nature clocks that are developed using the data that citizen science collected!

Over spring break, I went on a yoga retreat to Nosara, Costa Rica. It was INCREDIBLE, and I’m so beyond grateful that I was able to go and have such a cool experience. Costa Rica is an amazingly beautiful and biodiverse country. It contains 6% of the biodiversity in the world! While there, I spent as much time outside as possible. Nosara is a beach town, right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. I discovered that the phenological patterns of Costa Rica were vastly different from those in Burlington. I was in Costa Rica during its dry season, so there was a ton of dust and a lot of the woody plant life was brown and dry (not that I didn’t see some really amazing greenery too). Rivers were dried up and much of the land outside of my yoga retreat center had a bit of a brown tint to it. It was actually about peak dry season, and rain is just around the corner to bring the area back to life. The phenology spot that I chose to focus on was the Nature Shala that we practiced yoga in. It had one full back wall where all the yoga props were kept and a sort of half wall perpendicular to it, but two of the sides were completely open. This allowed for some super interesting phenological observations, especially because we spent so much time there. Nosara was much, much hotter than Burlington (about 80 degrees), and its temperature remains much more stable year-round because of its proximity to the equator. It also understandably showed many more signs of life than Burlington. In the shala, we could hear and see iguanas running through the underbrush or banging across the roof and little geckos ran around the walkway as we entered. We also couldn’t NOT hear the howler monkeys if we wanted to. I learned that they are the second loudest animals on the planet, and let out their really terrifying howls to alert other monkey groups to stay away from where they are hanging out. They really liked the trees behind the wall of the shala, and one night I was able to see a lot of monkey action on my way out. None of our focal mammal species found in Burlington were present in that completely different habitat. I saw a few really cool birds that moved too fast for me to take pictures of to try to identify, but mostly I just heard their calls from the studio. The animal and plant life in the jungle was constantly making noise: chirping, rustling, crunching and more. The sounds were wildly different than the more urban noise we experience stepping outside in Burlington. The plant life surrounding the nature shala was incredibly vibrant and colorful. It was a total jungle. There were palm trees and lots of really colorful underbrush and flowers that I didn’t recognize. There was a bit of dried grass on a hill a bit beyond the jungle, but even that wasn’t as dry as some of the plant life I witnessed along the roads. I’m sure the plants in the jungle get even greener and more vibrant in the rainy season, but they were still really beautiful nonetheless. Burlington doesn’t have such a stark division between a dry and rainy season, and seeing a climate like that was something I had never experienced before. Also, Nosara was never windy like it can get in Burlington, and we only ever experienced a really nice breeze that rustled the jungle while we talked or practiced. While I couldn’t see the beach from the Nature Studio because the jungle blocked the view, I thought it was still important to note. Burlington’s “coast” is on Lake Champlain, whereas the coast of Nosara is on the Pacific Ocean. The waters of Nosara are impacted by tides. Every morning the tide was low, and every evening it was high, which was also something I’ve never experienced growing up on the beach on Cape Cod where the tide times change daily. I loved exploring Costa Rica, and know I will find a way to visit again some day. It was really, really cool to experience such a different phenological environment and I’m so glad I got the opportunity to do so.

https://youtube.com/shorts/SUbytUHGMs0

HOWLER MONKEY VIDEO IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT!! ^^

My phenological explorations were a little bit complicated this week. I tested positive for Covid and am stuck in Jeanne Mance at the moment, so my findings were, unfortunately, pretty limited. :( I tried to get outside safely, but staying away from people, being unable to use any sort of transportation, and not having proper clothes with me has made things tricky. I also don’t have my tracking book, which made things kind of tough as well. But what can you do, here’s what I got.

The first place I explored was the Intervale (during the school day so I wouldn't run into anyone). I didn't see any sighting of our focal mammal or bird species themselves, but I did find a good amount of clear tracks. It was extremely icy on the path along the Winooski, but it made for some really great conditions for track observing! To be honest, my iNaturalist experience wasn't great. My iNaturalist app was having a really tough time identifying most of the tracks, for some reason, but using the Guide to Animal Tracks in Vermont I was able to make some educated guesses. So it's all good 👍🏼

The other location I was able to observe was down by the waterfront around sunset two nights in a row. By taking the backroads down, I was able to avoid most of the pedestrian traffic. While walking down, I noticed a  lot of potential dens spots. My one species sighting, although not on of our focuses, was of a Cottontail Rabbit. But, it was so cute that I couldn't help but include it. Another phenological change I observed was the frozenness of the lack around its edges, in true February fashion. There were some really cool slushy waves coming through because of the wind.

I’m looking forward to the next Phenology assignment when I can really dive in with no restrictions, but I’m grateful I had the opportunity to get outside regardless. :)

Today’s visit to my phenology site was by far the most painful. It was 3 degrees when I traveled into Centennial for the first time this month and it felt absolutely freezing. Tracking was significantly more difficult than I expected it to be! I knew that I was in for a challenge, but trying to discern what might be an animal track versus an indent resulting from animals tunneling within the subnivean zone versus what was simply the result of snow falling on uneven organic debris. The only tracks I felt confident in identifying were shoe prints. This was interesting to see because I now know that others have been exploring the same area. I found some singular markings that looked like they could have been tracks, but never any in any sort of arrangement that would indicate walking, trotting, bounding, or loping. I found what appeared to potentially be ermine tracks, and some holes that I thought could have been created by voles. There were also single tracks that looked sort of similar to fisher tracks, but no markings were very clear or distinct. I noticed urine stains (but no strong smell, which would indicate that a Red Fox might have left it) and some scat on the way to and from my phenology spot, but unfortunately, no such things were found close to my actual location. Centennial Brook was invisible, covered by several inches of snow and shoe prints in some places. It may have been frozen over, but I didn’t want to risk checking. Today, in the face of such extreme cold, I was much more aware of spots that would make perfect nesting spots for animals who are hibernating or living in a dormant state. I’m sure that the fallen logs insulated by the decently thick layer of snow are currently home to many different insects and small mammals and that the gaps between these logs and the ground are where other animals, maybe fishers, would seek shelter. The wildflowers did stand out just as Mary Holland claimed they would in the January chapter of Naturally Curious. Daisies and goldenrods definitely have a distinct beauty to them at this time of year. There was an egg case attached to one of the goldenrod stems that was left by a Black-and-Yellow Argiope spider for egg protection. The sick branches of one of the large Hemlocks on the backside of my phenology spot stood out greatly against the winter landscape. The Hemlock is beautiful and I’ve been keeping an eye on these branches, hoping that the disease doesn’t spread further or cause the tree any more harm. Also, the Red and Sugar Maples as well as all woody plants in the underbrush on the brook point of my phenology spot dropped all their leaves and were completely barren. The burdocks and the Red Osier Dogwood at the tip of the point were devoid of any liveliness. It was really nice to get back into Centennial and check in, and I definitely am looking forward to warmer visits in the future. :)

It’s winter in Centennial Woods! I spent so, so long just hanging out at my phenological spot and enjoying the beauty of it. There was a thin layer of snow blanketing my site. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough snow for animals to really begin creating and inhabiting their winter habitats, and I couldn’t find many tracks in the snow. I found some marks in the snow, but I wasn’t able to determine what animal they came from (if they came from an animal at all.) I still made some pretty cool observations and had a really nice time doing it though! Centennial Brook was moving much, much slower than it was during my last visit. The water at the point had frozen over, causing the right side to appear as though it weren’t moving at all. The Red Osier Dogwood (which was looking especially deep red today) at the tip of the point was completely bare of leaves, as were the Red Maples across from it. According to Naturally Curious, the Burdocks adjacent to the Red Osier Dogwood are dispersing seeds at this point in the phenological year. I didn’t spot any birds feeding on them while I was visiting though (bummer). The underbrush that I have been keeping an eye on is no longer visible and is covered by the layer of snow. When I managed to jump over to the other side of the brook, I found that the Joe-Pye weeds were completely brown, had died, and were now level with the ground. Now that the leaves were gone from many of the deciduous trees at my phenology site, the holes in them stood out so much more. I found a dead tree covered in holes that a Carpenter Bee must have made to create nest holes. It was also really exciting to see the ferns remain green like Naturally Curious had predicted! After reading the December chapter, I also tried to be super aware of the cones that I saw. There were some cones on one of the Hemlocks that were blackened, which was a little bit concerning and is something that I would like to keep an eye on. All of the other branches and cones appeared healthy thankfully. The remaining green in the White Pines and Hemlocks was a really beautiful sight to see, especially against the grey, winter sky. I noticed a lot more air traffic noise pollution today than normal, which was strange. Today has to have been my favorite visit so far, and I’m excited to give it some time to go full winter mode before I come back after winter break and check things out!

My home phenology spot is located in the woods behind my old elementary school. The overstory consists almost entirely of Eastern White Pine. Looking back at pictures now I notice that there are a couple deciduous trees sprinkled throughout the overstory as well, but in the moment I was so focused on the pines (they’re my favorite) that I guess I didn’t even notice. The entire understory is littered with old, fallen needles, but there isn’t any underbrush because this particular area has been cleared for some benches and the shell of what used to be a blackboard. We always called it the outdoor classroom. The fact that the understory has been cleared is a major difference between my phenology spots. A major similarity that these locations share is that both are near a water source that can be utilized by local plant and animal communities, Minister’s Pond being the water source in Eastham and Centennial Brook being the water source in Burlington. I would also estimate that the pines at home are about as tall as the Sugar Maples and Red Oaks in my spot in Burlington. It was definitely warmer at this time of year at my spot here on Cape Cod than it was up in Burlington though! I’m sure the trees at my phenology spot in Centennial have some snow on them by now, but we haven’t gotten enough snow on the Cape yet for that to be the case here. Also, both are located in natural areas into which walking trails have been implemented. Centennial Woods is definitely a lot more massive than this little patch of woods in Eastham though. Another pretty major difference that isn’t necessarily ecological but that I think is important is that I love my spot at home with all my heart and soul, but am still getting to know my phenology spot up in Burlington. I hope that as I form a deeper connection with it, it starts to bring me the same sense of peace and feeling of home as my spot in the woods on the Cape.  :)

Today I did something a little bit different. I went adventuring into Burlington. I decided to walk down and explore the Redstone Quarry, which is about a 30-minute walk from my dorm in MAT. Admittedly, it did end up being more of a run because the sun was setting very quickly and I wanted to make the most of my exploration. I cut through Athletic Campus by the pines, across the green before Redstone campus, and then started into the surrounding suburban area. I then walked down Cliff Street, along South Willard, and turned up Hoover Street, which I followed to Redstone Terrace where the trailhead was located. I tried to view everything I was observing through a phenological lens, and I noticed many changes. So many of the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, and many of the ones that remained were browning. This made the evergreen trees stand out a lot more in the absence of so much greenery. The goldenrod patch down by the quarry was completely brown and white, but it was interesting to see them in another location other than my normal phenological location in Centennial Woods. It was totally overcast, but the clouds had a deep grayish/blueish tint and looked really beautiful. Another major phenological change that jumped out at me was the fact that it was 4:30PM and already becoming too dark to take pictures to document my findings because the sun had set. The sun setting so early is a phenological change I simply cannot get behind. Nonetheless, it was really great to have an opportunity to get out outside and check out some new natural areas. That has always been one of my favorite things to do, so it was cool to really have to make time for it for this post. I hope I get the chance to go exploring again soon!

Today I went back to my phenology spot around 5:30PM. It was definitely chillier today than it was during my last visit, but thankfully my spot was sheltered from the breeze that was blowing across campus. I noticed a lot of changes, some very obvious and other smaller ones, had occurred since I was last there. The water level of the river was definitely higher, which makes sense because we’ve had a very rainy week and weekend. (This was also apparent in the puddles that had formed close to the embankment where the Hemlock stand begins. I noted that the gushing of the water was much more audible and that the river had developed some small rapid areas. The most aggressive rapid was located to the left of where I stood at the point where the water hit a hard right against the bank before continuing downstream. Another rapid had popped up where a log had fallen and it appeared a small damn might have been made. Despite the increase in water volume, it seemed as though the turbidity of the water had decreased. The log that normally serves as my bridge from the point to the grassy area on the other side of the water was almost unpassable (but we made it work). All of the sugar maples at my site had turned from a deep green to a really pretty bright orange/yellow/green. The red maples on the grassy side of the river had lost almost all of their leaves and even more of the leaves of the Red Osier Dogwood had turned a dark brown/red and began to shrivel further. The Joe-Pye Weeds that make up the grassy area seem to be becoming browner and more shriveled as well. I heard crows calling overhead as well, but other than the sound of the occasional bird and the water it was very quiet. I was there observing right around golden hour, which made for some really beautiful scenery. I also discovered a cool new plant in the grassy area that I hadn’t seen before! I was able to identify it as a Winged Euonymus, and I will definitely be keeping an eye on it. It was a nice outing today, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there sometime before next week.

My phenology site is located in Centennial Woods. I chose this spot for a couple of reasons, the first of which being that it is relatively close to my dorm and is really easily accessible for me (something that will be helpful during the winter months). The second reason I chose this spot is that there was so much variety in the landscape- a wetland area, a thick woody overstory, lots of underbrush, a stream with embankments, and so much more. I think it will be a really interesting place to observe phenological changes because I will be able to view them through so many different lenses. The overstory contains Sugar Maples, Hemocks, Red Oaks, and White Pines back towards the trail. There is a significant amount of organic matter on the ground. My normal standpoint is littered with leaves and large logs and is covered in ferns. Buckthorn, burdocks, and a significant Red Osier Dogwood make up the understory on my side of the river and there are lots of Joe-Pye Weeds before the marshy clearing. I think this dogwood will be a really significant phenological tracker due to its size and position. All of these different elements will change in different ways as the seasons progress, which I think will be super cool to see. To get to this spot you follow the main path from the entrance of Centennial Woods until you reach the first fork, where you will continue straight rather than taking a right up the hill. Continue down this path until you reach where the river cuts close to the bank, and there is a little piece of land that sort of juts out with the streaming bending outward around it. Its exact coordinates are 44.47817, -73.18632. I’m really excited to get to really know the intricate ins and outs of this area! :)