Finding Nature in Vermont’s Biggest City

          From a bird’s point of view, my phenology spot isn’t isolated in nature. From the ground however, nature surrounds me. My feet on the grassy dirt, my back to an array of trees and shrubs and grasses, and my eyes on a meadow full of purple and yellow wildflowers – it is easy to forget that there is development all around me. It can be difficult to find the serenity of nature in an urban area, and little close-by spots like this one still have the power to put my mind at ease. The only animals I have seen are chipmunks and squirrels – lots of them. As the weather cools, things are starting to change. Most visibly, the area has just begun to lose its vibrancy. The grey sky softens the energy of the meadow. Leaves have changed to yellows and oranges. What will happen as the temperature continues to drop and snow begins to fall?