When viewed from a good angle, Gilbrook appears serene and wooded. Even if it was likely clear cut at one point, the reserve has been reforested to a point that feels like a genuine green space. There is a good mix of seemingly healthy coniferous and deciduous trees (mainly White Oak, Eastern White Pine, and Sugar Maple). It’s difficult to gauge the health of trees at this time because of the lack of leaves on all trees due to foliage. Regardless, there is a fully under and overstory visible in Gilbrook. 

The presence of invasives is a more concerning quality of Gilbrook. Once the leaves and “fullness” of native trees becomes absent in the fall/winter, invasives are even more noticeable because they don’t winterize as distinctly as native species. The sheer amount of Buckthorn present at Gilbrook is rather unsightly, especially when it’s emphasized so intensely in a landscape of brown, barren trees.

I observed a large black bird, likely a crow or a raven, fly the length of Gilbrook and perch on a tree at the southern end. The bird flew in from the northeast area of the reservation, traveling slowly above the pond until it reached a tree where it decided to rest. It then did a couple more circles around the pond and surrounding area before flying west across the highway. I’m not sure if the bird was hunting for prey or just exploring the area, but it was interesting to watch the behavior of the critter. 

There was also a small brown frog hanging out in the reeds of the marshy shoreline. The frog poked their head up for just a few seconds to observe the area past the shoreline before getting bored and heading back into the marsh. 

Other than the frog and the bird, there were a handful of squirrels running around, along with some songbirds singing and flying in the overstory. 

One more very noticeable quality of Gilbrook is the sounds from surrounding areas. Plenty of development encircling Gilbrook results in pretty intense noise pollution, which can be a distraction when trying to immerse yourself with the environment. However, when looking at Gilbrook from a purely visual standpoint, it’s a pretty area that serves as a nice buffer between the suburbs of Winooski. 

As one could expect, the mass shedding of leaves from branches was the most noticeable seasonal difference. Trees covered in green leaves have turned to barren trunks and branches, and their leaf litter covers most of the once-visible groundcover. Vibrant invasives appear more prominent than before due to the lack of greenery from other vegetation. The color of the water in the pond appeared more gray than blue and overall much less clear than when viewed during my last visit. This could have been because the first visit was a sunny day and the water was reflecting blue skies and the recent visit was more overcast and the water was reflecting gray clouds. However, this change in water coloration could also be due to pollution. Finally, there were practically no insects present, and the presence of other small mammals and birds was less noticeable than my first visit.