December 5, 2019 arrived 1:54pm
top: first sit spot overview
bottom: last sit spot overview
small tree (left picture) from first sit spot, and small tree (right picture) at last sit spot
(left) large tree at first sit spot session, (right) large tree at last sit spot session
(left) evergreen grouping from first sit spot, (right) evergreen grouping from last sit spot session
Not much has changed from my last visit to my sit spot, the only notable thing is my small tree has officially lost almost all of it leaves. Over the course of the semester my sit spot has changed tremendously. Both of my trees started with many beautiful green leaves, and ended the semester with only the evergreens having remaining greenery. The weather changed dramatically over the course of the semester as well, I can still remember sweating at my first session and freezing at my last.
I only saw one blue jay today and for a very short period, this is unusual for my sit spot. Usually the blue jays flood my spot the whole time, today was a little quite without them. I heard a couple of crows but never saw them, but that is not unusual I’ve heard them several times but never seen them. I also saw a few turkey vultures, this is not unusual for my sit spot they generally just fly over head a few times and then head out. The one major animal I noticed, or lack thereof, today was the ants. During my first sit spot I could not keep them off of me but the last few sit spots they were not present at all.
I chose to follow three trees around my sit spot area, a small tree that had already lost a majority of leaves. Then a larger tree that was full of green leaves at the start, along with a grouping of evergreens. I chose these three particular trees because they all offered something different to watch. The small tree lacking a majority of leaves would be interesting to monitor over the course of the semester. The large tree was full of leaves so I was interesting to see the major change over the course of the semester. The evergreens offered a chance to monitor a tree that would not change over the course of the semester.
This experience was interesting for me, I learned many things from my time observing nature. I learned that I love nature more than I thought and that nature has something new to offer every time. I have always been pretty comfortable in nature, but now I am definitely more comfortable. The coolest thing I observed while at my sit spot was the hawk that visited one time. I will remember most the freezing cold temperatures I had to endure and the cool birds I was able to see.
Your pictures all look so good! I like how you identified the birds flying above-the raptor lab sure came in handy. I am so glad you are more comfortable in nature now. Do you think that you will keep spending time at your sit spot or in nature as the new semester progresses?
I found your blog really interesting. I could relate when you said you heard birds but never saw one. this always happens to me in my sit spot. however, I am glad that you saw a hawk once. And your pictures are really cool!