Field Study #4

 Date: 10/25/26

Time: 5:41pm - 5:56pm 

Weather: Sunny with a high wind of 9 mph

Temperature: Currently 68° F -- Low 46°F -- High 70°F 

Length of the day: 8:09am - 6:46pm -- Total hours of the day: 10 hours 36 minutes  

Organisms seen: A total of 5 people walking & 2 bikers along the trail, lots of mosquitoes everywhere, piles of leaves all over path & riverbank with a variety of colors, a spider web on information sign along the trail, birds nest on top of a tall tree, and a bracket fungus mushroom growing on a fallen tree in the forest  

Leaves along path & riverbank:

Spider web:

Birds nest:

Mushroom:

Organisms heard: An abundant amount of cars driving down the road (11 in total!), woodpeckers in the distance of the forest, occasionally a few ducks and birds, and like the previous visits; tree crickets & katydids   

Changes since last visit 10/11/26: There was a larger variety of leaf colors since we are in the midst of fall & abundant of more leaves on the ground and beginning the process of decomposing.  Along with the change in season there were a lot of leaves in the river and alongside it, almost "clogging" the water flow. Since there are a lot less leaves on the ground I was able to see a field beyond the river where a month ago was covered by leaves from the trees. 

10/25/26

10/11/26

Field 

Observations: There were still and abundant amount of mosquitoes even though I went at a different time of the day from last visit. Do more mosquitoes come out in the fall or could it just be because there is a dense forest? Another though that I had was that mosquitoes usually come out and dusk, due to the change in season I went to record data an hour before sunset. Could that also be a reason of why so many mosquitoes where out?  

Connection to awe & stewardship: Throughout the previous four field studies I am in awe of the beauty and ability to change seasons. God created a world so intricate that even the trees prepare for winter by losing its leaves. The leaves did not have to change color but that is what creates beauty in nature & what most people love about fall. Being in awe of creation makes me want to be a good steward as well. I have noticed the the water levels and clarity have not been what I expected. I would hope that by being good stewards & by treating the levels of phosphorus in the water we can control & ultimately create a better environment.  

General 30X30 plot panorama: 

Picture facing the river: 

Picture facing the forest: