Tyler Starr
19 October 2008 from 1415-1430
Location: Along the North bank of the Mill Stream between the library and Rogers
Weather: 55 ̊ F, mostly sunny, no wind
General: I cannot believe that some of the ducks are still here. I felt the water in the Mill Stream, and it is absolutely freezing. The ducks must have very good insulation. I heard the call of a Western Scrub Jay coming from the direction of the Botanical Gardens. I looked in that direction, and saw it flying off toward the North, in between Rogers and Belknap. I wonder if the Western Scrub Jay stays here for the winter or if it migrates somewhere. There is beginning to be more and more coloration changes among the trees on campus. Some have turned completely, and begun shedding their leaves. Right now, I am looking at shrub on the other side of the Mill Stream whose leaves are completely red. Right next to it, however, I see a plant that still retains all of its greenness. It is strange to think about how these two plants respond differently to the same amount of sunlight. For one, there is still plenty of sunlight to capitalize on, while for the other, that same amount of light is not worth trying to absorb, and so it is beginning to shed its leaves for the winter.
No comments:
Post a Comment