Scavenger Hunt at Barrington Headwaters

We began our second day with going over the data collected from our 150m^2 plot in college woods. The data showed that hemlock was the most dense, with the highest number of stems (saplings in the understory), and maple and beech represented the highest Basal area due to having larger diameter trunks. It is likely that in about 100 years, hemlock trees will dominate the forest here.

Station 1 was along the beginning of the trial at a spot where the trees composition was very different. We pondered what the differences were and possible causes.

Next, we set off on our first visit to the
Barrington Headwaters. Eleanor and Lara planned and coordinated a scavenger hunt activity with 5 stations, as a way for us to become aquainted with the conservation area.

Station 2 caught all of our attention with two stone foundations back-to-back and a third 100' off to the side. A gravestone for an 11 month and 10 day old girl was located in the the smaller area. Apparently the stone may have been moved from the cemetary located just across the trail. The ground sloped down from the trail with what appeared to be a wagon trail winding off in a northward direction.

Station 3 brought us to the beaver pond was an intrigueing, beautiful area with the bright, hot afternoon sun casting shadows on the still water.

Are the beaver still active? Would the area remain flooded if teh beaver have abandoned the dam? We are still learning to read the history of the landscape, so not 100% sure.
There are a lot of dead trees throughout the area, so it has been flooded for for several years.

Station 4 was located a short walk along a side trial or former logging road. We observed and sketched 2 sets of coppiced or multiple trunks, and pondered why trees grow in clumps. What does this tell us about the landscspe land-use history?

Station 5 brought us out into the sunlight in the power line transect! Wild lilies grew amongst oak saplings, mountian laurel, beach roses, buttercups and starwberries. yellow and orange butterflies and dragonflies fluttered on the cool breeze while crickets churped and japanese beetles chewed at the plant leaves. We spotted a turkey vulture off in the distance gliding overhead.