dlimandri's Journal

The three iconic taxa I observed this week are relatively common species encountered around Berkeley. The first specimen I observed was a Wild Turkey (Animal) found rummaging along the hills leading up to the Lawrence Berkeley Observatory that sits above the main campus. The Turkeys were relatively calm, until an unsuspecting hiker confronted the trio which resulted in a flurry of gobbles as they begrudgingly dispersed. The second taxa I observed was a California Bay tree (Plant) just outside of McCone Hall. I noticed this sprout the other day as it seemed to grow in close proximity to the base of a nearby tree but lacked the modest height of the surrounding shrubbery. The third taxa I encountered was a Spider (Insect) that I have yet to identify. This specimen was found near the California Bay Tree under an old concrete slab home to a diverse community of insects. At first glance, I thought the spider deceased, as it lacked any sense of life or reactionary impulse. But after some prodding, the insect abandoned its apathetic guise and sprang to life, fleeing the scene and leaving me only with a picture.

My first observation exemplifying bare leaf phenology was an elm (?) tree right outside McCone hall. The dormancy of the tree is apparent by the lack of leaves, distinguishing the species as deciduous surrounded by the foliage of evergreens. My second observation was observed in Strawberry Canyon, just off the side of the winding road. The specimen--which I believe is a Japanese cherry-- is distinguished as flowering by the white flowers produced along its branches, which make the tree stand out from the surrounding monotonous foliage. My third and fourth observations were encountered at Tilden Regional Park, and exemplify the leafed-out phenology and bare flowering phenology respectively. My third observation was (I believe) a Western Red Cedar, that is technically a leafed-out specimen as it never loses its leaves. My fourth and final observation was a Coyote Brush plant that exemplifies the bare flowering phenology we were looking for, as the plant seasonally flowers but has yet to manifest anything of the sorts.