Observation #5

Location: Snake River behind Evan’s Trailers
Date: May 20, 2008
Time: 4:30
Temperature: Not Recorded
Weather: Mostly clear, few clouds
Winds: No wind, very still
Soil: Most soil is dry
As I walked into my study area I immediately noticed a drastic change. The water level of the Snake River has risen; completely covering the few small ‘islands’ that were visible only a week ago. Melted snow and other sources of water intakes have made the very quick rise in the amount of water flowing in the river. There is also a few other noticeable changes. Leafs are starting to grow back on the trees. Even in the desolate area in between the tree line and the river has what looks like succession. New, young trees are growing by the dozens in the area. I believe that it is secondary succession because there are signs of previous plant life beneath the rock in the area. There are also many more visible insects and other small animals. The air around the trees are infested with flying insects, while only a week ago there was no sign of them. I also found a black spider with a red back. Diversity is growing even bigger now. The increase in insects with probably stop the competition for food between the birds. The birds have been in my study area well before their food source, they relied on a human invention for food. And even though they competed for food they stayed, the birds did not fly to another area to find food. This may be because they knew that the insects and spiders would eventually come to inhabit this area.