Black spruce-tamarack bog wetland complex (Mohawk watershed headwater)
This was one of my favorite field survey sites from 2019! Our ecological survey focused on characterizing the wetland plant community, and assessing wetland health and function. We saw orchids, carnivorous plants, pollinators, and Odonates.
Below are some of my favorite species observations from that survey.
To learn more about Black Spruce-Tamarack Bogs in New York visit our New York Natural Heritage Program community description webpage: https://guides.nynhp.org/black-spruce-tamarack-bog/
Special thanks to the private land owners for letting us survey this beautiful area! This survey site was developed using computer-generated random point placement within the Mohawk watershed (Central and Eastern New York State).
To view ALL of our iNat observations from this survey check out this link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?verifiable=any&place_id=any&field:NY%20Site%20ID=NYW19-M129
Please note: Observation locations are obscured for this wetland because it is located on private property. Because of this, points in the "map view" do not accurately reflect the location of this site or their distribution in the landscape.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae)Observer
ny_wetlanderDescription
White variety
Photos / Sounds
What
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)Observer
ny_wetlanderDescription
Seen in a black spruce tamarack bog
Photos / Sounds
What
Subgenus PyrobombusObserver
ny_wetlanderDescription
Bombus colony in a Sphagnum hummock, two entrances, several individuals observed. The stick end points to one of the entrance holes.
Comments
I love this natural community! Probably much like our Spruce-Fir-Tamarack Swamp. Or similar.
I can see why you liked it so much!
This community is one of my favorites, too, and this site is a total gem! This was actually my first time surveying this community for our wetland assessment work so I was extra excited. In the past few years our grants have focused on basins outside of the Northeastern Highlands which, in NY, is where Black Spruce-Tamarack Bogs are more common. (Other partner projects and NYNHP wetland assessment work pre-dating me has included the Northeastern Highlands so we do have data from that ecoregion.)
@charlie, in NY we also have a Spruce-Fir Swamp (https://guides.nynhp.org/spruce-fir-swamp/), which might also overlap with VT's Spruce-Fir-Tamarack Swamp.
I created this journal post in preparation for an iNat webinar I co-led today, and I mentioned your Vermont Natural Community Field Link Index during the webinar, too :)
Oh, that's awesome! I've been doing some iNaturalisting for some of our map ground truthing. Ok, maybe a lot of iNaturalisting. https://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/charlie/2020/5/8
also i think this is actually more like our 'black spruce woodland bog' which also has tamarack. Or something. In any event we have similar wetlands and i love them too
I haven't read your community description, but 'black spruce woodland bog' seems like a good fit here!
Wow you have been busy! Are you looking to create a wall-to-wall community map for VT?! And/Or are you ground truthing NWI?
am i looking to? definitely :D Am i anywhere close to the time, staffing or funding to do so, no. But we are working on Cowardin mapping of the Otter Creek watershed which is a big one and trying to get some funding to get me mapping some other ones. Definitely busy. Or obsessive, take your pick.
We can always hope, right? :)
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