mariamg710's Journal

On March 4th, 2023, at 4:13 pm, I visited Toms River, New Jersey. On this day, in NJ, the weather was 43 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky and at this location the wind was about 16 mph since it is close to shore. This picture was taken in Mathis Plaza, a small park located next to the Toms River on property that is owned and maintained by the Borough. It is part of a 3.74 acre area that includes a large lawn space with a gazebo, walkways along the water, a memorial, and a parking area. Near the gazebo area, there is a bush of these Junipers which are on evergreen trees and shrubs in the cypress family, Cupressaceae. The Juniperus genus includes about 70 species of plants. These plants typically have needle-like leaves and produce small cones or berry-like structures as their fruit. Many species of Juniperus are commonly used in landscaping and horticulture, as well as for their aromatic wood and berries, which have culinary and medicinal uses.

On February 3rd, 2023, at 11:30 am, I visited Willbrook Park on Staten island. On this day, the weather was 11 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky and winds about 10 mph. Around the pond area there was minimal disturbances, about 3 people in the park, but there was a high amount of construction and traffic noises that came from outside of the park, which is not far from the pond area. On this day, I was able to observe Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) which are a type of duck commonly found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. They are known for their distinctive green head, white neck ring, and chestnut-colored chest. Male mallards have a glossy green head, while females have a mottled brown plumage. Overall, female mallards are less colorful and less flashy than males, but they are still beautiful birds in their own right. Mallards are adaptable birds and can be found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, lakes, ponds, and rivers. They are omnivorous and feed on a range of foods, including aquatic plants, insects, seeds, and small animals.

On March 17, 2023, at 1:53 pm, I visited Willbrook Park on Staten island. On this day, the weather was 57 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky and winds about 6 mph. This picture was taken by the woody area that is further away from the park. In this picture it shows a White-breasted Nuthatch. The White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is a small bird found in North America. It is known for its distinctive appearance, with a blue-gray back and wings, a white face and underparts, and a black cap and bib. It is named after its habit of using its strong bill to pry open or "hatch" nuts and seeds. White-breasted Nuthatches are common in mixed forests and can also be found in parks and suburban areas with mature trees, just like Willowbrook Park. They are non-migratory and can be seen throughout the year.

On March 4th, 2023, at 4:17 pm, I visited Toms River, New Jersey. On this day, in NJ, the weather was 43 degrees fahrenheit with a cloudy sky. This picture was taken in the streets of Toms River and in this neighborhood, there were many houses that had Yellow Groove Bamboo around the houses. Yellow Groove Bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) is a species of bamboo that is native to China and widely cultivated in other parts of the world. It is a clumping bamboo with distinctive yellow grooves or stripes on its green culms (stems), which can grow up to 40 feet tall and 3 inches in diameter. The leaves are long and slender, and the plant produces small, edible shoots in the spring. Yellow Groove Bamboo is often used for landscaping and as a privacy screen due to its fast growth rate and dense foliage.